U.K. to Look ‘Constructively’ at EU Brexit Proposals, Frost Says
U.K. to Look ‘Constructively’ at EU Brexit Proposals, Frost Says
(Bloomberg) --
The U.K. said it will look “very positively and constructively” at the European Union’s proposals to fix post-Brexit disruption in Northern Ireland, as the two sides prepare for fresh negotiations.
“We wait to see what the EU proposes to us,” Brexit minister David Frost said in the House of Lords on Wednesday. “We are beginning a negotiation and we’ve got a track record of reaching successful outcomes in negotiations. I hope we will do so again this time.”
Frost’s comments came just hours before the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Maros Sefcovic is due to present the bloc’s plans for alleviating disruption to trade in Northern Ireland, an issue that has seen Britain threaten to suspend key features of the Brexit divorce agreement.
The EU’s proposals are likely to include a 50% cut in customs checks and an 80% drop in the number of sanitary checks on food crossing the Irish Sea.
“We very much want to get into an intensive talks process on those proposals,” Frost said. “We would like to find a permanent solution to this problem.”
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