Bury the hatchet: EU and UK face fresh calls to resolve NI Protocol issues in face of Russian aggression
The UK and EU are facing fresh calls to reduce divisions over the Northern Ireland Protocol in the face of greater common international challenges.
In a letter sent to both Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Vice President of the EU Commission Maroš Šefčovič, MPs and business leaders from the UK Trade and Business Commission have highlighted the urgent need to resolve continuing points of division following the invasion of Ukraine and in the interests of helping businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland.
Last week, members of the UK Trade and Business Commission visited Northern Ireland to meet with representatives of key sectors, industry experts as well as visit large and small businesses to gather evidence on how the Northern Ireland Protocol is working in practice.
Commissioners heard how new costs and complexity from divergence between EU and UK regulations will mean that at best, that NI businesses will be less competitive, and at worst, will render whole product lines or business models unviable.
Despite frustration at a lack of progress and claims that both parties continue to ‘talk past each other’ EU and UK negotiators are continuing to meet this week. In its letter, the UK Trade and Business Commission has proposed more outcome-orientated and inclusive talks to break the deadlock, along with a number of interventions to overcome the bulk of the outstanding issues.
They include:
Establishing a new authority to protect and maintain standards in future UK trade agreements and provide an independent impact assessment of any proposed divergence from EU food regulations, including the impact on UK-EU trade and Northern Ireland.
Digitising checks for food exporters
Negotiating an SPS agreement between the UK and EU
Last month, disagreement over the Protocol led to the the resignation of the First Minister precipitating the collapse of Northern Ireland’s power sharing Executive.,
Hilary Benn MP, who led the delegation, said
“The terrible war in Ukraine shows that both the UK and the EU now together face a much bigger challenge.
“This is no time therefore to be having an argument over the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol which still threatens to divide us at a time when it is so important that we remain united. It is in both our interests now to compromise and find an agreement.”
Aodhán Connolly, member of the UK Trade and Business Commission and Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said:
“While the NI Protocol is working for some and there are clear benefits, many businesses, including some major chains, are still facing disruption with the prospect of more to come if and when UK and EU regulations diverge.
“At best, this will mean these businesses are less competitive and at worst, it could make product lines and business models unviable meaning less choice and higher prices for consumers in Northern Ireland. That’s why it is so important that both sides agree on a sustainable way forward, that is far more consultative with industry, and that gives businesses the certainty they need to thrive.”
