Brexit: London and EU agree on Northern Ireland dispute

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London and Brussels agree on Brexit dispute over Northern Ireland

till 10:38 am | Reading Time: 3 minutes

Great Britain and the European Union agree on the Brexit dispute over Northern Ireland

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The dispute between Great Britain and the European Union over the Brexit rules for Northern Ireland has ended. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks of “the beginning of a new chapter” in relations. The new agreement aims to ensure the smooth movement of goods across the UK.

DHe said the European Union and Great Britain have resolved a long-running dispute over Brexit terms for Northern Ireland with a new deal. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen presented the deal after a meeting in Windsor, west London, on Monday. They praised each other for their cooperation and the results achieved. The head of the EU Commission said it was “historic”. Both stressed that this was a “new chapter” in EU-UK relations.

It is eagerly awaited whether Northern Ireland’s Protestant party, the DUP, will accept the deal. Against regulation, the DUP has been blocking the formation of a regional government in Northern Ireland for months. It is now under pressure to break its political deadlock. This and the reaction of Brexit hardliners in his own party will determine whether Chung has the political room to manoeuvre. His predecessors Theresa May and Liz Truss, as well as former prime minister Boris Johnson, were unable to end the controversy. He wanted to present the agreement at the bottom that evening.

In particular, it concerns the implementation of the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated as part of the Brexit deal. It provides that the customs border between the UK and the EU runs in the Irish Sea. This would prevent the introduction of border controls between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. Otherwise conflict over the unification of the two parts of Ireland was expected to flare up again.

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But the restrictions caused difficulties for British trade. Unionist Protestant supporters in Northern Ireland feel cut off from Britain. So London wanted to renegotiate the deal.

Sunak said on Monday that the new deal would ensure that trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland runs smoothly in the future. The Prime Minister said that a border would no longer be observed. Goods sent to Northern Ireland must have a “green lane” such as a green “no duty to declare” exit from the airport. Additionally, the Northern Irish Parliament will have a say on whether new EU regulations apply to the province. The dispute put a strain on relations between London and Brussels, but also on relations between London and Berlin.

King Charles III receives EU Commission President Van der Leyen

British King Charles III. He received EU Commission President van der Leyen at Windsor Castle on Monday evening. Von der Leyen had previously announced a deal with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the long-running dispute over Brexit rules for Northern Ireland. Both stressed that the deal marks a new chapter in relations between the EU and Great Britain after the Brexit wrangles.

Van der Leyen posted a photo of the meeting with the monarch on Twitter. She is seen shaking hands with the king. Both smile lovingly at each other. The meeting was about support for Ukraine and the fight against global warming, among other things, the EU Commission president wrote.