EU Commission President von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Sunak present their agreement in Windsor. Parliament should vote on it. Sunak has to deal with criticism, especially from his own party.
This could mark the end of a years-long stalemate in Britain’s long history of leaving the European Union. The EU and Britain want to finally resolve the Brexit dispute over Northern Ireland. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Windsor to reach a possible deal with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. She was excited to “start a new chapter with our partner and friend,” she wrote on Twitter before being welcomed by Sunak in Windsor, near London.
Sunak and von der Leyen presented and commented on the outcome of the negotiations at a joint press conference that ended shortly before 5 pm. Mechanisms designed to make life easier for people in Northern Ireland have largely leaked in recent days. You want to give everyone involved enough time to go over the details and form an opinion on the ruleset.
The green and red trail
The new deal between Britain and the European Union will eliminate any sense of border in the Irish Sea, British Prime Minister Sunak has said. The agreement provides for different “routes” for goods entering Northern Ireland. The green lane is for imports that remain in Northern Ireland – this is where customs formalities must fall. The red lane is for goods and products that go beyond Ireland, i.e. the EU. Here customs formalities and regulations remain in force. Sunak was convinced that the deal would solve many people’s practical problems. “If there is food available in Britain, it will also be available in Northern Ireland.” those who have a package delivered no longer need to deal with bureaucracy.
The new “Windsor Framework” – as the agreement is called, the legal framework of the Northern Ireland Protocol – is a set of rules that are legally formulated but would make life easier for people in the region.
Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the importance of the agreement for peace in Northern Ireland. This peace, which the Good Friday Agreement made possible, can continue to be guaranteed.
Then the head of the commission would be received by King Charles. In the evening, Sunak wants to inform parliament about the outcome of the negotiations. It is now eagerly awaited whether Sunak will also find support for the Brexit deal from radicals in his Conservative Party and the Protestant Party of Northern Ireland DUP. The DUP has been blocking the formation of a new government in Northern Ireland for months in protest at the regulation.
Controversial chapter of the Brexit treaty
The Northern Ireland Protocol is part of the Brexit Treaty on Britain leaving the EU. It stipulates that the customs border between Great Britain and the EU runs in the Irish Sea. This prevented the introduction of border controls between British Northern Ireland and the EU member Republic of Ireland. Otherwise, the conflict over the unification of the two parts of Ireland was expected to flare up again.
But the controls also cause difficulties for intra-British trade. Protestant Union supporters in Northern Ireland feel isolated from Britain. London therefore wanted to renegotiate the contract.
Criticism of von der Leyen’s visit to King Charles
Von der Leyen’s planned meeting with the King drew frowns. The monarch always stays strictly out of daily politics. It is therefore considered unusual for him to meet von der Leyen on the same day a controversial deal with Brussels is due to be concluded. Critics accused Sunak of using the king for his purposes. A spokesman for the prime minister stressed that the decision on who the king would receive would rest solely with the palace.
Sunak is under pressure from his predecessor Boris Johnson, who may be hoping for a comeback by presenting himself as a stickler for pure Brexit doctrine. But it is now considered unlikely that Brexit hardliners in the Conservative Party will revolt. Brexit champion and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker was very optimistic about the expected deal on Monday. The prime minister is on the verge of a “fantastic deal for all parties involved” in the EU talks, the Conservative politician told reporters in Downing Street. Recently there has been speculation about Baker’s resignation in protest of a deal.
(APA/dpa/klepa)