The UK and the EU have announced they are both committed to the “proper implementation” of the Northern Ireland protocol, after unionists called for it to be scrapped.
Cabinet office minister Michael Gove and the European Commission’s vice president Maros Sefcovic had virtual meetings with business leaders from Northern Ireland on Thursday.
In a joint statement, they said the meetings had been “constructive”, adding that both sides“were committed to the proper implementation of IE/NI Protocol and finding pragmatic solutions” to trade disruption.
This came after the director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium called on the UK and the EU to show pragmatism in helping the territory’s business community.
Aodhan Connolly said the meetings on Thursday were an “important” first step in what he hoped would be a “comprehensive dialogue” between the sides.
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