Mr. Maro? ?efovi:

I thank the Chair and Senator Conway for their questions. Looking at the positive elements, since the unilateral measures in March, there have been no negative surprises coming from the UK side. We established regular contact with David Frost. Our talks are clearly not easy, but despite the odds and difficulties, and sometimes very tense atmosphere, we continue to talk. We engage, and the same goes for our teams. I fully understand the frustration the Chair was referring to. The permanent highlighting of Article 16 scenarios by the UK side was definitely not helping this atmosphere either. We have to be professional, responsible and very realistic, and therefore we are preparing for all scenarios. Whatever the eventuality is, we will be ready for it. However, we do not want to aggravate the situation by speculating on hypothetical questions because we still believe that our A, B, C and D scenarios should be positive ones and should be focused on the solutions. We demonstrated that we can do that and I hope that approach will finally prevail in London as well.

There is a sense of duty and an understanding of how peace can be fragile, how important this is for the island of Ireland, for the European Union and for all of our relationships with such an important country as the UK, which is our ally, our eternal neighbour and our big trading partner and with which we share the same democratic values. All of that puts this into perspective and pushes us to go this extra mile, or I would say extra miles. This is what my colleagues in the Commission and I are doing because when I put the proposals on customs issues, on sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, checks and on medicines on the table, I assure you that there were always quite a few Commissioners involved. I received support from all of them and, more importantly, from the President of the Commission, who was very much pushing for a positive outcome of this negotiation. That is the approach and that is what drives us forward.

I thank you Chair for your point on fisheries. It is a very important and sensitive issue. We are fully aware that in this discussion as even the small boat means a livelihood for a family. I will take this back to my colleague, Commissioner Virginijus Sinkeviius, who is permanently negotiating on these issues.

I will conclude because we are over time. Chair and honourable Senators, I very much welcome this opportunity to hear their insights and questions and to get their support. I extend a standing invitation for members to communicate on this issue in Ireland and Northern Ireland and with UK counterparts and with the media. We will stay in touch with members to make sure they are properly briefed and informed. We can share with them the latest development in this very demanding process of hopefully result-oriented and positive negotiations with the UK on the important issue of the protocol in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Thank you very much.