Newington's Sarah Mann summarises the UK's Brexit position paper on Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Overview
The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) published a paper on 16 August setting out the Government’s position on issues surrounding the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland in light of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
Key provisions
The paper groups its ‘proposals for discussion’ with the EU under four headings: upholding the Belfast (‘Good Friday’) Agreement in all its parts; maintaining the Common Travel Area (CTA) and associated rights; avoiding a hard border for the movement of goods; and aiming to preserve North-South and East-West cooperation, including on energy.
Upholding the Good Friday Agreement
Maintaining the Common Travel Area
Avoiding a hard border for the movement of goods and options relating to customs
Preserving North-South and East-West cooperation
Analysis
As the paper itself recognises, maintaining the invisible and open border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is seen as essential to any agreement reached between the UK and EU. The UK Government appears confident that maintaining the peace process and avoiding the recreation of hard borders, constitutes enough of a common interest to provide a basis for negotiations with the EU, and indeed the European Commission has welcomed the paper as a “positive step” in their progress.
However, there is doubt around the feasibility of an unmanned border, the success of which would require high levels of trust from all parties. Commentators concerned with migration have suggested that the 310 mile border could be used as an entry point for economic migrants if border checks are not introduced; however the Government has indicated in its paper that CTA administrative cooperation and visa requirements already in place set precedent for the UK maintaining existing movement to the UK from the CTA. It also emphasises that it believes the Government will be able to put in place a new immigration system that controls for EEA citizen movement while maintaining the free movement provision under the CTA.
Next steps
The UK Government is keen that the key provisions of this paper are agreed to by the European Council at its summit in October. Rounds of negotiations preceding this summit will take place in preparation, but the UK has been clear that it would like discussions relating to Northern Ireland and Ireland to continue beyond the initial phase of negotiations in August. Brussels has said it would like to see “sufficient progress” on Irish border negotiations before talks on future trade ties between the UK and EU can begin.
If you would like to speak to Newington about how your business could best outline its position to the Government please get in touch with our dedicated Brexit team at TeamNExEU@newingtoncomms.co.uk or call Lizzy Roberts on 020 7234 3332.