Sunak hails ‘new chapter’ on post-Brexit rules for Northern Ireland

British prime minister Rishi Sunak welcomes European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel in Englefield Green, Windsor, Berkshire, ahead of a meeting to discuss a "range of complex challenges" around the Brexit treaty. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023.

A new agreement between the UK and EU is "the beginning of a new chapter", the British Prime Minister says.

Speaking as he and European Commission President Urusla von der Leyen unveiled the new "Windsor Protocol", Rishi Sunak said that the agreement resolves the outstanding issues with the Northern Protocol. It does this by removing customs paperwork for deliveries to Northern Ireland. He said that the legal text of the protocol was amended to now include Northern Ireland in tax treatments and "onerous requirements on pet ownership" have been removed.

From now on, goods entering the North from the UK which are staying in the North will proceed through a no-check green lane and those intended to come across the border will come through a red lane with checks.

Mr Sunak said that the agreement "protects sovereignty" in Northern Ireland and applies the minimum legal text possible to Northern Ireland and the agreement includes a "Stormont Break" which can stop EU goods laws from applying to the North. It is an emergency brake which, if pulled, gives the UK Government a veto.

Mr Sunak paid tribute to Ms von der Leyen for her "vision" and "recognising a new way forward". He said that the EU and UK are "allies, trading partners and friends". He said that the agreement is a "turning point" and protects the Good Friday Agreement.

Ms von der Leyen said that it was "with great satisfaction" that she was in Windsor to announce the deal. She said that the way had been paved by the two sides coming together to commit to work together on Ukraine, but that leaders had been "honest" with one another.

"We knew it was not going to be easy...above all we had to listen to the people of Northern Ireland. But we both knew, dear Rishi, that we could do it. Today we can take pride in the fact that we have delivered on that commitment."

She said that the framework allows "a new chapter" with "long-lasting solutions" for the people of Northern Ireland. She said the agreement was a "comprehensive framework" which would allow the same food to be available across the UK and will allow medicines to be available in Northern Ireland. She said that this would mean strong safeguards which would protect the EU's interests.

Crucially, Ms von der Leyen said that the deal protects the "hard-won peace" in Northern Ireland and she condemned the shooting of PSNI officer John Caldwell.