Britain, EU strike Brexit deal for Northern Ireland
Britain and the European Union have reached a new agreement to resolve the Northern Ireland Protocol, a key sticking point in the post-Brexit trading arrangement.
The deal, which came after weeks of negotiations, could avert a potential trade war between Britain and the EU and open the door to the restoration of Northern Ireland’s devolved government.
The new deal marks a high-risk strategy for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who has been looking to improve relations with Brussels - and the United States - without alienating pro-Brexit hard-liners in his Conservative Party.
Sunak announced the new deal at a press conference Monday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Sunak agreed on the terms with Von der Leyen as they met at a hotel west of London.
"I’m pleased to report that we have now made a decisive breakthrough," he said in his statement. "Together we have changed the original protocol and are today announcing the new Windsor framework."
The prime minister said the deal will preserve Northern Ireland's place in the "family of nations" within the United Kingdom, and safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland.
He said the agreement will ensure "smooth flow of trade within the UK," adding that "burdensome customs bureaucracy will be scrapped."
"We have removed any sense of a border in the Irish Sea," he continued.
Sunak also said that members of Parliament will be given a vote on the deal "at the appropriate time." However, it remains to be seen whether the prime minister can persuade his Eurosceptic MPs to back the new deal.
MG
