Both the United Kingdom and the European Union have acknowledged the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland. They have recognised the necessity of safeguarding the 1998 Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and protecting North–South cooperation.
This solution was found in the form of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, which:
- avoids a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, thereby enabling the smooth functioning of the all-island economy and safeguarding the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all its dimensions;
- ensures the integrity of the EU’s Single Market for goods, along with all the guarantees it offers in terms of consumer protection, public and animal health protection, and combating fraud and trafficking.
Source eur-lex.europa.eu
