Ulster Unionist Party leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has voiced his concerns about the lack of urgency in addressing the issues created by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Steve Aiken said:
“The statements issued following the meeting between Lord Frost and the EU`s Maros Sefcovic are very disappointing and demonstrate a lack of urgency. Northern Ireland can`t afford to move at the snail`s pace of these negotiations. The Protocol is having a profound economic and societal impact in Northern Ireland on a daily basis and those issues need dealt with now.
“Regrettably, they seem to be kicking the can down the road. If they think that time will dilute Unionist opposition to the Protocol or assuage very real concerns which have seen trade disrupted and inevitably rising costs, then they are badly mistaken. If anything, continued intransigence will only stiffen opposition.
“We published our own proposals in February 2019 and a list of immediate actions needed to protect Northern Ireland in February 2021. Those proposals should be revisited by EU and UK negotiators if they want a way out of the current Protocol mess.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
UUP proposals published on 1 February 2021:
https://uup.org/assets/images/UUP%20NI%20Protocol%20solutions%20paper.pdf