Agreement between the UK and the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached an agreement in London to change the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Northern Ireland Protocol is part of the UK’s Brexit agreement with the European Union, which determines the customs border between the UK and the EU.
According to the new agreement, no customs border will be established in the Irish Sea between the island of Ireland and Great Britain.
Under the new agreement, goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that are intended to remain there will pass through a green customs lane, meaning they will not undergo customs inspections and will require minimal administrative work. Goods moving from Northern Ireland to the European Union will enter a red customs lane, which requires inspections and administrative paperwork.
Details on how this plan will be implemented in practice have not yet been announced.
Parties and individuals in Northern Ireland who support remaining in the UK were concerned that if a border were established in the Irish Sea, Northern Ireland’s relationship with the rest of the UK would be weakened.