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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Brexit: Talks on Northern Ireland Protocol 'making slow progress' | Brexit: Talks on Northern Ireland Protocol 'making slow progress' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| London and Brussels have previously been talking up the potential for striking a deal | London and Brussels have previously been talking up the potential for striking a deal |
| Talks between Brussels and London about the Northern Ireland Protocol are said to be making slow progress. | Talks between Brussels and London about the Northern Ireland Protocol are said to be making slow progress. |
| Technical talks continue but no proper "big meetings" have taken place this week, with many officials on leave. | Technical talks continue but no proper "big meetings" have taken place this week, with many officials on leave. |
| EU sources say they were still waiting for the UK to clearly set out its position. | EU sources say they were still waiting for the UK to clearly set out its position. |
| The protocol keeps Northern Ireland aligned with some EU trade rules to ensure goods can move freely across the Irish land border after Brexit. | The protocol keeps Northern Ireland aligned with some EU trade rules to ensure goods can move freely across the Irish land border after Brexit. |
| The UK wants a fundamental rewrite of the treaty while the EU believes sufficient "flexibilities" can be found within the existing text. | The UK wants a fundamental rewrite of the treaty while the EU believes sufficient "flexibilities" can be found within the existing text. |
| Unionist parties argue that it has undermined Northern Ireland's place within the UK by effectively creating a trade border with Great Britain. | Unionist parties argue that it has undermined Northern Ireland's place within the UK by effectively creating a trade border with Great Britain. |
| The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to return to the governing executive at Stormont until the protocol is scrapped or changed - and power-sharing has stalled in Northern Ireland as a result. | The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to return to the governing executive at Stormont until the protocol is scrapped or changed - and power-sharing has stalled in Northern Ireland as a result. |
| But on Friday Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said there would not be a Stormont assembly election before Christmas. | But on Friday Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said there would not be a Stormont assembly election before Christmas. |
| It is understood that the Irish government pushed for the Stormont election to be delayed. | It is understood that the Irish government pushed for the Stormont election to be delayed. |
| May's election resulted in Sinn Féin - a nationalist party that supports the protocol - winning the most seats at Stormont for the first time. | May's election resulted in Sinn Féin - a nationalist party that supports the protocol - winning the most seats at Stormont for the first time. |
| 'What's the substance?' | 'What's the substance?' |
| Diplomats have said it is not yet exactly clear to them what direction Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to take on the protocol - as well as on wider international issues. | Diplomats have said it is not yet exactly clear to them what direction Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to take on the protocol - as well as on wider international issues. |
| "It's understandable but regrettable that he seems to be tied up in domestic politics," said one diplomat. | "It's understandable but regrettable that he seems to be tied up in domestic politics," said one diplomat. |
| The warmer mood music - that preceded Mr Sunak's arrival in Downing Street - is still being welcomed in Brussels but many are asking: "What's the substance?" | The warmer mood music - that preceded Mr Sunak's arrival in Downing Street - is still being welcomed in Brussels but many are asking: "What's the substance?" |
| There are hopes some progress can be made in the protocol talks over the coming weeks - with customs and trade-data sharing frequently cited as areas of possible progress. | There are hopes some progress can be made in the protocol talks over the coming weeks - with customs and trade-data sharing frequently cited as areas of possible progress. |
| However, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill - which is making its way through Parliament - is still regarded in Brussels as a "poisonous" cloud over negotiations. | However, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill - which is making its way through Parliament - is still regarded in Brussels as a "poisonous" cloud over negotiations. |
| What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? | What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? |
| Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passes Commons | Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passes Commons |
| The legislation could hand UK ministers powers to unilaterally start changing parts of the mutually agreed treaty. | The legislation could hand UK ministers powers to unilaterally start changing parts of the mutually agreed treaty. |
| There are warnings that if the bill became law relations would soon be in a "bad place". | |
| The European Commission's heavily hinted it could start hitting the UK with trade sanctions should the powers be put into use. | |
| Technical talks restarted during the brief premiership of Liz Truss, after a gap of many months. | Technical talks restarted during the brief premiership of Liz Truss, after a gap of many months. |
| The protocol is opposed by unionists, who argue that it undermines Northern Ireland's place in the UK | The protocol is opposed by unionists, who argue that it undermines Northern Ireland's place in the UK |
| The UK essentially wants to eliminate checks on goods arriving into Northern Ireland that are destined to stay there. | The UK essentially wants to eliminate checks on goods arriving into Northern Ireland that are destined to stay there. |
| The European Commission says its proposals mean controls can be significantly eased. | The European Commission says its proposals mean controls can be significantly eased. |
| There are other areas of dispute such as tax arrangements, business subsidies and governance. | There are other areas of dispute such as tax arrangements, business subsidies and governance. |
| The UK previously softened demands to remove the European Court of Justice from its oversight role. | The UK previously softened demands to remove the European Court of Justice from its oversight role. |
| But political pressure on that issue, from some on the Conservative benches, is likely to continue. | But political pressure on that issue, from some on the Conservative benches, is likely to continue. |
| And while Mr Sunak is yet to clearly outline his thoughts on the protocol since coming into office, he inherited a position whereby the UK wanted the actual text of the treaty to be renegotiated. | |
| Government insiders have suggested that the approach remains broadly the same, signalled by a decision to keep Chris Heaton-Harris as Northern Ireland secretary and James Cleverly at the Foreign Office. | Government insiders have suggested that the approach remains broadly the same, signalled by a decision to keep Chris Heaton-Harris as Northern Ireland secretary and James Cleverly at the Foreign Office. |
| That is because of claims that problems with the protocol are "baked in" to the text. | That is because of claims that problems with the protocol are "baked in" to the text. |
| However, the EU argues that trying to rewrite the treaty would create even more uncertainty and believes sufficient flexibilities can be found within it. | However, the EU argues that trying to rewrite the treaty would create even more uncertainty and believes sufficient flexibilities can be found within it. |