The Windsor Framework which amends the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, came after high-level talks between Ursula and Sunak
The President of the European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (U.K.) – Rishi Sunak have unveiled a new post-Brexit deal, “Windsor Framework” aimed at resolving the ongoing trade dispute over Northern Ireland.
The new deal, which amends the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, came after high-level talks on Monday in Windsor, between Ursula and Sunak.
The deal aims to fix the issues created by the Northern Ireland Protocol, an addendum to the Brexit deal agreed by the Former Prime Minister of the U.K. – Boris Johnson and the E.U. in 2019. The protocol was created to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland by keeping Northern Ireland aligned with the E.U., meaning goods don’t need to be checked between the Republic and the province. The Windsor Framework will replace the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Taking it to twitter, Ursula tweeted,
We have reached an agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework for the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 27, 2023
Long-lasting solutions that will work for everyone in Northern Ireland and protect the EU’s Single Market ↓ https://t.co/KHjw9HIoEH
Sunak tweeted,
1/ We have protected Northern Ireland’s place in the Union🇬🇧
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 27, 2023
We’ve amended the legal text of the Protocol to ensure we can make critical VAT and excise changes for the whole of the UK.
So our cuts to the cost of a pint in the pub will now apply in Northern Ireland too. pic.twitter.com/v0ZnHdyPEr
The new framework is expected to ease physical checks on goods flowing from other parts of the U.K. to Northern Ireland and give the latter’s lawmakers a say over the E.U. rules it has to implement under the complicated terms of Brexit.
The deal creates a “green lane” that will allow goods from Britain destined for Northern Ireland to go through ports with minimal paperwork, checks and duties, while those traveling on to the Republic of Ireland will have to use a “red lane”. It also allows the U.K. Government to determine sales tax rates for businesses in Northern Ireland and gives the Northern Ireland government emergency powers to oppose new E.U. rules on some goods.
Sunak also announced a new “Stormont Brake” that would allow Northern Ireland’s devolved Government to pull an emergency brake on any new E.U. laws from being imposed on the Province.
In an immediate win for British universities, the U.K. will now be allowed to join Horizon Europe, a key E.U. funding program for research and innovation with a budget of € 95.5 billion (U.S. $ 101 billion).
The deal is seen as a first step in bridging the broken relationship between the E.U. and U.K. The new deal enhances goodwill between the two sides, which will deliver a boost to business confidence. It also paves the way for greater cooperation in other areas, which could unlock much-needed investment into the U.K.
The deal could also help Britain forge closer ties with the United States (U.S.). The President of the U.S. – Joe Biden, who has an Irish heritage, had warned in the past against making Northern Ireland’s peace deal, the Good Friday Agreement, a “casualty of Brexit.”
