In the UK, the government has submitted a bill to parliament that envisages the unilateral amendment of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is part of the Brexit deal.
The bill largely removes the requirement to subject goods from England, Wales and Scotland, which make up the United Kingdom, to Northern Ireland to customs. According to the text, goods that will remain in Northern Ireland will be able to be transported via the “green lane” without the need for customs control. However, goods that will go to the EU due to the Republic of Ireland will be subject to customs with the “red stripe” application.
Businesses in Northern Ireland will be able to choose from EU or UK regulations. Therefore, goods that are not deemed appropriate by EU regulations can be sold in Northern Ireland. Moreover, in the event of a dispute, the British courts, not the European Court of Justice, will have the final say.
DEFENSE OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss argued that the arrangement would support both the Belfast Agreement, which ended the war in the region, and political stability in Northern Ireland.
Noting that the bill would put an end to the untenable situation where the people of Northern Ireland are treated differently from the rest of the United Kingdom, Truss said that the supremacy of the British courts would also protect the territorial integrity of the country.
The foreign minister said they were open to negotiations with the EU, but argued that Brussels was not willing to do so. “The serious situation in Northern Ireland means that we cannot allow the situation to deteriorate,” Truss said.
The British press reported that it could take a year for the bill to become law, with the government’s aim being to force the EU to accept the change. However, the EU is expected to react to the unilateral change in the protocol, which is an international agreement.
CONTROVERSIAL NORTHERN IRELAND PROTOCOL
The protocol, which is part of the Brexit deal, regulates trade between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU. According to the protocol, despite Brexit, Northern Ireland remains subject to the EU’s customs union rules.
Trade with the rest of the UK is subject to customs at Northern Irish ports. Under the Belfast Agreement, which ended the war between Catholic separatists and Protestants who are in favour of union with Britain, a physical land border cannot be established where controls can be carried out.
Therefore, although it is decided that the controls will only be carried out at sea, the UK government has been demanding changes for a long time. In addition, the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland is also calling for the protocol to be cancelled or at least changed.
The party is blocking the formation of a new government in Northern Ireland after local elections in May in order to put pressure on London.
