Category: Windsor Framework

Questions and Answers: political agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework, a new way forward for the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland INTRODUCTION What is the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and what was the issue? The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (‘Protocol’) is an integral part of the European Union – United Kingdom Withdrawal Agreement. […]

DRAFT DECISION No /2023 OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE AGREEMENT ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY   of XX 2023 XXX laying down arrangements relating to the Windsor Framework   THE JOINT COMMITTEE,   Having regard […]

Article 6(2) Customs In Article 6(2) of the Protocol, the following sentence shall be added after the first sentence: ‘This includes specific arrangements for the movement of goods within the United Kingdom’s internal market, consistent with Northern Ireland’s position as part of the customs territory of the United Kingdom in accordance with this Protocol, where […]

Subject matter This Section sets out rules for implementing Article 5(2) of the Protocol as regards: the conditions for considering that a good brought into Northern Ireland from outside the Union will not be subject to commercial processing in Northern Ireland; the criteria for considering that a good brought into Northern Ireland from outside the […]

Establishment of an enhanced coordination mechanism related to the functioning of the Protocol in the areas of VAT and excise Subject matter An Enhanced Coordination Mechanism on VAT and excise concerning goods (“the Mechanism”) is hereby established. The purpose of the Mechanism is to assist the Joint Committee in fulfilling its task to review the […]

Review, suspension and termination of Section 2 of this Decision 1. The Joint Committee shall discuss the application of this Section of this Decision unless the Parties decide otherwise. 2. The Union may notify the United Kingdom within the Joint Committee where the United Kingdom: (a) in a sustained manner, fails to implement Article 5 […]

Application for Authorisation to bring goods into Northern Ireland for end consumers  (referred to in Article 9 of the Decision) Application information Supporting documents Mandatory supporting documents and information to be provided by all applicants: Document of establishment / proof of a permanent business establishment Other supporting documents and information to be provided by the […]

References to Windsor Protocol DRAFT JOINT DECLARATION  Reflecting the arrangements laid down in Decision No XX/2023 of the Joint Committee, the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (‘the Protocol’), as amended by that Joint Committee Decision, should now be known as the “Windsor Framework”. Therefore, wherever relevant in dealings between the Union and the United Kingdom under […]

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM   SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PROPOSAL The Commission proposes that the Council establishes the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community […]

Goods movements The agreement establishes a new UK internal trade scheme based on commercial data-sharing, not international customs processes, for the movement of goods. This new scheme will significantly expand the range of businesses who can benefit; end the requirement for traders to provide customs commodity codes for each movement; scrap burdensome supplementary declarations; and […]

Changes The issues with the old Protocol did not, though, solely concern trade frictions on the movement of goods. It disrupted trade between Northern Ireland and its most important market in Great Britain; reduced the availability of goods; and treated Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the United Kingdom in areas at the heart […]

SUMMARY The Northern Ireland Protocol has been the source of acute political, economic and societal difficulties in the two years since it has been operating. The prospect of rigorous implementation of the Protocol has been regarded by communities and businesses in Northern Ireland as unworkable without lasting economic and political damage. The Protocol has already […]

Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Position paper on simplifications in the area of Customs  Context  On 27 February 2023, the European Commission (‘the Commission’) and the Government of the United Kingdom (“the UK”) reached a political agreement in principle on the way forward regarding the operation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (‘the Protocol’). The way […]

Position paper on agri-food, plants and pet animals Context On 27 February 2023, the European Commission (“the Commission”) and the Government of the United Kingdom (“the UK”) reached a political agreement in principle on the way forward regarding the operation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (the Protocol). The way forward includes joint solutions that […]