Scrutinising the Windsor Framework.
Legislation for the Windsor Framework – the Northern Ireland Brexit agreement between Britain and the EU which rewrites the Northern Ireland Protocol – is making its way through Parliament.
It was first made between PM Rishi Sunak and EU Commission president Ursula Von Leyen at the end of February.
The Northern Ireland Protocol initially aimed to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland (which remains in the EU) and Northern Ireland (which is UK territory) by ensuring Northern Ireland remains subject to EU custom rules. But a section in the Windsor Framework known as the Stormont Brake, now gives Northern Ireland more powers to block or challenge any new or future EU rules, if absolutely necessary.
In essence, the Windsor Framework comprises three elements:
- Movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland’s VAT status
- Governance of the amendment Northern Ireland Protocol.
Source aatcomment
