Catarina Debiya

LISBON, (Reuters) – On Tuesday, David Frost, the British Brexit minister made a passionate plea to the European Union to make “significant changes” in post-Brexit trade rules with Northern Ireland. He said that only this could remove the poisonous elements from their relationships.

Frost warned London that if the EU fails to compromise on a particular aspect of the Brexit divorce agreement, it could unilaterally abandon some terms.

Frost appealed again for a solution to the problem, which has been ongoing for several months. His speech was a mix of explanations for Britain’s vote to leave EU in 2016 and accusations that Brussels had tried to complicate relations.

He said, “In summary, let’s attempt to get back to normal”, to a crowd of reporters and EU diplomats in Lisbon.

We could, with a little bit of effort, still be in a place where all the issues are resolved and the poison removed completely from diplomatic high table.

Frost’s speech has been condemned by the European Commission. The Commission will then outline its propositions, but it won’t comment on it immediately.

Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, signed the “Northern Ireland Protocol” as part his 2020 Brexit deal. But, since then, he claims it was agreed too quickly and is no longer beneficial to Northern Ireland’s people.

Frost had for many months demanded that the EU change the protocol that allows trade between Northern Ireland and Britain. But on Tuesday, he increased the pressure and threatened to threaten Brussels with a retaliatory strike.

In response to a series of British proposals, the EU will likely unveil their package. These were presented by London in July. They outlined London’s intention to rework certain parts of the Protocol governing trade and the function of the European Court of Justice.

Frost answered a question about the proposal package. He said, “What we have heard about it is…interesting, and we’ll discuss it even though it may not be the right job the first time.”

Britain believes that intensive negotiations could resolve the problem for a brief time, but the EU repeatedly stated it would not renegotiate its protocol. It has also criticised Britain’s decision to renege on an agreement both parties had signed in good faith.

Simon Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, stated Monday that Britain was aware of Brussels’ inability to move on the ECJ. He stated, “At one point the EU is going to say enough. We cannot compromise anymore and I believe we are very close now.”

Frost said that the protocol caused unforeseen friction for certain goods, raising concerns about the fragile peace in Northern Ireland. This was especially true of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to decades of violence between predominantly Catholic loyalists and Protestant Unionists.

He said, “For the EU to now say that the Protocol — drawn in extreme haste during a period of great uncertainty — cannot be improved upon…would be an historic misjudgment.”

“So let me repeat: Let us be ambitious together and find a better route forward.