Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN, (Reuters) – Ireland on Monday accused Britain of “shifting” the playing field in negotiations to solve post-Brexit trade issues in Northern Ireland. London stressed the importance of removing EU judicial oversight.

David Frost, Britain’s Brexit minister, published excerpts of a speech he will make Tuesday. Frost stated that the European Court of Justice, (ECJ), has created a “deep inequality” in the operation of the Northern Ireland protocol.

Following London’s rejection of London’s request to abolish the ECJ in July, the European Commission is expected to publish this week proposals for easing trade between Northern Ireland (and the rest of the United Kingdom) later this week.

According to the EU’s top official, the measure will have “very broad reach”.

This is the pattern that’s being repeated across the European Union. “The EU attempts to solve problems. The UK rejects them before they are published and requests more,” Simon Coveney, Irish Foreign Minister, told RTE.

“The truth is that they realize the EU won’t be moving on this matter (the role of European Court of Justice) but they are still asking for it. The EU will eventually say enough.

Coveney indicated that while he believes Britain will eventually come to an agreement, he also said it must compromise.

CUSTOM CHECKS, MEDICINES

Maros Séfcovic, Vice-President of Commission, said that 99% of all conversations during his recent visit to Northern Ireland revolved around issues concerning customs, food, plant safety, and supply of British medicines.

He said that the ECJ was not mentioned by either business or civic societies once.

Coveney was joined by politicians representing Northern Ireland’s Sinn Fein, SDLP and cross-community Alliance parties to reaffirm this belief.

Northern Ireland’s most pro-British party, the Democratic Unionist Party, threatened to leave the power-sharing region government unless the protocol was changed significantly. It also expressed concern about the ECJ and said it prefers an independent arbitration process.

Jeffrey Donaldson, DUP leader, also welcomed the “change of tone from EU”, and said to the BBC that he will judge the proposals coming in the round.