This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic met this afternoon with the EU for face-to-face discussions on the Protocol. Talks have already been extended beyond the initial timetable proposed by the UK, as both sides try to avoid the suspension of the treaty via the legal mechanism of Article 16.
Some progress was made in some areas today, but they ended up with no results. With Lord Frost warning that he will not allow discussions to become too long, each meeting without a breakthrough pushes Britain closer to deploying the nuclear option. Following today's meeting, the Brexit minister said: "Employee Vice President Maros Sefcovic and I met in London today to take stock of discussions on the Northern Ireland Protocol. We discussed the full range of issues that cause problems in Northern Ireland.
We would like to find a negotiated solution. The gap between our positions is still significant and we are ready to use Article 16 to protect the Belfast Good Friday Agreement if other solutions can't be found. There is progress on medicines in talks between officials earlier this week, but an agreement is yet to be reached. Under the current terms of the Protocol, medicines approved for use in the UK can not be used in Northern Ireland unless they comply with EU standards. The Government wants to change the implementation of the Protocol so that all medicines approved for use in Britain can be used in the province. France brags that it can 'paralyse British economy' fishing feud explodes UPDATE French fishermen demand licence U-turn to end blockade REACTION Brexit Britain export masterplan to unleash 'next gen trade deals' INSIGHT A solution must be found within weeks if there is to be a solution that does not require Article 16 according to officials. While there is hope for a long term fix on medicines, the UK mood is more downbeat on other areas. Despite constructive discussions, no significant progress has been made in easing the flow of goods to Northern Ireland across the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland is being placed in the EU's single market for goods in order to avoid a hard border with Ireland, according to the protocol.