The British government and the European Union (EU) reached an agreement this Monday to end disagreements over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading status, British media reported, citing a British government source.
“An Agreement Has Been Reached”European sources confirmed to Europa Press, without giving details of the terms of the agreement reached between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
A press conference for the two leaders has been announced at 3.30pm in Windsor, on the outskirts of London, where they will meet.
The European leader was received by Sunak today to try to reach agreement on the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, part of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal agreement from the European Union (EU).
This text was the solution found to avoid a physical land border between the British province and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state, in order to respect the 1998 peace agreements.
The protocol brings Northern Ireland into line with European single market rules and imposes customs controls on goods coming from the rest of the UK.
Located in the Irish Sea, this commercial border is seen by Unionists, defenders of Northern Ireland’s status as a British territory, as a threat to its relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom.
Also controversial is the role of the European Court of Justice in trade disputes, as is Belfast’s obligation to follow certain EU rules to prevent unfair competition within the internal market.
In protest, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refused to facilitate the formation of a new power-sharing government with Sinn Féin, which won regional elections in May 2022.
As well as persuading the DUP to break the political deadlock in Northern Ireland, the new deal should also convince conservative Eurosceptics.
On the contrary, the PvdA and the Liberal Democrats, opposition parties, have already guaranteed passage if the agreement is put to a vote in parliament.
Source: DN
