German Ambassador to UK ‘cautiously optimistic” about NI Protocol

A top German diplomat is “cautiously optimistic about the prospect” of a UK-EU agreement on a post Brexit Northern Ireland protocol. This comes after a thaw.

Miguel Berger, Germany’s ambassador in Britain, said that Downing Street now has an “openness of engagement” and that relations between the UK & the EU have improved since Boris Johnson’s demise.

Both sides agree that there should be a reduction in controls on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in the face economic and political turmoil.

Despite the talks being deadlocked for over a year, the positive music from both camps has been growing more positive.

Berger stated that there is a “landing area” for the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“It is possible that we find a solution. The problem is the DUP’s political reaction and the risk that there will be an election in Northern Ireland. There are many political issues. However, he stated that he was cautiously optimistic about the negotiations process. .

Berger was asked if Rishi sunak had helped improve relations between Brussels and Brussels. Berger replied: “Yes, I would agree that Liz Truss has made some progress towards Europe. I was in Prague for the first meeting of European Political Group, and James Cleverly gave the first talks that were truly under Liz Truss’ leadership.

“I would suggest that we generally see a completely different situation.”

Northern Ireland is still subject to the EU customs union rules and single market rules. This is in contrast to the rest of the UK. It means that goods crossing into the Irish Sea will need to be checked.

A large part of the unionist community is outraged at the fact that the protocol effectively severs Northern Ireland from the rest of Britain in order to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

This led to the DUP refusing a seat in the Northern Ireland Provincial Assembly. Its leaders called for Protocol to be abolished completely.

The UK wants to rewrite the Brexit agreement completely, while the EU wants it to be rewritten in a new way.