The Boris Johnson government proposed a drastic downgrade in negotiations with the European Union on Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade relations as the prime minister tried to end this toxic dispute.

On Friday, a senior British official Briefing EU journalists based in London Johnson no longer seeks to immediately cancel the role of the European Court of Justice in implementing the so-called Northern Ireland Agreement.

In a move called an “important change”, the British official stated that “no one was demonstrating on the streets of Belfast” to protest the role of the European Court of Justice.

The agreement is part of the Brexit agreement and aims to maintain Ireland’s open borders. In exchange, some checks are needed on the east-west trade across the Irish Sea.

Although Johnson still hopes to resolve the “governance” issues of the agreement in the long run, EU reporters have learned that the prime minister hopes that the current focus is to ensure the smooth flow of goods across the Irish Sea between the UK and Northern Ireland.

“If the negotiations fail, it will not be because the United Kingdom insisted that the European Court of Justice withdraw from the protocol,” the official said, adding that London accepted that the European Commission had no authorization to discuss the removal protocol. The European Court of Justice from the transaction.

According to reporters at the press conference, they were specifically called to report on the “shift” of the British government’s thinking-an olive branch that could help bring about an agreement with Brussels.

But when the briefing started to appear, Downing Street desperately tried to downplay what was said, fearing that it had already been destroyed. The negotiating stance of Lord David Frost, the Brexit minister.

A government spokesperson said: “This is an inaccurate description of our position. Any lasting solution must resolve all the difficulties caused by the agreement, including the European Court of Justice.”

Nevertheless, a formal briefing by a group of EU journalists indicated that Johnson hopes to “set aside” the European Court of Justice issue to ensure breakthroughs in other areas.

For weeks, the two sides have been talking about significantly reducing inspections of cargo at Irish Sea ports, including medicines, animals and food, and reducing customs inspections.

“Le Monde” based in London correspondent Stefanie Bolzen (Stefanie Bolzen), Tweet The British official said: “If the Protocol operates as advertised, it can provide Northern Ireland with an advantage.” Northern Ireland has a place in both the UK and EU commodity markets.

When Britain made obvious concessions, Washington pressured Johnson not to honor his threat to activate the Article 16 coverage mechanism, which would allow him to suspend some transactions.

The United States refuses to lift tariffs on British steel and other metals, senior figures in Washington said Kind of confrontation Johnson’s threat to the operation of the agreement.

In recent weeks, people’s emotions have become more constructive.EU diplomats believe that the turning point came in early November, when member states made it clear that if Article 16 is triggered They can respond by revoking the entire post-Brexit trade and cooperation agreement, with one year’s notice.

Commission officials said that since then, Britain has only briefly raised the issue of the European Court of Justice in negotiations. Diplomats said that it is satisfying to discuss other issues first.

While emphasizing the gap between British requirements and EU proposals, Frost also talked about the possibility of finding a solution.

Frost said after the talks on Friday that he and his EU opponent Maros Sevkovic will hold two meetings next week to push for an agreement.