Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to church leaders during a visit to a vaccination center
– Credit: PA
There were « inevitable » problems that needed to be addressed between the UK and Brussels, said the Prime Minister, as the difficulties persist after Brexit.
Lord Frost, the cabinet minister who signed the UK trade deal with the European Union negotiated, provoked the anger of Brussels last week by unilaterally making changes that would affect the Northern Ireland Protocol.
He followed him with stern words in an article in the Sunday Telegraph, urging Brussels to « the to shake off any remaining ill will towards Britain « to leave the block.
But Boris Johnson wanted to downplay the series, saying he was » full of optimism « about the cross-channel relationship.
He told the network : « I think this is one of the problems we face in the early stages of our new relationship with our friends in the EU and the various technical problems we face always had to be ironed out. «
During a visit to a vaccination center in North London, he said, » I am full of optimism about the future and the partnership we are building. «
The Northern Ireland- Protocol in the take-back agreement was drafted by the EU and the UK to avoid the hardening of the border on the island of Ireland.
This means adapting Northern Ireland to various EU regulations and requiring controls on goods coming from the UK to the region.
Arlene Foster welcomed « small steps » by the UK government in extending some grace period for controls under the protocol.
However, the DUP chairman said post-Brexit conditions were « absolutely devastating « and called for efforts to find a replacement.
In a move that the European Commission has threatened legal action, the UK announced last week e to extend a series of « grace periods » to facilitate trade between Northern Ireland – which remains in the EU’s internal market for goods – and the UK permanent agreements are agreed.
Cabinet Minister Lord Frost said the move London should leave time for constructive discussions with colleagues in Brussels.
However, the intervention sparked a violent reaction in Brussels. The EU accused the UK of withdrawing its contractual obligations under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement to ensure there is no return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Lord Frost said the move was legal and designed to do so to protect the everyday lives of the people of Northern Ireland.
« With Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, our agenda is an outward-looking country, confident that we can work with others towards common goals, » he said in his newspaper article.
“This is our hope for our connections with our European friends and allies. I hope they will shake off any remaining ill will to leave us and instead establish friendly relationships among sovereign equals. “
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