US to stay out of EU-UK dispute over Northern Ireland Protocol

Brussels (Brussels Morning) The Biden administration has no plans to take sides in the dispute between the EU and Britain over implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol that featurea in the Brexit divorce agreement between London and the bloc, Reuters reports.

The US position was stated by a senior administration official ahead of the virtual meeting between Ireland’s Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, and US President Joe Biden, himself a Catholic of Irish descent. The two leaders exchanged St.Patrick’s Day greetings in a video conference marking Ireland’s national day at a time when relations between London and Brussels remain strained over the Northern Ireland issue.

Taking no sides

“The US government has welcomed provisions in both the EU-UK Trade and cooperation agreements, as well as the Northern Ireland protocol, which we believe helps protect the gains of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement”, the official, who asked to remain anonymous, stated.

Washington, he acknowledged, is “certainly aware that there are disagreements at the moment between the UK and the EU” when it comes to implementation of the Protocol.

”We view that as a trade issue to be resolved between the UK and the EU, and hope that both sides are able to return to the table and discuss the implementation of the agreement”, the official said, pointing out that the US “is not looking to take sides in this disagreement.”

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