London and Brussels this Monday set off the long-awaited white smoke about the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol, piece The key to the Brexit deal that has never been fully implemented As for all the bureaucratic and political problems created by the new customs controls that must now be imposed on the British province, which has been without a government in Belfast for over a year.
After days of speculation, ‘Chief’ Rishi Sunak meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Windsorto announce the start of a “new chapter” in relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, certainly away from the threats that Boris Johnson issued in his time and that he was about to start a trade war because of Czech To be carried out in Northern Irish ports.
The truth is that Brexit has always presented a real challenge to us The border between the Republic of Ireland (a member of the European Union) and the British province of Northern IrelandApart from Gibraltar, the only terrestrial one now exists between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Beyond the logistical problems of defending the single market, delicate historical questions were raised, as the 1998 Good Friday Agreement – ​​which signed peace between Catholics and Protestants – made it clear that the island had no “hard border”. Might be possible.
those days, Johnson decided to “move” the border to the Irish Sea and leave the British province with a different status. For the rest of the United Kingdom, more aligned with Community rules. But this formula never worked. Not so much because of the bureaucratic part, but because of the concern of the DUP’s Protestant Northern Irish people, who feared it would pave the way for a reunification referendum on the island, a landmark request by the Catholics of Sinn Féin, which, last year, in May Remained first as the formation with the most votes in the ‘regional’ elections.
to find solutions, Sunak has now opted for pragmatism despite his Eurosceptic convictions, and Brussels has shown considerable resilience. And thanks to rapprochement between the two sides – something complicated in the Johnson era – a new agreement has been reached that pays special attention to governance, sovereignty and trade in the region.
The new customs controls have been greatly reduced due to the construction of two channels., Green for products moving from Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales) to Northern Ireland with minimal or no checks at all. and a red color for products whose final destination is the Republic of Ireland (a member of the European Union) to which customs, sanitary or phytosanitary controls must apply. Sunak has also ensured that everything relating to VAT or state subsidies to companies in Northern Ireland remains under the control of London, not Brussels.
Besides, The document introduces the Baptists as “Stormont Breaks”.Known as the Northern Irish Assembly, that would allow the British province not only to have an say on the EU Single Market rules to which it belongs, but also to block their application to the British province.
Regarding the role of arbitrator of the Court of the European Union -One of the issues that caused the most problems among Eurosceptics- will be reduced. In case of disputes, the local Northern Irish courts will have the final say and if they are unable to resolve the conflict the matter will be referred to the European Court of Justice.
,“It’s a great deal,” Sunak said, offering smooth trading across the UKProtects Northern Ireland’s place in our union and protects the sovereignty of the people of Northern Ireland.”
In fact, according to the British press, the text had long been discontinued. However, in order not to suffer the same fate as Theresa May, The current prime minister wanted to tie everything up before announcing anything Which was later rejected at home. Therefore, in recent days he has held several meetings with his ranks and political parties in Belfast.
This has always been the big “crux” of the case for the Downing Street tenant on duty.A historical divorce long soap opera that is still being rewritten today since t. The difficult thing was not to reach an agreement with Brussels. The most complicated mission was always to sell it later in the United Kingdom.
And so it remains to be seen whether Sunak is supported by hard core Eurosceptic ‘Tories’ and the Protestant unionist Northern Ireland DUP, who today insisted they would “study the text in detail”. “Broadly speaking, it is clear that significant progress has been made in a number of areas, although it must be recognized that some key issues remain of concern,” said unionist leader Geoffrey Donaldson.
If the New Deal fails to address the crisis in Belfast, it will fail for many, especially considering that Next April 10 is the 25th anniversary of the peace accord between Catholics and Protestants. Sunak promised in the House of Commons today that his lordship would be able to “vote” on the new deal. But no imminent vote is expected.
In an act of goodwill towards Brussels, The British government will withdraw the controversial bill from its parliamentary process Presented for unilaterally violating the agreement reached with the EU by Boris Johnson at the time.
