UK Seeks New EU Deal on Northern Ireland Protocol Amid Rising Tensions
The United Kingdom has called for urgent negotiations with the European Union to establish a new agreement governing trade in Northern Ireland, as the current arrangements have led to escalating tensions and disruptions.
Brexit Minister David Frost told Parliament that the existing Northern Ireland Protocol, agreed upon last year, is causing significant issues that cannot be ignored. “We cannot go on as we are,” Frost said. “We see an opportunity to proceed differently, to find a new path to seek to agree with the EU through negotiations, a new balance in our arrangements covering Northern Ireland, to the benefit of all.”
Challenges of the Current Protocol
The Northern Ireland Protocol was designed to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU, following Brexit. To achieve this, the protocol keeps Northern Ireland aligned with certain EU trade rules, effectively creating a trade border in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
However, this arrangement has resulted in:
- Food shortages in Northern Ireland due to disrupted supply chains.
- Increased checks and paperwork on goods moving into Northern Ireland.
- Lengthy queues and backlogs at ports.
- The re-emergence of sectarian tensions and violence in Northern Ireland.
Businesses on both sides have found the implementation burdensome, and unionist communities in Northern Ireland feel the protocol threatens their place within the UK.
UK’s Proposed Changes
The UK government is seeking significant changes to the protocol, including:
- Extending current grace periods to allow goods to move freely across borders without excessive checks.
- Eliminating the role of EU institutions and the European Court of Justice in overseeing the protocol.
- Establishing a more flexible and pragmatic approach to inspections and regulations.
EU’s Stance and International Response
The European Union has consistently stated that the protocol, as part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, must be upheld. Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, emphasized there can be no renegotiation. “It’s been agreed by the British government and the EU. We have to work within the confines of that agreement,” Byrne told the BBC.
Article 16 of the protocol allows either party to unilaterally suspend parts of the agreement in extreme circumstances. While the UK believes the conditions are met to trigger Article 16, Frost indicated that London would not take this step at present.
The situation has attracted international attention. The United States has expressed concern, with President Joe Biden affirming that the Good Friday Agreement, which helped end decades of conflict in Northern Ireland, “must be protected.”
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
