Brexit deal: EU welcomes the prospect of Britain returning to the negotiating table after years of tension

BRUSSELS. On Thursday evening, politicians and officials in Brussels expressed cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached with London on the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol in the coming days, helping to “reset” relations after years of Brexit-related tensions.

While no talks were officially announced, there were signs that a deal was imminent when European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic met with diplomats from 27 member states on Friday, just after meeting with Foreign Minister James Cleverley in Brussels.

Officials say the deal will reduce border controls on goods entering the EU from the UK and create a green lane at Irish seaports with minimal checks on goods remaining in Northern Ireland, while a red bar will cover goods bound for Ireland and following in the EU. domestic market. .

Topics discussed include giving the EU access to real-time UK customs data, building border posts in Northern Ireland and the need to simplify customs declarations.

Mr Šefčović told EU officials that while the two sides have not reached an agreement, things could move quickly in the coming days. He said the changes may require new legislation, but the European Court of Justice remains the final arbiter of EU internal market law in the event of a dispute.

MPs said the prospect of a deal would be a welcome change from the scathing backlash that has plagued relations between London and the rest of the EU since the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Barry Andrews, MEP for centrist Fianna Fáil, urged negotiators to bring all parties to the deal. “We cannot have a take-or-leave agreement. There should be a feeling that the contract is concluded with different parties, and not with them,” he said.

Andrews also said the deal would open doors for the UK. “The dividend for the EU is not that big, but the dividend for the UK government is very large, and this raises the prospects for a trade deal with the US. The UK will return to the negotiating table and become a more reliable international partner,” he said.

Sinn Féin MEP Chris McManus said he wants the deal to allow the Northern Ireland government to get to work, which the opposition Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has blocked with a boycott of the regional caucus.

“We hope that they continue to work on the agreement and implement the protocol the way it should have been,” he said. “We hope that the DUP will stop using the protocol as an excuse to obstruct the vital work of the executive branch and respect the will of the people.”

Mr McManus added that the talks seemed to reflect a different approach to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak than to his more confrontational predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

“There was a more realistic approach to repairing damaged relations with the EU,” he said. “If an agreement is reached, it will be a good day to help the UK government understand the importance of respecting international agreements and not violating those agreements unilaterally. This can help build trust.

Danuta Hübner, a Polish MEP and former EU commissioner, said if a deal could be reached without disrupting the EU’s internal market, it would lower the cost of doing business and rebuilding ties.

“I hope that the resolution of the Northern Ireland Protocol issues will pave the way for other outstanding issues to be resolved and that the Northern Ireland Protocol Act will be repealed by an agreement,” she said. “We hope the deal will restore relations between the EU and the UK and open up a new start based on trust.”