According to a report in the British newspaper The Times, a solution to the conflict over the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol was found in negotiations with Brussels.

The newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing government sources, that the breakthrough in the post-Brexit talks has not yet been announced due to domestic considerations.

An attempt is being made to get the Northern Irish party DUP and arch-Brexiteers in London on board.

The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Wednesday in Brussels that there was still no final agreement.

However, she described the talks as “very constructive”.

She cannot say anything about individual aspects before the negotiations are concluded.

Jochen Buchsteiner

Political correspondent in London.

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According to the Times, Deputy President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic is ready to waive controls on goods that come from Great Britain and are only intended for Northern Ireland.

At the same time, Brussels made concessions to the British regarding the controversial role of the European Court of Justice.

According to the solution outlined, the ECJ would only come into play as a clarification body if a dispute were referred by Northern Irish courts.

So far, Brussels has been pushing for the Commission to bring disputes before the ECJ immediately.

Red and green corridors

According to the Times, the solution to the conflict over goods controls at the new trade border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is based on the British concept of “red and green corridors”.

Under this, goods going beyond Northern Ireland into Ireland and thus the EU (red channel) would remain subject to the agreed controls, while goods proven to be intended only for consumption in Northern Ireland (green channel) would be waved through.

To this end, another agreement would be negotiated in which Great Britain, among other things, agrees to maintain the EU standards for exports of animals and animal products.

According to the Times, the British government is reporting a "complete change of mood" in the talks.

Both sides have now agreed that the protocol as set out in the Brexit Agreement cannot be maintained.

For the first time, both sides tried to go as far as possible towards a compromise.

The "old scoring" is over.

The breakthrough was achieved on the British side by a team of diplomats led by National Security Advisor Tim Barrow.

The conflict over the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol has led to a political crisis in Northern Ireland.

In protest against the protocol, the DUP has been blocking the formation of a government in Belfast for months.

Unionists do not want to give up their refusal until the protocol is abolished or significantly changed.

Apparently, there is concern in London that the compromise that has been found will not convince the DUP.

In particular, the role that is to be left to the ECJ as the final decision-making authority threatens to meet with resistance.

It is also unclear how leading Brexiteers, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, would react to the compromise.