The United Kingdom and the European Union will "
step up
" their discussions aimed at overcoming their disagreements over post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland, which raise fears of a trade war between London and the 27, the government said on Friday (November 12th). British.
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In a meeting with European Deputy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in London, British Secretary of State for Brexit David Frost "
stressed the importance of bringing new energy and impetus to the discussions,
" said the government in a press release.
Negotiations will resume next week in Brussels, to discuss in particular customs issues and drug deliveries, the same source said.
Deep disagreements
London demands an in-depth renegotiation of the Northern Irish protocol concluded within the framework of Brexit. The document keeps the British province de facto in the single European market but disrupts supplies from the island of Great Britain and angered Unionists attached to staying within the British crown. Brussels refuses, proposing only adjustments.
Failing to obtain satisfaction, London threatened to resort to article 16 of the protocol allowing it to unilaterally suspend certain provisions.
According to Dublin, the Europeans could in response go so far as to suspend the free trade agreement in force since the beginning of the year, which made it possible to avoid in extremis a "
no deal
" potentially very painful economically.
For the moment, there are "
important differences to be bridged between the positions of the two parties
", noted the British government.
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"
The UK always prefers to find a consensual solution, but the guarantees of Article 16 are a legitimate part of the provisions of the protocol,
" he added. Faced with the growing risk of a trade conflict, Ireland, on the front line, said Tuesday to work on emergency measures by "
dusting off
" the plan prepared in the event of "
no deal
" last year.
The protocol effective since the beginning of the year aims to prevent the return of a physical border to the island of Ireland which would risk weakening the 1998 peace agreement. London in particular demands the abolition of the right of inspection of the Court of Justice of the EU on its application, to replace it with "
international arbitration
", a modification unacceptable to Europeans.