British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is keen to reach a deal with the European Union to remove ‘significant barriers to free trade’ in Northern Ireland. It writes Bloomberg. “But then other Brexit issues also have to be resolved, otherwise I won’t sign anything.”

Sunak appealed to the size of his work. “My job is to take this opportunity, make a difficult choice and give it my all,” Sunak told The Telegraph. “And I promise you: I will not sign any deal that doesn’t solve problems for Northern Ireland and England.”

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This weekend, Sunak will speak with ministers, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Northern Ireland’s Democratic Union Party to break the impasse over the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, which has severely restricted trade since Brexit. According to insiders, a deal could be delivered this week.

The main problem

According to Sunak, there are three big problems that must be solved first. For example, the British Prime Minister wants to see free trade throughout Great Britain, including Northern Ireland. Since Northern Ireland shares an island with the Republic of Ireland – which is an EU country – this creates a problem.

Sunak also believes that Northern Ireland’s place in the UK must be respected and that the European Union cannot simply introduce new laws and regulations in Northern Ireland without first consulting the people of Northern Ireland.

Read also | Sunak: ‘Progress around Northern Ireland’

Although Sunak did his best to break the impasse that had soured relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, he was primarily opposed by his own party. Brexit supporters in the Conservative Party and unionists from Northern Ireland strongly disagree that the European Union has a say in the situation, and are therefore worried about the meaningful role the country will have for the UK in the future.