Ritain’s relationship with the EU is recovering from a “very low” of “no confidence” during the Boris Johnson era, according to the German ambassador to the UK.
Miguel Berger praised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for developing a “relationship of trust” with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyenadding, “This is something we can build on.”
Mr Berger said the EU now has “full confidence” that the UK will implement what has been agreed on Brexit matters, contrary to the experience with Mr Johnson as prime minister.
MPs will be asked to approve the rules to introduce the Stormont braking portion of the Windsor Framework on Wednesday.
Downing Street believes in the measure – which could give the UK a veto over the imposition of new EU rules Northern Ireland – was the “most important part” of the agreement.
It represents the first Commons test for Mr Sunak’s deal with the EU and he could face a revolt from the Tory backbench.
The Windsor Framework as a whole seeks to reduce the Brexit bureaucratic burden on the movement of GB goods destined for Northern Ireland created by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Mr Berger told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “I think it is a very good compromise that has been quietly negotiated between the European Commission and the UK government over four months.
“It maintains the Good Friday Agreement, it preserves east-west trade, it means the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland can remain open, so I think it achieves all the key objectives.
“What I hear very often from business people in Northern Ireland is that they need predictability and stability and I think the Windsor Framework can achieve that.”
Mr Berger added: “We understand the sensitivities of the DUP and other union members, but at the same time I think we need a compromise that allows us to have the necessary confidence in the agreement, and I think this has been achieved.”
“We are confident that not only will there be an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons, but that this is an agreement we can build on to strengthen the relationship between the UK and the European Union.”
I think we can look to a brighter future in the relationship.
Mr Berger added: “We are confident that the UK government will actually implement what has been agreed and, as we know, that was not the case with Boris Johnson.”
Asked about the relationship with former Prime Minister Mr Johnson, he said: “I would say the relationship was really at a very low point, there was no confidence that the things agreed will be carried out and this is definitely different now.
“I think we can look to a brighter future in the relationship.”
The so-called Stormont brake mechanism allows a minority of Stormont MLAs to formally raise concerns about the imposition of new EU laws in Northern Ireland.
The process could eventually lead to the British government vetoing its introduction.
Details on how the brake will work will be detailed in the secondary legislation, which the government says will be published on Monday.
The DUP, which collapsed power-sharing in Northern Ireland in protest of the protocol, has said the Windsor Framework fails to address some of the “fundamental issues” created by existing arrangements.
Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden told Sky News: “I am confident that the vote will pass and succeed, and I hope we will do this with the support of the DUP, but ultimately that’s for them.”
Labor will vote in favor of the regulation on Wednesday and shadow communities secretary Lisa Nandy told the same programme: “I think it is a step forward and we will support a step forward.
“Rishi Sunak is willing to clean up some of his own mess, we’re certainly not going to criticize him for that and there’s no question that this is something that’s urgent right now, it’s incredibly important and we’re trying to get some of that friction, some of those barriers on the island of Ireland have long been our priority.