EU, UK hail 'new chapter' in ties with Northern Ireland deal

Deutsche Weil ^ | 28 February 2023 | Rosie Birchard

[Cronos]

The United Kingdom and the European Union have struck a new deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland after more than a year of wrangling and political acrimony. Standing alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed a "decisive breakthrough" which "will start making a positive difference to people's lives in Northern Ireland almost immediately."

The new plans, dubbed the "Windsor Framework," will scrap some checks on goods crossing from the rest of the United Kingdom into Northern Ireland, and give Northern Irish lawmakers greater say over future EU rules.

Both sides insist the agreement marks a "new chapter" in EU-UK relations

...Under the proposed framework, products bound only for Northern Ireland will pass through a new minimal-check "green lane." Products considered "at risk" of crossing the island into Ireland and therefore entering the EU's single market will go through a "red lane" with EU compliance checks.

"This means if food is available on supermarket shelves in Great Britain, it will be available on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland," Sunak told reporters. The new deal will also guarantee the future supply of UK-approved medicines to Northern Ireland.

Von der Leyen said to make this work, both sides had "agreed on strong safeguards like IT access, labels and enforcement procedures that will protect the integrity of the EU's single market."

All sides ruled out creating a land border on the island to uphold theGood Friday Agreement,

[Cronos]

All sides ruled out creating a land border on the island to uphold theGood Friday Agreement,

[hanamizu]

I’m pretty sure that the Irish on both sides of the border definitely don’t want the border reinstated. That’s what made this part of Brexit so tricky. The Republic is in the E.U. with free movement of goods and people with other E.U. nations and the U.K. is no longer in the E.U. so tariffs on goods and immigration controls apply to E.U. goods and citizens.

[Cronos]

Correct. This deal proves return to the dark days before the Good Friday agreement

[Mr Radical]

"This deal proves return to the dark days before the Good Friday agreement"
proves - or prevents?

of course, for some, the dark days never really went away
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64696911
Londonderry: Explosive discovered near children's football game
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64736670
Omagh: Off-duty police officer shot at sports centre

[Cronos]

Prevents... e:-)