Thread by @MarkerJParker

#Brexit was never about stepping away from our "proud and historic" role in Europe says minister @LeoDochertyUK as he starts his address to the #EU #UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

The Europe Minister talks about combined efforts to sanction Russia as well as to support Sweden & Finland's accession to NATO

Docherty urges European countries to provide more weapons to Ukraine and move ahead with more sanctions against Russia

The TCA (post #Brexit trade agreement) is broadly "functioning well" says Docherty

But - (there'll be a but...)

#Horizon - #EU has "persistently delayed" #UK's participation in the research programme

"The UK cannot wait much longer," he says

Alternatives are under "active consideration"

Onto the Northern Ireland Protocol - it is clear the protocol has caused "real problems" in Northern Ireland, says Docherty

"It is the UK's preference to resolve this through talks."

... then no mention of the NIP bill or Article 16

Now onto EU's @MarosSefcovic who says the #UK and #EU's positions are "not worlds apart" - "if we genuinely explore the EU’s robust proposals"

That's a bit of an if - as UK has previously panned those proposals

It boils down to “no checks” versus “minimum checks” says @MarosSefcovic

EU view is that it's just not possible to have zero checks because of the type of Brexit the UK govt chose

@MarosSefcovic Maros Sefcovic calls on UK to drop the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"This is surely the moment to abandon recourse to unilateral action, such as the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, set to disapply core elements of the Protocol."