The United Kingdom and the European Union on Friday officially signed a new agreement aimed at easing trade tensions in Northern Ireland after the UK leaves the EU / Brexit/, according to a joint statement by the two sides.
British Foreign Minister James Cleverley and Deputy Head of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic signed a new trade agreement during their meeting in London. According to their joint statement, both the UK and the EU have taken a “positive approach” and “confirmed their intention” to use this agreement to solve any future trade problems.
The content of the new agreement, dubbed the “Windsor Framework Convention”, was finally agreed at the end of February after lengthy negotiations. It is aimed at resolving trade issues arising in connection with the Northern Ireland Protocol, which requires customs control over British goods arriving in Northern Ireland.
The “Stormont brake,” a key aspect of the new agreement, is designed to give Northern Ireland’s lawmakers more say over EU rules to be applied in the region.
The political parties of Northern Ireland generally support this agreement, but the Democratic Unionist Party has questioned the implementation of the “Stormont Brake” principle.
