Brexit: Šefčovič 'confident' about chilled meat ban solution

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator says he is "confident" a solution can be found in the next 48 hours over a possible ban on chilled meat products from GB being sold in NI.

European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič has appeared before a Stormont committee.

Products such as chilled sausages were due to be prohibited from Thursday as a result of the NI Protocol.

The protocol is part of the Brexit deal that creates a border in the Irish Sea.

It keeps NI in the European Union single market for goods.

The EU does not generally permit the import of chilled meat products like mince and sausages from non-member states.

But the UK has asked the EU to delay the ban through extending a so-called grace period.

Mr Šefčovič said he had been in "intensive contact" with the European Parliament and EU member states in recent days about the UK's request.

"While I cannot today announce the EU's formal agreement to the request, but after all the internal contacts I have had, I remain confident we can find a solution in the next 48 hours that will address both sides' needs and concerns," he said.

"I hope to be bringing such optimism to Northern Ireland more in the future."

Mr Šefčovič also told MLAs that the EU was "prepared to take bold steps" on flexibilities, if the UK is committed to implementing protocol in full, including changing EU laws if necessary.

He repeated the EU's preference for a temporary Swiss-style veterinary agreement as a solution for Northern Ireland, where the UK continues to follow all EU agri-food rules.

The UK has previously rejected this proposal, with its negotiator Lord Frost saying it would be "an abrogation of sovereignty" if it involved the rules being enforced through the EU institutions.

Speaking later in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she welcomed the "indication" from Mr Šefčovič that the extension would be granted.

"We should bank that but what we need here are longer-term solutions and I hope we can find those in the period ahead," she added.

"I do think the appearance of Maros Šefčovič really was a positive development, I think it is really important that he does hear first-hand that the DUP doesn't speak for the north on Brexit or the Protocol."

Analysis

There are clearly some within the EU who think that the UK government is not serious about maintaining the protocol.

So Maros Šefčovič was saying 'yes we want to be flexible, but we also need to see the goodwill and the implementation from your side'.

I think the two sides are still quite far apart on what sort of flexibilities are required or are necessary to make the protocol work.

I think it's inevitable that we will see another big row blowing up at least by the autumn.

Economy Minister Paul Frew described the protocol as "damaging and brutal".

He told the assembly it was being used as "punishment and leverage" by the EU for future negotiations with the UK.

"There are some people here [in the assembly] who are complicit in that and that has really frustrated businesses I've spoken to over the last couple of weeks," he added.

Before the Executive Office committee meeting, the SDLP's Colin McGrath, speaking as chairman, said the committee would make sure Mr Šefčovič was "fully appraised" of what Stormont's backbench members think about the protocol.

The Northern Ireland Protocol is the part of the Brexit deal which keeps NI in the European Union single market for goods.

The EU does not generally permit the import of chilled meat products like mince and sausages from non-member states.

Since January, producers in Great Britain have not been able to sell these products in the EU.

However, in December 2020, the EU agreed to a six-month grace period to allow supermarkets in Northern Ireland to re-orientate supply chains away from Great Britain.

The UK has asked the EU to extend a grace period for chilled meats to the end of September.

Meanwhile judgement is expected this week in a judicial review which challenged the lawfulness of the protocol.

The challenge was brought by a group of unionist politicians and was heard in the High Court in Belfast last month.

One of the applicants, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister, tweeted that judgement is expected on Wednesday morning.