NI protocol talks will not be renegotiation, says Sefcovic

European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic has said discussions around the Northern Ireland Protocol will not be a renegotiation.

The EC has laid out measures to slash 80 per cent of regulatory checks and dramatically cut customs processes on the movement of goods, especially food and farming produce, between Britain and the island of Ireland.

The Government welcomed the announcement, signalling it wants "intensive talks" to follow the EU'S proposals.

At the same time, however, a Government spokesman said there have to be "significant changes" to the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement if there is to be a "durable settlement".

Brexit minister Lord Frost is expected in Brussels tommorrow to meet Mr Sefcovic to discuss ways to break the deadlock.

Mr Sefcovic spoke to Northern Ireland's political leaders yesterday.

Afterwards, he said he has no mandate to renegotiate the protocol. "Now we should really do the last mile, work constructively with all the proposals we put on the table, put it finally to bed," he said.

"I believe that we could be in the home stretch with our proposals on the table and as I said, let's try to solve all these issues before Christmas because I think that would be the best Christmas gift we can give to the people of Northern Ireland."

However, Mr Sefcovic added: "I have no mandate to renegotiate the protocol.”lord Frost has previously said the role of European judges is something the UK cannot accept.

But in a sign that he may be willing to compromise, he told peers that he never used the term "red lines" in his negotiations.

Under the terms of the protocol, which was agreed by the

UK and EU as part of the 2020 Withdrawal Agreement, the ECJ would be the final arbitrator in any future trade dispute between the two parties on the operation of the protocol.

The UK now wants to remove that provision and replace it with an independent arbitration process. One option reported to be under consideration by Brussels is a reduced role for European judges.