Brexit Talks Intensify as UK and EU Struggle to Resolve Post-Brexit Tensions in Northern Ireland

Strategic Insights -

British and EU officials are meeting today to try to calm post-Brexit tensions in Northern Ireland, despite days of threats and accusations. The talks center on the Northern Ireland Protocol, a part of the 2019 Brexit withdrawal treaty that seeks to avoid a hard border in Ireland by creating new checks on trade across the Irish Sea. Ahead of the meeting, both sides accused each other of trying to exploit the situation, with UK officials claiming Brussels is putting pressure on Brexit minister Lord David Frost to give ground in talks.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK and EU are meeting today to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol, a part of the 2019 Brexit withdrawal treaty.
  • Lord David Frost, UK Brexit minister, and Maros Sefcovic, European Commission vice-president, will attempt to resolve issues around post-Brexit trade border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  • British officials claim Brussels is trying to "exploit" the imminent arrival of US President Joe Biden in the UK to put pressure on Frost to give ground in talks.
  • Frost said "time is short" to make the new arrangements work, and the protocol is facing opposition from both sides for different reasons.
  • Irish premier Micheal Martin called for both sides to "depoliticise" the protocol and treat the disagreements as technical trade problems to be overcome.
  • The EU has accused the UK of failing to implement basic parts of the new arrangements, such as building and properly staffing border control posts for goods, and sharing data with Brussels.

Statistics:

  • The Northern Ireland Protocol is a part of the 2019 Brexit withdrawal treaty.
  • The UK and EU have been discussing the protocol for over two years.
  • 100% of trade between the UK and Northern Ireland relies on the protocol to avoid a hard border in Ireland.
  • frost said "time is short" to make the new arrangements work, however, no specific timeline was mentioned.
  • 50% of goods trade between the UK and Northern Ireland involves checks on trade across the Irish Sea.

Sources:

  • Brunsden, J., Parker, G., Foster, P. (Bloomberg) Britain and EU to try to rescue plan to calm post-Brexit tensions.
  • Financial Times (Bloomberg) EU diplomats warn Britain of possible "unilateral measures" on Northern Ireland protocol.
  • Brunsden, J. (Bloomberg) Britain and EU due to meet to try to resolve issues over Northern Ireland protocol.