A Biden administration adviser who has warned the British government not to take unilateral action on the Northern Ireland Protocol will meet the main parties at Stormont today.
Counsellor with the US Department of State Derek Chollet last week cautioned against any “flare ups” and said the ongoing dispute needs to be resolved.
“We understand that there’s some practical realities and that adjustments could be made. But we don’t think that unilateral steps are helpful,” Mr Chollet told British media.
“We want to see the temperature go down on this and I think, to everyone’s credit, it has in recent weeks.”
He added: “We want to see the UK and the EU have a strong relationship. We’re at a moment now when we think transatlantic unity is very, very important. It is imperative that we work together.”
Mr Chollet will first meet Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who has said he will trigger a fresh Stormont Assembly election if power-sharing is not restored by the end of this month.
He is then scheduled to hold a series of private meetings with Sinn Féin, the DUP, Alliance, Ulster Unionists and SDLP.
Sinn Féin’s leader in Northern Ireland and Stormont’s First Minister designate Michelle O’Neill met Mr Chollet during a visit to Washington in July.
At the weekend, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson again warned that his party will not re-enter power sharing unless the protocol dispute is resolved to its satisfaction.
Mr Donaldson said that the cross-community consensus required for power sharing does not exist, claiming there are no unionists elected to Stormont that supports the protocol.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said that if checks were removed on goods going into Northern Ireland, that would be a “quick fix” but would not solve the wider problem.
‘Our argument is very clear. That if goods are moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and remaining within the UK internal market, they should not be subject to EU regulations. It’s not just the checks,” he said.
“If those goods are circulating within the United Kingdom, or not traveling into the EU single market, then of course, they are required to meet UK standards.
“And so, it’s dealing with the regulatory framework and not just the checks that flow from that framework that is important.”
Biden administration adviser to meet Stormont parties
Source: Viral Trends Report
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