EU and Britain reach consensus on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland

Europe, News March 1, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

After one year of back-and-forth meetings, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a deal on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

The new plan is being dubbed the “Windsor Framework”. Under the new agreements, some checks on goods crossing from the rest of the United Kingdom into Northern Ireland would be scrapped. Both sides said that the agreement marks a “new chapter” in EU-UK relations.

The decision has received praise from business groups from all across Europe who have praised the easing of trade rules. In return for the ease of trading, the EU has promised that it would be willing to allow British scientists to join its vast research program.

The deal seeks to resolve tensions related to the Northern Ireland protocol, which was created between Britain and EU after the Brexit.

The Northern Ireland protocol is a complex trade agreement that set trading rules for the trade between British-ruled and EU partner regions in the British Isles.

Today we are changing the Northern Ireland Protocol and announcing the new Windsor Framework.

This agreement:

🔁 Delivers smooth flowing trade within the whole UK

🇬🇧 Protects Northern Ireland’s place in our Union

✅ Safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/fy8JS1QDLR
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 27, 2023

Since Britain left the EU in 2020, Northern Ireland in the bloc became a single market open for goods trade because of its open border agreements with EU member Ireland. Hence, Northern Ireland remains part of the UK customs territory, while enforcing the EU Customs Code. It is an EU single market and accordingly applies the necessary regulations and checks.

Under the new Windsor Framework, the two sides have agreed to separate goods from going into Northern Ireland and reduce the number of checks on goods traveling from Britain to Northern Ireland. This design would reduce the paperwork facing companies that have said they were unable to provide a full range of products to Northern Ireland because of a large number of checks and regulations.

^{British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shake hands as they hold a news conference at Windsor Guildhall, Britain, on February 27, 2023. (Image Credit: Dan Kitwood/Reuters)}

It is yet to be determined whether these new terms will go far enough to end the political deadlock in Northern Ireland. The perceptions that the protocol loosened ties with Britain have angered many unionist communities in Northern Ireland.

If the deal is accepted by all the parties, changes would be phased in over the next few years. A parliamentary vote still needs to take place in Britain once all parties have had time to study the deal. If the deal gets the green light from the majority in Britain, it would also go on to strengthen Sunak’s position as the Prime Minister candidate in the next term.

Sunak is hoping that a successful outcome from this deal will improve cooperation with the EU in areas beyond Northern Ireland, including the regulation of financial services and in helping to stem an influx of migrants in small boats across the Channel.

🧵We have replaced the original Northern Ireland Protocol and announced the new Windsor Framework.

What’s changed? Firstly, the Green Lane

❌ Before: Lengthy paperwork
✅ Now: Simple digital declaration

We’ve removed any sense of a border in the Irish Sea. pic.twitter.com/HYkYZeXUvL
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 28, 2023