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BREXIT BRIEF Brexit Brief Issue 111 3 June 2021

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BREXIT BRIEF Brexit Brief Issue 111 3 June 2021 BREXIT BRIEF Brexit Brief Issue 111 3 June 2021 Introduction The Brief seeks to provide up-to-date information on the progress and content of the UK-EU negotiations, and bring together relevant statements and policy positions from key players in Ireland, the UK and the EU. The Brief is part of a wider communications programme covering the work of the IIEA’s UK Project Group – including commentaries, speeches, texts and event reports – which are highlighted on the Institute’s website. (www.iiea.com) Section One: State of Play interview, provided contrasting views on the Protocol. Von der Leyen and Poots on the Protocol The BBC’s Stephen Nolan put it to Edwin Poots that given the DUP’s support for Brexit As technical experts from both sides – the UK the protocol was an inevitable consequence Cabinet Office, led by Minister of State Lord to the UK leaving both the EU Single Market David Frost and the European Commission, led and Customs Union. He replied: “I am not by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič – continued owning the Protocol because the Protocol is their detailed, line by line discussions on the something that was pushed and forced upon Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (the us by the Irish Government in conjunction with Protocol) a range of opinions, assessments Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance”. The Protocol is and warnings have been expressed and an absolutely unnecessary part of the Brexit publicised. process”, he added. Edwin Poots blamed Irish Ministers Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney The President of the European Commission, in particular, “who had sought to create speaking after the recent special meeting of barriers between Northern Ireland and Great European Council, and the new Leader of the Britain, our main trading partner”. Great Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in a BBCNI BREXIT BRIEF 111 | JUNE 2021 BREXIT BRIEF Britain is Northern Ireland’s most significant Coveney who he asserted had set out to impose single market in terms of external sales from upon Northern Ireland people the harshest Northern Ireland itself. form of customs and an internal market that he claimed does not “exist anywhere else in President von der Leyen commented that “it the world”. is important to reiterate that the Protocol is the only possible solution to ensure peace and Mr Poots later said that while the European stability in Northern Ireland, while protecting Commission over the years “put their heart and the integrity of the European Union Single soul into winning peace in Northern Ireland”, Market. If we see problems today, we should they currently “don’t seem to care for the not forget that they do not come from the peace process… that really needs to change, Protocol, but they result from Brexit – that is that attitude needs to change”. “This is the the reason why the problems are there”. Her European Union seeking to punish the United opinion was strongly supported by French Kingdom”, he asserted. Accusing the EU of President Emmanuel Macron who argued that viewing Northern Ireland as “a plaything” he “if these situations are difficult to manage it’s went on to stress that the people of Northern precisely because of Brexit and in no case Ireland deserve to be treated with the same because of the EU”. respect as everyone else. Edwin Poots confirmed as DUP Leader Edwin Poots, who will not take the position of The Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, First Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, Edwin Poots, was confirmed as leader of the will indicate his choice for that position and for DUP at a meeting of the Party Executive on the DUP members of the Executive in coming 27 May 2021. The meeting was described as days. He insisted that the Northern Ireland revealing the extent of divisions within the Assembly is critically important for unionists DUP, following the ousting of First Minister, as a way of ridding Northern Ireland of the Arlene Foster as leader of the DUP. Mr Poots Protocol, where a vote on consent to the was ratified by 72 votes to 28 by a show of Protocol will be held every four to eight years, hands, after a demand for a secret ballot starting in 2024. He has also indicated that was narrowly defeated. First Minister Foster he will seek early meetings with the Dublin together with a number of senior figures, Government and the European Commission to including Jeffrey Donaldson MP, who was discuss his objections to the Protocol. defeated in the leadership election, left the Mr Poots had meetings with both Lord David Executive meeting before Edwin Poots made Frost and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon his inaugural speech as leader. Lewis immediately following his election Edwin Poots told his party members that as party leader. He told Lord Frost that the his relationship with the Irish Government Protocol is “intolerable”. No statement was is “really, really bad” and, while expressing issued following his meeting with Brandon respect for the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, he Lewis. launched a strong attack on the Tánaiste Leo European Commission Vice-President Maroš Varadkar and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Šefčovič rejected Edwin Poots’ accusation that BREXIT BRIEF 111 | JUNE 2021 BREXIT BRIEF the EU is using Northern Ireland to punish based on a balance of rights and obligations the United Kingdom for Brexit. Vice-President at all times. Relations with the UK should Šefčovič said they searched for four years remain mutually beneficial and can under no for the “best solution to the very sensitive circumstances undermine the integrity of the situation in Northern Ireland”. For the EU and Single Market, the Customs Union or the EU’s the UK it was “very clear” that solution is the decision-making autonomy. The European Protocol, he redoubled. He urged a focus on Council calls on the UK to respect the principle policies and politics that unite than divide and of non-discrimination among Member States. asked unionists to look at the Protocol as an The European Council will remain seized of the “opportunity” for Northern Ireland. matter and the EU will continue to be united in its engagement with the UK. Vice-President Šefčovič said he wants to meet the Northern Ireland Executive parties before Comments by President Ursula von the next Joint Committee, which is expected to der Leyen take place in the middle of June. “I would like to hear from Mr Poots himself but also from President von der Leyen addressed the other leaders of the political parties who form Joint Council-Commission Press Conference the Northern Ireland Executive and discuss following the special meeting of the European with them what we can do better”, he stated. Council on Monday 24 May 2021. She delivered the following statement: European Council 24 May 2021 We held our first discussion on the EU-UK The European Council, special meeting of relations since the entry into force of the TCA. Monday 24 May 2021 saw all concerned The beginnings are not easy. Tensions are broadly welcoming the entry into force of the being felt around the access for example of EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement EU fishing boats or tensions are – without any (TCA) from Saturday, 1 May 2021. The doubt – there around the implementation of European Council Conclusions stated that: the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. The European Council welcomes the entry into Vice-President Šefčovič is working hard with force of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation our UK counterparts how to resolve the Agreement on 1 May 2021. This Agreement, underlying issues. It was very good to see together with the Withdrawal Agreement and that Leaders reiterated their unity and their its Protocols, provides the framework for our support to the fact that issues must be solved relations with the UK. Both Agreements should based on the provisions we have now – that is be fully and effectively implemented and their the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; that is governance structures made operational. the Withdrawal Agreement, and this includes the Protocol. The two Agreements allow for the EU to have Just one focus on the Protocol: There should as close as possible a partnership with the be no doubt that there is no alternative to the UK, while recognising that a non-member of full and correct implementation of the Protocol. the EU cannot enjoy the same benefits as a And I think it is important to reiterate that the member and that the relationship must be BREXIT BRIEF 111 | JUNE 2021 BREXIT BRIEF Protocol is the only possible solution to ensure to be solved, they are particularly focussed peace and stability in Northern Ireland, while on social issues – securing the best education protecting the integrity of the European Union for their children, being able to access good Single Market. If we see problems today, we healthcare services, progressing women’s should not forget that they do not come from rights and advancing LGBT causes. the Protocol, but they result from Brexit – that is the reason why the problems are there. That does not deny that the current operation of the Protocol is an issue for many – it is, Now, it is our common duty with the United particularly for some in unionist communities Kingdom to do whatever we can to reduce who feel a loss of their sense of identity and tensions in Northern Ireland. And that is why belonging. But we must not forget that the we are exploring practical solutions to help to issues businesses and consumers are facing minimise the disruptions to the everyday life are affecting the whole community in Northern in Northern Ireland.
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