Fresh talks in Brussels over Northern Ireland protocol amid delays in deal

ireland
Fresh Talks In Brussels Over Northern Ireland Protocol Amid Delays In Deal
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is attending talks in Belgium. Photo: PA
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By Sam Blewett, PA Deputy Political Editor

Fresh talks aiming to secure a deal solving the issues in Northern Ireland created by Brexit are to be held in Brussels as negotiations draw out.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris will attend talks in Belgium on Thursday, but British government sources downplayed the chances of an agreement being struck this week.

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UK foreign secretary James Cleverly will not join the talks and is instead heading to New York for a United Nations meeting on Ukraine.

Time was running out for a deal to be struck on Thursday and no announcement is expected to come on Friday, as it marks a year since Russia began its all-out assault on Ukraine.

European Commission spokesman Daniel Ferrie said: “We continue our work with our UK counterparts, we’re working hard to find joint solutions.

“Our exchanges are ongoing. I can confirm that vice-president [Maros] Sefcovic will meet here in Brussels Chris Heaton-Harris later this afternoon.”

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British prime minister Rishi Sunak, however, faces potential pushback from the DUP and Brexit hardliners in the Tory party.

Asked about the concerns, EU spokesman Eric Mamer said: “We of course understand this is a sensitive issue, it has been since the beginning, this is also precisely why we’ve had all these conversations.”

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