Brexit: UK and EU both call for pragmatism as Liz Truss leads Northern Ireland Protocol talks
euronews.comWith a new lead negotiator in charge, the British government has relaunched negotiations with the European Union on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit status, calling for Brussels to be "pragmatic" after months of deadlock.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss — who has taken over the political hot potato since the sudden resignation of former Brexit minister David Frost in December — is hosting European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic until Friday.
Talks are taking place at the foreign secretary's country residence at Chevening House, near London. The menu for Thursday evening's dinner is suitably British: Scottish smoked salmon, Welsh lamb, and for dessert a pie made with English apples from Kent.
But Northern Ireland is at the centre of attention as both sides sit down for talks. At stake, beyond the details of the Brexit protocol dealing with trading arrangements, is safeguarding peace in the UK territory and avoiding a trade war between London and Brussels.
There are hopes in EU circles that progress can be made with Truss in charge on the UK side, following the departure of the unpopular Frost who was widely considered to be too ideological and intransigent.
The British government wants a complete overhaul of the treaty, agreed by Boris Johnson with the EU as part of the legally-binding Brexit divorce deal — he says in haste amid the rush in late 2019 to take the UK out of the bloc.
Brussels — supported by national EU governments — has refused a renegotiation, but put forward detailed proposals last September designed to ease the impact of the new arrangements which have disrupted trade between Northern Ireland and Britain.
In a statement released ahead of the talks, Liz Truss called for "a pragmatic approach from the EU",
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