UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stated that a deal with the European Union (EU) regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol is “by no means done”. The government is expected to announce a new agreement on the post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland early next week.
At a summit in Germany on Saturday, Mr Sunak said there were still “challenges to work through” and that “there isn’t a deal that has been done – there is an understanding of what needs to be done”. It is believed that there will be a debate and vote in the House of Commons next week, with Tuesday being the most likely day.
For over a year, UK and EU negotiators have been attempting to reach an agreement on changes to the controversial trade arrangement. Following a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von de Leyen in Munich, Downing Street said it was a “positive discussion” and there had been “very good progress to find solutions”.
The Prime Minister also visited Northern Ireland to discuss his proposals with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The DUP is one of the most vocal critics of the protocol and is blocking the functioning of devolved government in Northern Ireland in protest against the trade rules. After meeting the PM on Friday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said “progress has been made across a range of areas”. However, he noted that Mr Sunak faced a “big moment” to agree to the “right deal” for Northern Ireland.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s decision on whether to support or reject a deal on the protocol could have profound consequences. It could set us on a path to reset power-sharing at Stormont, which has been out of action for over a year. Or it could leave Northern Ireland drifting into the political wilderness with no route back to devolution.
European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmerman commented that “things are progressing quite well” between the UK and the EU and that there is a “willingness on both sides to find a compromise, to find a way out”. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar was briefed by Ms von der Leyen on the state of the negotiations on Saturday morning. He expressed hope for a “positive outcome that provides a new foundation for relations between the EU and the UK” and for an agreement that can pave the way for restoration of the institutions under the Good Friday Agreement.
The Northern Ireland Protocol is the trade deal that was agreed to ensure the free movement of goods across the Irish land border after Brexit. It came into effect in 2021 and has resulted in checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Unionist parties argue that placing an effective trade border across the Irish Sea undermines Northern Ireland’s place within the UK. The largest of those parties is the DUP, which is refusing to take part in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government until its concerns are resolved. However, a majority of members of the Stormont assembly are in favour of the protocol in some form remaining in place. Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party and the SDLP have said improvements to the protocol are needed to ease its implementation.
The future of Northern Ireland hangs in the balance as Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces a big decision when his moment arrives. It is hoped that an agreement between the UK and EU can be reached soon, so that devolution can be restored and the political institutions at Stormont can be put back into action.