The Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the UK quoted local media on January 27, reporting that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had sent two top government officials to participate in negotiations with the European Union (EU) on the Northern Protocol. Ireland aims to settle disputes over post-Brexit trade regulation.
Specifically, according to the Financial Times, Prime Minister Sunak sent Sir Tim Barrow, national security adviser and former British Ambassador to the EU.
With the advantage of having extensive relationships in both Europe and the United States, Mr. Tim Barrow is tasked with assisting British diplomats to complete sensitive discussions related to the Northern Ireland Protocol in order to achieve a possible deal with the EU and ease pressure from the US.
The administration of President Joe Biden is urging the UK and EU to soon resolve disagreements related to The Northern Ireland Protocol to salvage bilateral relations that have deteriorated since Brexit.
[Anh và EU không đạt đột phá trong đàm phán Nghị định thư Bắc Ireland]
The second official trusted by Prime Minister Sunak is Cabinet Minister Simon Case, who has a lot of experience in negotiating with the EU and was in charge of the first negotiations on the Irish border issue due to Brexit caused.
Mr. Simon Case will take the role of coordinating the views of agencies within the UK Government.
The UK took the step in light of the recent progress in negotiations with the EU.
The two sides have drafted a framework agreement and will progress to completion. However, according to several EU officials, turning this framework agreement into a politically viable deal will depend heavily on whether Prime Minister Sunak can reach consensus within the UK government.
The Northern Ireland Protocol is an important part of the agreement Brexit (UK leaves the EU), allowing British Northern Ireland to remain in the EU’s single goods market to avoid creating a hard border on the island of Ireland.
However, the implementation of this decree resulted in a procedural separation between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
According to the plan following many delays, the UK will hold the Northern Ireland regional government election on March 5 to be able to fully resume activities here.
Phong Ha (VNA/Vietnam+)
