UK, EU Announce Post-Brexit Northern Ireland Deal

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Facts

  • On Monday, the UK and the EU introduced the 'Windsor Framework,' a deal meant to resolve issues and trade disputes over the Northern Ireland Accords.1
  • As part of Brexit, Britain signed an agreement with the EU — the Northern Ireland Protocol — to avoid a hard border with Ireland. This created a barrier for some goods moving from Britain and left Northern Ireland subject to some EU rules even though it's no longer a member of the bloc.2
  • Under the new agreement, goods from Britain to Northern Ireland will travel through a 'green lane' with significantly reduced checks and paperwork, and a separate 'red lane' — subject to normal checks — will be reserved for goods that may move to the EU.3
  • The deal also introduces a 'Stormont brake,' which allows the Northern Ireland Assembly to raise objections to new goods rules. Meanwhile, the EU will be allowed to take 'remedial measures' if Northern Ireland begins to diverge significantly from the bloc's rules.3
  • The Windsor Framework comes more than six years after British voters chose to leave the EU and three years since the UK left the bloc.4
  • Northern Ireland depends on a power-sharing administration between unionists and nationalists, and its semi-autonomous government has been upended since last year when British unionist politicians walked out to protest trade rules. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it would analyze the deal's details before delivering its verdict.5

Sources: 1CNN, 2France24, 3BBC News, 4NPR Online News and 5Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by CNN. The new deal is an important moment and marks a new stage in the relationship between the EU and the UK. It addresses the shortcomings of the Northern Ireland Protocol and delivers long-lasting solutions for trade rules that will work for the people of Northern Ireland. The Windsor Framework is a success.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Guardian. While the Windsor Framework has so far been warmly received, it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to end the DUP's boycott. Previous trade agreements have been highly contentious and there's no guarantee that this deal will be popular.