Brexit: UK and EU to restart talks over NI Protocol

The Northern Ireland Protocol has caused deep concern among unionists

The UK and EU are set to restart talks aimed at resolving the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The move comes after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held talks with his EU counterpart Maroš Šefčovič on Friday afternoon.

The government has been attempting to change the deal it originally agreed with the EU nearly three years ago.

But talks have largely been at a standstill since February.

The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP) withdrew from Stormont's institutions in protest at the post-Brexit trading arrangements, arguing that the protocol threatens Northern Ireland's place in the union.

What is the protocol?

The protocol effectively keeps Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods - avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.

But it means new checks on goods arriving from Great Britain, causing deep concern among unionists.

In June, while Liz Truss held the position of foreign secretary, she introduced legislation in Parliament that sought to give UK ministers powers to unilaterally scrap large parts of the deal.

It was welcomed by the DUP which has called for the bill to be "fully enacted" before the party considers a return to power sharing, but was condemned by political opponents and the EU as a breach of international law.

• What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?

• Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passes Commons

Since becoming prime minister this month, Ms Truss has reiterated that she wants to reach a negotiated outcome with the EU that would avoid use of the protocol bill's powers.

However, the legislation is still expected to begin its scrutiny in the House of Lords in the coming weeks.

James Cleverly spoke to the European Commission's Maroš Šefčovič via video call on Friday

On Friday, her successor as foreign secretary, James Cleverly, met Maroš Šefčovič, Brussels' chief negotiator, via videocall.

Afterwards, he tweeted that both sides "agreed we want to look for solutions to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement" and would speak again soon.

Mr Šefčovič described it as a "good conversation" and said "both sides" had agreed to look for solutions.

It is now expected that talks will resume, at an official level, as early as next week.

That would potentially mark the first meaningful discussions since February.

However, big divisions remain at both a political and technical level.

The change of personnel and political leadership in Number 10 after the Conservative leadership election was welcomed by the Irish government and EU as an opportunity to reset relations.

But on Wednesday, Michel Barnier, the former diplomat who negotiated the original withdrawal deal, told the Dáil (Irish Parliament) the EU "must not back down" over the protocol.