breaking news
Status: 02/27/2023 3:59 p.m
The long-standing dispute has come to an end: according to media reports, Great Britain and the EU have reached an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Prime Minister Sunak and EU Commission President von der Leyen want to appear before the press shortly.
According to media reports, the British government and the EU Commission have reached an agreement in the years-long dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed on a compromise in Windsor, west of London, as reported by several media outlets, citing EU circles and British government officials.
The Northern Ireland Protocol has regulated the status of the British province since Brexit a good three years ago. It is part of the Brexit Treaty on Britain’s exit from the EU and stipulates that the customs border between the UK and the EU runs in the Irish Sea. This was to prevent border controls between British Northern Ireland and the EU member Republic of Ireland having to be introduced. Otherwise it was expected that the conflict about unifying the two parts of Ireland would flare up again.
But the controls also cause difficulties in intra-British trade. Union Protestant supporters in Northern Ireland feel cut off from Britain. London therefore wanted to renegotiate the contract.
Media: Only random checks
According to media reports, the agreement reached could provide for only random checks to be carried out on goods that are to remain in Northern Ireland. Only if it is intended that the goods will be transported to the Republic of Ireland and thus to the EU should the full formalities arise.
There have also been concessions from Brussels on the role played by the European Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, the reports say. If they come true, it is a sign that the EU sees Britain as a reliable partner again under Sunak, British political scientist Anand Menon from King’s College in London told Sky News.
More information coming soon.