The Scotsman

Agreement reached on Northern Ireland

- By MICHAEL MCHUGH

Agreement has been reached on how to implement Northern Ireland aspects of Brexit involving borders and trade, the EU and UK said.

The British Government confirmed it will withdraw controvers­ial measures which could have seen the divorce deal torn up and the UK break internatio­nal law.

The agreement covers issues such as border checks on animal and plant products, the supply of medicine sand deliveries of chilled meats and other food products to supermarke­ts.

There was also "clarificat­ion" on the applicatio­n of rules on state subsidies.

Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said: "For us the important issue on all of these matters is that we have unfettered access from Northern Ireland into Great Britain, but also that trade from Great Britain into Northern Ireland can trade freely as well, so we await to see what has happened in relation to those matters."

It follows progress in talks led by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Maros Sefcovic from the European Commission.

They co-chair the EU-UK Joint Committee, which oversees the implementa­tion of the Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol.

In a joint statement, the UK and EU said "an agreement in principle" had been reached on all issues.

In view of these "mutually agreed solutions", the UK Government will withdraw clauses 44, 45 and 47 of the UK Internal Market Bill – which could have overridden the Withdrawal Agreement and will not introduce any similar provisions in the Taxation Bill.

The announceme­nt was separate from ongoing trade talks.

 ??  ?? Arlene Foster wants ‘unfettered’ UK access
Arlene Foster wants ‘unfettered’ UK access

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