UK dispatch: Brexit talks between PM and European Commission president result in breakthrough ‘Windsor Framework’ deal on Northern Ireland Protocol Dispatches
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UK dispatch: Brexit talks between PM and European Commission president result in breakthrough ‘Windsor Framework’ deal on Northern Ireland Protocol

James Joseph is UK Senior Correspondent for JURIST.

A deal has been reached in the long-running deadlock between the UK and the EU over trade going across the border in Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (EU). Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen announced in a statement at Windsor Castle Monday: ‘We have made a decisive breakthrough together, we have changed the original Protocol and are today announcing the new Windsor Framework‘‘.

In a press conference at 3:30 PM UK Time Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Today’s agreement delivers smooth flowing trade within the whole United Kingdom, protects Northern Ireland’s place in our union and safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland…. Goods destined for Northern Ireland will travel through a new green lane with a separate red lane for goods at risk of moving on to the EU. We will end the situation where food made to UK rules could not be sent to and sold in Northern Ireland. This means that if food is available on supermarket shelves in Great Britain, then it will be available on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland.

He also declared that “today’s agreement safeguards sovereignty for the people of Ireland….The only EU law that applies in Northern Ireland under the framework is the minimum necessary to avoid a hard border with Ireland and allow Northern Irish businesses to continue accessing the EU market.”

In a series of tweets afterwards European Commission president von Der Leyden said: “The Windsor Framework respects and protects our respective markets and legitimate interests. Most importantly, it protects the very hard-earned gains of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement for the people of Northern Ireland, and across the island of Ireland.”

 

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