Northern Ireland: still no agreement between London and the EU, new negotiations on Friday

British and European negotiators failed to agree on Friday November 26 on the implementation of the Northern Irish protocol provided for in the Brexit deal, London said, announcing a new round of talks next week.

London demands an in-depth renegotiation of the Northern Irish protocol concluded within the framework of Brexit, which keeps the British province de facto in the single European market.

Brussels refuses, proposing only adjustments, and the discussions held in recent weeks still remain at an impasse.

Read also Brexit: Northern Ireland plunges into uncertainty

David Frost, Secretary of State for Brexit, said he and European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic had met in London and discussed "

”.

"

," he said in a statement, warning however that "

" and that the suspension of the "

" remained an option.

“

,” he added, “

”.

Protocol challenged by London

The Northern Irish protocol, effective since the beginning of the year, maintains the British province in the customs union and the European single market, to prevent the return of a physical border to the island of Ireland which would risk weakening the 1998 peace agreement. The new measures disrupted supplies in Northern Ireland and angered Unionists attached to maintaining it within the United Kingdom, reviving community tensions.

London demands in particular the abolition of the right of scrutiny of the Court of Justice of the EU on its application, to replace it by "

", which the EU refuses.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during a call Wednesday with his Irish counterpart, Micheal Martin, that a "

" had to be quickly found

.

The day before, EU ministers had urged London to bury the hatchet and implement what it signed, facing the prospect of negotiations that could extend until Christmas.