#BRExit, #UK, #NI & the #EU

Brexit and its impact on the Northern Ireland peace process:

Brexit has had a significant impact on the Northern Ireland peace process, which was achieved in 1998 with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement brought an end to decades of violence and political unrest in Northern Ireland, and one of its key provisions was the establishment of an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

With the UK's decision to leave the European Union, however, this open border became a major issue. Under the EU's rules, goods could flow freely across the border, but with the UK outside the EU's customs union and single market, checks and controls would need to be introduced to monitor goods entering and leaving Northern Ireland.

The solution that was agreed between the UK and the EU was the Northern Ireland Protocol, which created a customs border in the Irish Sea, effectively separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. This was seen by many unionists in Northern Ireland as a threat to their British identity and to the constitutional integrity of the UK.

The protocol has also led to practical problems, with increased bureaucracy and delays at ports and crossings, which have had an impact on businesses and communities in Northern Ireland.

The issue has become highly politicised, with the main unionist parties in Northern Ireland calling for the protocol to be scrapped or renegotiated, while nationalists and supporters of the Good Friday Agreement argue that it is necessary to protect peace and stability in the region.

Brexit has created a new set of challenges for the Northern Ireland peace process, and it remains to be seen how these challenges will be resolved. It is clear, however, that the issue will continue to be a highly contentious and divisive one for years to come.

The Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement:

The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, was a historic peace deal that ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. The agreement established power-sharing between unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland, and created new institutions to oversee cross-border cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

One of the key provisions of the Good Friday Agreement was the commitment to an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which was seen as essential for maintaining peace and stability in the region. This commitment was based on the understanding that both the UK and the Republic of Ireland were members of the European Union and that the open border was facilitated by the free movement of goods and people within the EU.

The St Andrews Agreement was a political agreement signed in 2006 between the UK government and political parties in Northern Ireland, including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin. The agreement built upon the principles established in the Good Friday Agreement and sought to address some of the outstanding issues that had prevented the formation of a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

The key elements of the St Andrews Agreement included a commitment to power-sharing between unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland, a new system for electing the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the establishment of a new policing and justice ministry in Northern Ireland, and a commitment to tackling sectarianism and paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.

The St Andrews Agreement was seen as a significant breakthrough in the peace process and paved the way for the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland in 2007. The agreement has been credited with helping to maintain the delicate balance of power-sharing between unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland.

Rishi Sunak:

Rishi Sunak is the British Prime Minister and he, along with the European Union announced the “Windsor Framework”

However, as of April 2023, despite it being formally adopted on the 24th of March 2023, by both the #UKGovernment & the #EuropeanUnion, problems remain, on many levels, on balance, it remain a serious concern that it is bad for the Northern Ireland economy and for accountable government in Stormont.

Additionally, The plan by the UK Government to scrap #EU laws could undermine the #NI deal.

It is essential for the operation of the Peace Process, and for the continuation of good relationships that this is resolved politically. 

#PeaceProcess #GoodFridayAgreement

Vinoth Muraleekaran Matthew Wu Georgia Clark Anna Baird Emma Delgado Helena Cawley Owen Morgan Anna Harrison James Deri Kate Shipley Dunstan Hadley Sabina Shahaney Aine Collins Katie O'Donoghue Mark Davies Kaye Thomas Jack Close Rishi Sunak Meg Ojiefo Oliver Burrows Boris Johnson Joshua Snell Calum Irvine Poul Petersen Sarah Norton Simon Lawrence Lisa Clapton