Thread by @pmdfoster

NEW: UK is about to extend "grace periods" for NI Protocol that has caused so much difficulty since #Brexit -- EU side will not object -- so that talks on UK Command Paper can continue....BUT (to be clear) two sides still miles apart /1

ft.com/content/0faeac…

So, take Lord Frost @DavidGHFrost speech at weekend (worth reading)... he repeats that “solutions which involve ‘flexibilities’ within the current rules won’t work for us”. But that is exactly where the EU is.../2

gov.uk/government/spe…

@DavidGHFrost As Irish dep pm/Tanaiste @LeoVaradkar told @BBCr4today this morning there is "no appetite" in EU capitals for re-write:

“We don’t really see the case for renegotiating it [the protocol] so soon, we think most of the solutions can be found within the existing agreement.” /3

@DavidGHFrost @LeoVaradkar @BBCr4today So it does feel like both sides are still staring at this from opposite ends of the telescope.

Not clear how/if it gets resolved but Frost already says threshold for Article 16 is reached -- even if he'd prefer to renegotiate. He outlines two route in speech here /4

@DavidGHFrost @LeoVaradkar @BBCr4today The EU has paused its legal actions, but if UK triggers Article 16 (perhaps in limited way) then that surely re-starts that process. It all depends how far and fast the UK wants to push it really. /5

@DavidGHFrost @LeoVaradkar @BBCr4today There is also the question of whether NI Business will buy into EU "flexibilities" even if the UK government does not, and if that creates pressure to move the UK government to take a less maximalist approach to making Protocol "work"./6

@DavidGHFrost @LeoVaradkar @BBCr4today But for now, it seems both sides have agreed to keep talking and avoid another blow up.....even if, based on public statements of the kind noted above, it is not at all clear they are closing in on a middle ground. ENDS