The EU’s chief negotiator on Brexit has suggested that physical checks on goods travelling across the Irish Sea could be cut to a couple of lorries a day.
Maros Sefcovic said the union stood ready to work in an open and constructive way with Britain following a statement from the new prime minister.
The new prime minister, Liz Truss, on the prospect of a negotiated settlement on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
It came as the UK and EU had been embroiled in a row over Britain’s proposals to override parts of the controversial post-Brexit treaty, as it seeks to reduce trade barriers with the region.
On Wednesday, Truss said her preference was for a negotiated solution to the dispute.
But she said such a resolution would have to deliver all of the things we set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which was making its way through Parliament.
The legislation would allow ministers to unilaterally scrap the arrangements the UK signed up to as part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Sefcovic said he was encouraged by Truss’s recent remarks.
“We stand ready to work in an open and constructive and intensive way,’’ he said.
He argued that the trade border would be invisible under the EU’s plans, with goods processed remotely while making their way to Northern Ireland, as long as the UK provides real-time data on their movements.
Sefcovic suggested physical checks would typically only be made for a couple of lorries a day when there is reasonable suspicion of illegal trade smuggling, illegal drugs or dangerous toys or poisoned food.
The treaty is designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
But it has proved deeply unpopular with unionists because it has introduced new trade barriers in the Irish Sea.
It has sparked a power-sharing crisis at Stormont, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) withdrawing from the Executive in protest.
Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin said last week that a pathway to resolving the issues with the arrangement can be found if there was a will.
That his Government would work with Britain and the EU to do the practical and sensible thing.
He said a strong partnership between the two governments is vital to underpin the Good Friday Agreement and support peace and prosperity on the islands. (dpa/NAN)
