Brexit: Gove on 'co-operation' with EU over Northern Ireland

Brussels will be allowed a “permanent” presence in the province but without a flag-bearing office as previously requested as part of the wrangling over the implementation of last year’s Brexit divorce deal. EU officials will be allowed to oversee checks in Northern Ireland on goods crossing the Irish Sea. A UK Government source said: “The EU sought a ‘mini embassy’. They withdrew that request. 

“The EU do have the right under the Protocol to supervise processes conducted by UK authorities, which we will of course support, but there will be no mini-embassy, no mission, no building with a flag or brass plaque.”

The deal was struck when Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic settled issues connected to legal guarantees surrounding the Northern Ireland peace process.

The co-chairs of the Brexit Joint Committee also agreed to shelve plans for extra EU paperwork requirements when goods are shipped between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “I am delighted that we now have an agreement in principle on all the outstanding issues regarding the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.”

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

And a new trusted-trader deal was reached to ensure 98 percent of British businesses exporting to the province do not have to pay trade tariffs.

Under the plan, items that could be moved into the EU via Northern Ireland have been largely identified for exemptions to the levies.

The agreement also saw Downing Street drop controversial clauses in its Internal Market Bill that would’ve handed ministers the power to rip up sections of last year’s Withdrawal Agreement.

A Government source: “We always said that the UK Internal Market Bill clauses were a safety net in case we failed to reach a satisfactory position on export declarations, ‘at risk’ goods, and the protocol’s state aid provisions.

“The fact that we have agreed to remove the relevant clauses underscores that we consider these issues and other outstanding concerns resolved. We got what we wanted.”

But, the breakthrough failed to lift the gloom in Brussels about the prospects of a wider trade deal.

Boris Johnson is set for a showdown with top eurocrat Mrs von der Leyen tonight in Brussels.

Michel Barnier met the Prime Minister’s envoy Lord Frost in Brussels to draw up a framework for the face-to-face meeting.

MUST READ: No deal Brexit ready! UK assembles secretive crisis squad

And the EU negotiator delivered a “very negative” assessment of the Brexit talks to a video conference of European affairs ministers, according to EU sources last night.

Mr Barnier claimed the chances of a deal were “very slim” and warned European foreign affairs ministers to brace for a no deal outcome.

According to an EU diplomat familiar with the discussions, the EU chief negotiator said: “We are close to the moment of needing urgent measures-a contingency plan for no deal.

“The foundation of our future cooperation with the UK is more important than the rush. We cannot sacrifice our long-term interests for short-term political goals.”

The diplomat said Mr Barnier’s gloomy outlook was fuelled by concerns that Ms von der Leyen could relax the bloc’s so-called level playing field demands to clinch a deal.

DON’T MISS
Nicola Sturgeon ‘will make Scotland better off than England’ ‒ MEP [INSIGHT]
France’s stubborn record in trade talks exposed amid Brexit showdown [REVEALED]
Pound euro exchange rate remains ‘jittery’ [FORECAST]

Brexit: Gove says there’s ‘scope for compromise’ on fishing

A majority of EU states, including France, last night adopted a hardline position and were pushing for the commission chief to ensure Brussels can counter future “foul play” by Britain to secure a competitive advantage over EU firms.

In a sign of growing tensions between Mrs von der Leyen and EU states, some accused her of “taking too large a platform” for herself in the climax of the negotiations.

An EU diplomat said: “She’s not the negotiator, Barnier is. She might act like she is, but Barnier is the European Council’s appointed negotiator.

“Some feel she’s taking too large a platform for herself, when in fact it’s Barnier who has been negotiating and aware of the technical detail.”

And some European sources said Boris Johnson’s trip to Brussels should have been delayed to at least the weekend because they are expecting their own marathon negotiations over the bloc’s £1.6 trillion budget and recovery fund at their summit.

Source: Read Full Article