German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock has called for a pragmatic resolution to the Northern Ireland protocol dispute, describing it as the 'achilles heel' of EU-UK relations. During talks in London with UK foreign secretary James Cleverly, she stressed the need for a solution based on existing agreements to unlock the full potential of the bilateral partnership.
Baerbock, who studied at the London School of Economics, compared Brexit to losing a family member but urged against dwelling on past grievances. She emphasised the importance of finding a responsible way forward for Northern Ireland, directly affected by post-Brexit arrangements, without violating international law.
Her remarks signal European willingness to test UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's readiness to resolve the dispute, which has overshadowed other cooperation areas such as Horizon scientific funding. Cleverly acknowledged the longstanding issues but welcomed a 'much more constructive tone' between the UK and the European Commission.
Beyond the protocol, the two ministers agreed to revive a defunct cultural commission and modernise links between over 500 twin towns. Baerbock also discussed further sanctions on Russia, weapons transfers to Ukraine, and winter relief, aiming to demonstrate that President Putin's war is 'doomed to fail.'
