Sefcovic-Progress In NI Protocol Talks But Difficulties Remain

Wires carrying comments from European Commission VP Maros Sefcovic stating that "progress is being made in talks with the UK on the Northern Ireland protocol", but added that "difficulties remain". The comments come in the wake of comments from RTE's Tony Connelly that signaled at the potential for a deal being reached on customs that could pave the path to a deal.

• Full thread: https://twitter.com/tconnellyRTE/status/1622490194...
• Connelly: "The EU will accept the principle that GB goods shipped to NI and staying there should be treated differently to goods moving south into the single market and as such will agree to a green and red lane model at ports, as proposed by the UK, a senior EU official tells RTE. [...] Such an acceptance will increase the chances that EU and UK negotiators will reach agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The handling of so-called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues has alway been one of the most difficult throughout the negotiations."
• Both sides are looking to conclude talks ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement.