BRUSSELS – European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss have emphasised that "guaranteeing the rights of EU (European Union) people based in the UK and UK citizens resident in the EU" has "always been a key priority for both sides."

According to reports, they said that the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which allows Northern Ireland to remain in the EU's single market while avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, is the only way to protect the Good Friday Agreement and maintain peace on the island of Ireland, in a joint statement issued after their meeting here on Monday.

The statement emphasised "both parties' continued desire to ensure that lingering concerns in the context of the protocol are addressed, and sustainable solutions be found for the benefit of individuals, companies, and stability in Northern Ireland."

However, both Sefcovic and Truss noted that the protocol's implementation required "additional attention." Following their discussion in Brussels, Sefcovic told a press conference that the EU wants to know if the (EU-UK) Withdrawal Agreement or UK immigration law governs the rights of EU nationals. Truss and Sefcovic both expressed a desire to make things work, according to Sefcovic.

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