Policy briefing: Brexit and EU negotiations

Goodbye Lord Frost and welcome Liz Truss

Last week, the Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss held her first set of talks with the EU’s Chief Negotiator Maroš Šefčovič following the resignation of Lord Frost at the end of last year. Truss taking up the Brexit brief could indicate a slight shift in direction for the government’s policy on Brexit this year. For example, Brexit is no longer seen as a cross-government priority – but as a foreign affairs issue. Whilst the talks did not lead to any concrete change, many commented on the warmer atmosphere between Truss and Šefčovič and there are hopes this will translate into progress in the negotiations.

The negotiations come against the backdrop of the government repeating its threat of triggering Article 16 if an agreement with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol is not reached. Triggering Article 16 would suspend parts of the Protocol, and there a