As the Brexit deal gets closer, Sunak will meet with von der Leyen on Monday.

On Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to meet face-to-face with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as they work towards finding a resolution for post-Brexit trade issues in Northern Ireland. The meeting will take place in the United Kingdom, as stated in a joint statement released by the two leaders on Sunday.

The statement expressed their commitment to work together towards practical solutions for the complex challenges surrounding the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, Downing Street has insisted that a deal has not yet been agreed upon, despite the prospect of an imminent announcement.

Last week, MPs were informed that they must be present in parliament on Monday, potentially indicating that a deal could be close. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Sunak expressed his determination to secure a deal with Brussels, stating that he was “giving it everything we’ve got” and hopeful for a “positive outcome”. Sunak had previously met with his own MPs and members of the Democratic Unionist Party last week, who have been blocking the formation of a devolved power-sharing government in protest at the Northern Ireland protocol arrangements.

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