RTE-EU Rebuffs Times Story Saying NI Protocol Deal Is Near

RTE's Tony Connelly on EU responses to the front-page article in the London Times stating that the UK and EU are nearing a deal on the controversial Northern Ireland protocol, which remains a major obstacle to effective functioning of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

• Connelly: "EU sources have denied the report which says the EU and UK have struck a deal involving “signficant” concessions by Brussels on customs checks on goods moving GB-NI and on the role of the ECJ. One EU source said: “It’s not true.”
• "The [Times] report said the Commission had conceded that the ECJ could rule on issues related to the Protocol only if referred by Northern Ireland courts.The EU ambassadors were briefed in Brussels this morning on the EU UK negotiations [...]. According to one source: “Nothing new. Talks ongoing. Progress [is] being made but no sign of anything imminent.”
• "Senior figures have told RTE in recent days that talks are continuing and that as of late last week there was no sign of an imminent breakthrough. However, diplomats have said it was difficult to see discussions between EU and UK negotiators continuing to April..."