The United Kingdom and the European Union have reached an agreement on the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol. The deal, which settles one of the most unpopular legacies of Britain’s EU exit, could also pave the way for better relations between the two sides. Mint breaks down this new deal.
- Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016. After three years and a protracted series of negotiations, a Brexit divorce deal was reached in 2019 between the European Union and Boris Johnson’s government in the UK. One of the elements of the deal was the Northern Ireland courtesy.
- Ireland is divided into two parts – the largely Protestant Christian Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Catholic Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland saw decades of tension, popularly known as “The Troubles”, between its Protestant majority, who wanted to remain part of the UK, and its Catholic minority, who wanted to join the rest of Ireland. wanted a union with. This often-violent conflict was resolved in 1998 but sectarian tensions persisted for decades.
- One of the main foundations of the fragile peace in Ireland was the understanding that the flow of goods and people between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland would be kept largely free. Since both the UK and the Republic of Ireland were part of the European Union, this free flow was easy.
- However, Britain’s exit from the European Union caused problems. EU markets have strict rules on the entry of certain products, especially food and agricultural goods, from non-EU markets. It raised the prospect of checkpoints and barricades along the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which could upset political sensitivities given the long history of tensions.
- To counter this the Northern Ireland Protocol was implemented. Instead of setting up checkpoints on land between the two countries, checks were set up at ports in Northern Ireland. Goods coming from the UK will be screened at ports in Northern Ireland and then sent to the EU.
- This proved to be an unpopular compromise. Businesses in Northern Ireland find that port checks and the accompanying paperwork are a significant burden. Others see the check as an informal border separating Northern Ireland from the wider United Kingdom. The Democratic Unionist Party, a major political party in Ireland, refused to support the Northern Ireland Protocol.
- This was followed by intense negotiations on a second deal, which led to Tuesday’s Windsor Framework. Apart from several proposals on tax and legal reforms, the framework seeks to substantially ease barriers to trade.
- This creates two lanes, “green” and “red”. Goods in the green lane are only destined for Northern Ireland and will require minimal paperwork, while goods in the red lane are destined for the European Union and will face customs procedures.
- Provisions have also been included for the Parliament of Northern Ireland to oppose the application of new EU rules with which it disagrees. Although there is disagreement over how effective this proposal would be, its inclusion points to an attempt to better accommodate the sensitivities of Northern Ireland. The structure is likely to find support in the UK but it is unclear whether Northern Irish parties will support it.
- Some experts point to the agreement on the Windsor Framework as one of the final acts in the Brexit drama that has gripped Britain and the EU since 2016. A practical deal can help pave the way for better relations after years of tension.
- Some commentators also see it as a victory for Rishi Sunak’s embattled Conservatives, who have struck a pragmatic deal with the EU, avoiding the hardline stance of some factions in Sunak’s party.
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