European Commission pledges to find pragmatic solutions to Northern Ireland protocol problems

18 February 2021, 19:42

File photo: European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic
File photo: European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic. Picture: PA

By Megan White

The European Commission has pledged to find pragmatic solutions to trade disruption caused by post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Vice president Maros Sefcovic is to establish a consultative group giving Belfast businesses struggling with the Northern Ireland Protocol access to powerful voices in Brussels.

On Thursday, he met company and civic society representatives to discuss implications of onerous paperwork requirements on suppliers from the rest of the UK which have delayed some Irish Sea shipments.

The DUP has vowed to scrap the mechanism ensuring there is no hard border on the island of Ireland and leader, and First Minister Arlene Foster expressed disappointment that Mr Sefcovic did not meet more unionists.

The vice-president said he enjoyed "constructive" meetings on challenges people faced on the ground which would help guide future assessment of the protocol by the EU and UK.

He promised: "Together with Michael Gove, (I am) committed to the proper implementation of Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol and finding pragmatic solutions."

Solutions have already been found for problems with mixed lorry loads, but a cliff edge end of soft-touch regulation for sectors like supermarkets sending goods to the region is looming.

Traders have called for pragmatism and political will on the part of the EU, which is part of a Joint Committee with the UK overseeing the protocol's workings.

They expect to have greater access to powerful voices in Brussels to voice their concerns in future.

The Commission vice president and Cabinet Office Minister Mr Gove held virtual discussions with business representatives.

Mr Sefcovic said: "Northern Ireland business leaders want us to move in a swift manner and fast and I am ready to do that.

"I hope we will be working as constructively as we were in October, November and December when we clinched an important agreement on trade and cooperation."

He said he hoped there could be a "new chapter" in the EU's relationship with the UK.

David Davis: EU's trigger of article 16 a 'stupid error'

Protocol arrangements keeping Northern Ireland in line with the EU's Single Market regulations have heightened political tensions.

Unionists and loyalists are angered at the imposition of economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Mrs Foster said: "I am somewhat disappointed to hear of the make up of the civic society group that met today.

"There were one or two unionists on it."

Among those present were senior Orange Order member Mervyn Gibson from East Belfast, who has argued that the protocol must go.

Mrs Foster added: "We shall wait and see whether Mr Sefcovic has listened to the concerns of unionism...we will only find out when we see what actions he takes."

Stormont's Sinn Fein Finance Minister Conor Murphy said those reservations were listened to.

He added bodies like the Joint Committee between the EU and UK had been put in place in anticipation of difficulties with the protocol.

Belgian MEP accepts EU made mistake on article 16 trigger

The Committee is due to meet next week.

Northern Ireland Retail Consortium director Aodhan Connolly represents larger firms like supermarkets.

He said Thursday's important meeting must be the start of a comprehensive dialogue ensuring the EU and UK hear business concerns and use their homegrown expertise in finding solutions.

Mr Connolly said the April 1 end of a number of grace periods limiting the extent of red tape required under the protocol, could heap "unprecedented pressure" on supply chains.

He warned traders and retailers need stability, certainty, simplicity and affordability.

Ann McGregor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber representing businesses, said agreeing better ties with Brussels could help smooth challenges and reach more compromises.

"We agreed to keep the conversation going, with the appropriately powerful vehicle to address the wider challenges that we are raising."

Under the protocol, Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market for goods.

Products entering from Great Britain must comply with strict EU rules on animal and plant health.

Traders must complete new processes and checks to ship animal-based food products and plants across the Irish Sea into Northern Ireland.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A volunteer girl working at a UK Trussell Trust local church food bank packs a client food parcel into a carrier bag.

Children in England living in ‘Dickensian levels of poverty’ amid calls to scrap two-child benefit cap

Breaking
Breaking News

Man shot by police left with 'life-changing' injuries after bomb squad and counter-terror officers called to village pub

Garden hosepipe ban saving water during heatwave summer of June 2025 Lancashire UK

Hosepipe restrictions introduced in parts of UK from Friday after driest and warmest spring on record

The TikToker warned others about "people dressing up" as train workers and asking people to tap their card on a device in order to steal money.

'Be careful': TikToker warns of sophisticated London Tube scam that sees people pose as train workers

A handful of people are being given the medicine on a case-by-case basis while it is reviewed for wider use on the NHS.

‘Groundbreaking’ drug could slow down progression of type 1 diabetes - as it's tried by UK patients

(left to right) Liam Og O Hannaidh (Mo Chara) wearing a keffiyeh, and Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) performing on stage at London's Finsbury Park, as a support act to headliners, Fontaines DC.

Police say they have ‘proportionate and considered’ plan ahead of Kneecap gig in Glasgow

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson would not be drawn on whether the plans will be retained.

Ministers fail to rule out cutting special needs school plans after campaigners warn against the move

Security fencing, razor wire and CCTV cameras around the perimeter of a UK prison.

Prisons under siege from sky: Drones dropping zombie knives and kilos of drugs into UK prisons, watchdog warns

Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9 lost their lives in the attacks which rocked the entire UK

Southport inquiry to begin into 'one of the most horrific crimes in our country’s history'

Traffic on the M60 near Manchester

Long-running road and rail projects to go ahead after year-long pause

Captain Tom Moore at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, after he achieved his goal of 100 laps of his garden

Probe into Captain Tom Foundation has not impacted trust in charities, claims watchdog

Exclusive
f

Chancellor will look at tax 'very carefully' ahead of budget

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria stops the match against Jannik Sinner of Italy with injury during day eight of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, July 7, 2025. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)

Dimitrov suffers Wimbledon heartbreak after retiring injured while leading Sinner

Bella Culley

Thai police dispute Bella Culley’s drug torture claims as new CCTV footage released

Container ship at sunrise.

Second ship attacked by grenades as Red Sea crisis intensifies

A road in North Finchley London with Edwardian houses.

London landlord hit with £75,000 fine for illegal Airbnb activity