EU braces for bruising battle with UK over Northern Ireland protocol

Border communities in Northern Ireland protesting in November against threats the UK could trigger article 16, which could bring back a hard border on the island of Ireland. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The EU is bracing itself for another tumultuous and bruising battle with the UK over Brexit, despite hopes and pleas for Liz Truss to be pragmatic and try to seal a deal on the protracted Northern Ireland issues.

“No one is optimistic. We are in for a very bumpy few months,” said one EU source.