NEW: Ireland has been assured by the Netherlands there is no basis to reports that Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte would intervene in the NI Protocol dispute at the bidding of British prime minister Boris Johnson, according to Europe Minister @ThomasByrneTD
2/ Speaking in Brussels Mr Byrne said: “We have been assured by our Dutch colleagues that those reports that he would intervene between Britain and the European Union are not correct at all.”
3/ He added: “My understanding is that Mark Rutte went to Britain with the message of the European Union, that we're acting together, and that Boris Johnson needed to resolve these issues with the European Union.”
4/ Boris Johnson has claimed that Mr Rutte had offered to “mediate” between Britain and the EU during a meeting in Downing Street last week. Dutch officials have reportedly denied such an offer was made.
5/ Earlier @MarosSefcovic briefed Europe ministers on his recent visit to NI. Mr Byrne said: “He met people on the ground and he recognises that there are problems in the operation of Protocol. But [he is] very much, along with all the Member States, in solutions mode.”
6/ Mr Sefcovic will bring forward new EU legislation within the coming days which, diplomats have said, will address the problems surrounding the importation and licensing of medicines moving from GB to Northern Ireland.
7/ He will also introduce new proposals on customs formalities, agrifood checks and an enhanced role for the Northern Ireland institutions.
Mr Byrne said the objective was to work out how to “make the most out of” the Protocol and to make it work "as effectively as possible".
Mr Byrne said the objective was to work out how to “make the most out of” the Protocol and to make it work "as effectively as possible".
8/ “We will help businesses in Northern Ireland reap the benefits of the Protocol which involves being in the single market at the same time being in the [internal market of] Great Britain as well,” he said.
9/ The minister said member states were not contemplating any move by the UK to trigger Article 16 of the Protocol. “There's certainly no discussion around the table...about contingencies in relation to Article 16.
10/ "Nobody wants to contemplate Article 16 because, first of all, that would be a disaster for Northern Ireland.
“It would be completely self defeating. I think people want to focus on our solutions to the problems."
ENDS
“It would be completely self defeating. I think people want to focus on our solutions to the problems."
ENDS
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