Brexit: 'Change in tone' from UK in latest talks on Northern Ireland Protocol, EU says

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There has been a “change in tone” from the UK in the latest round of talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU has said.

Speaking at a news conference following discussions in London, European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said: “I acknowledge and welcome the change in tone of discussion with David Frost today, and I hope this will lead to tangible results for the people in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Sefcovic said the UK had to “reciprocate the big move the EU has made” on the protocol and stressed that “serious headway” needed to be made in talks next week.

Brussels, he said, was “working around the clock” to find a solution and both sides would “intensify” their discussions.

“We can and must arrive at the agreed solution that Northern Ireland truly deserves. That is also why I raised forcefully that we need to make serious headway in the course of next week,” he said.

“This is particularly important as regards the issue of medicines. An uninterrupted long-term supply of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is the protocol-related issue on everyone’s mind in Northern Ireland.”

A UK government spokesperson said Lord Frost told Mr Sefcovic there “remained significant gaps to be bridged” between the two sides’ positions.

It added that the pair will meet at the end of next week to “consider progress”.

Providing a summary of the ground covered in Friday’s talks, the spokesperson said: “He [Lord Frost] noted that, as set out to the House of Lords on 10 November, it remained the UK’s preference to find a consensual way forward, but that Article 16 safeguards were a legitimate part of the protocol’s provisions.