Brussels remains “absolutely committed” to making the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol work, the European Commission’s vice president has said. Maros Sefcovic made the comments as he arrived in London for talks with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove. The protocol requires regulatory and customs checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, but it has caused disruption to trade since it came into force on January 1, with various grace periods in operation. Unionists in Northern Ireland are deeply concerned about the arrangements, insisting they have driven an economic wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Mr Sefcovic was responding to a request from Mr Gove to extend grace periods that limit the bureaucracy associated with the protocol.

Source: The Herald February 11, 2021 18:11 UTC