Truss wants EU to speed up timetable for protocol deal
LIZ TRUSS yesterday told the EU she wants a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol by the end of March in her first face-to-face meeting with the bloc’s Brexit negotiator.
The two sides are expected to agree a timetable for intensive talks over the measures to avoid a hard border in a bid to broker a compromise before the forthcoming Stormont elections.
Despite a slippery start to the talks when Maros Sefcovic, a European Commission vice-president, stumbled on a step on meeting Ms Truss at Chevening House, the Foreign Secretary’s official country residence, the pair said a deal was needed to ensure peace and stability in the province.
The UK and EU believe the best way to achieve this is by brokering a pact to reduce the number of trade checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain before May’s ballot.
“We want an agreement very quickly to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland,” a UK government source said.
“Liz wants the pace to be slightly quicker. All she wants is both sides to agree to intensive talks and the deal to be done really quickly.”
The Telegraph understands the elections are definitely a factor in the Foreign Office’s thinking. Officials have yet to agree on the length of the Purdah period before the ballot on May 5.
Brussels has also signalled that a deal by the end of March would be favourable for the EU, with officials confirming that it is vital to reach an agreement before the Northern Ireland elections.
“We want it sorted as soon as possible for certainty and stability in Northern Ireland,” an EU source said. Officials and diplomats believe the forthcoming vote will give Ms Truss enough scope to compromise to ensure they do not overshadow the campaign period.