British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is keen to reach a deal with the EU to remove ‘significant barriers to free trade’ in Northern Ireland. Bloomberg writes. “But other Brexit issues must also be resolved, otherwise I won’t sign anything.”
Sunak inquired about his workload. “My job is to take this opportunity, make the tough choices and give it everything I’ve got,” Sunak told The Telegraph. “I promise you this: I will not sign any deal that does not solve the problems of Northern Ireland and the UK.”
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This weekend, Sunak will meet with ministers, European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen and the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party to break the deadlock over the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, which has severely restricted trade after Brexit. According to insiders, the deal could be presented this week.
Key issues
According to Sunak, there are three main problems that need to be solved first. For example, the British Prime Minister wants to see free trade across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. Because Northern Ireland shares an island with the Republic of Ireland – an EU country – this poses problems.
Sunak believes that Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom must be respected and that the EU cannot introduce new laws and regulations in Northern Ireland without first consulting the people of Northern Ireland.
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Although Sunak is doing his best to break the impasse that has plagued relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, he is opposed mainly by his own party. Brexiteers in the Conservative Party and unionists in Northern Ireland strongly disagree that the EU has no say in the situation, and are therefore concerned about a meaningful role for the UK in the future.
