Brexit Brief 149

The UK Government and the European Commission have announced the Windsor Framework, which amends the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. The Windsor Framework aims to facilitate trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and provides MLAs with a “Stormont Brake” through which they can raise objections to new EU laws that apply in Northern Ireland. However, it remains to be seen whether unionists, particularly the DUP, will be favourable towards the new agreement, and whether these latest developments will lead to a restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. Meanwhile, the UK Government is proceeding with its plans to repeal thousands of pieces of EU legislation, and official data from the Central Statistics Office reveals that there has been a substantial increase in North-South trade since the introduction of the Protocol.