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The EU has written twice to the UK requesting an Office in N.Ireland 
As @tconnellyRTE reported, the UK said No
@DPhinnemore & I looked into it.
Turns out ***SURPRISE!! *** it's more complicated than you'd think.
And ALOT is riding on it ...
1/7 https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0401/1127912-eu-belfast/
As @tconnellyRTE reported, the UK said No
@DPhinnemore & I looked into it.
Turns out ***SURPRISE!! *** it's more complicated than you'd think.
And ALOT is riding on it ...
1/7 https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0401/1127912-eu-belfast/
The leaders of 4 NI parties wrote a joint letter to @10DowningStreet urging the UK reconsider.
They described the rejection as "a breach of trust at this critical stage".
And pointed out that the #Protocol gives the EU a "right to be present" in NI.
2/7 https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/stormont-leaders-write-to-pm-after-uk-knocks-back-eu-belfast-office-request-39096638.html
They described the rejection as "a breach of trust at this critical stage".
And pointed out that the #Protocol gives the EU a "right to be present" in NI.
2/7 https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/stormont-leaders-write-to-pm-after-uk-knocks-back-eu-belfast-office-request-39096638.html
Sure enough, Article 12 of #Protocol is pretty explicit:
EU wants a technical presence
UK committed to enabling it.
As far as EU is concerned, this is pay-off for giving NI free access to Single Market.
But now UK is demurring cos seems bit of an ouch for sovereignty.
3/7
EU wants a technical presence UK committed to enabling it.As far as EU is concerned, this is pay-off for giving NI free access to Single Market.
But now UK is demurring cos seems bit of an ouch for sovereignty.
3/7
And it is no small request.
The scope of Union law applying to NI covers customs, SPS, safety standards, product composition...
EU #Brexit preparedness notices show it will treat GB quite differently to NI in all sorts of areas.
Shit's getting real.
4/7 https://ec.europa.eu/info/european-union-and-united-kingdom-forging-new-partnership/future-partnership/getting-ready-end-transition-period_en
The scope of Union law applying to NI covers customs, SPS, safety standards, product composition...
EU #Brexit preparedness notices show it will treat GB quite differently to NI in all sorts of areas.
Shit's getting real.
4/7 https://ec.europa.eu/info/european-union-and-united-kingdom-forging-new-partnership/future-partnership/getting-ready-end-transition-period_en
So EU 'technical' presence in NI is a legal obligation...
But we don't yet know what form it wd take.
Anyway for the time being it's primarily a political football
If UK doesn't play ball in implementing Protocol, EU won't want to commit to another game via a UK-EU FTA.
5/7
But we don't yet know what form it wd take.
Anyway for the time being it's primarily a political football
If UK doesn't play ball in implementing Protocol, EU won't want to commit to another game via a UK-EU FTA.
5/7
So the stakes are high.
But the push need not be all in one direction.
UK cd give EU technical presence but ask for more in return.
E.g. EU office in NI cd have a diplomatic function to increase EU awareness of NI needs.
(Bear in mind Protocol exists due to NI complexity)
6/7
But the push need not be all in one direction.
UK cd give EU technical presence but ask for more in return.
E.g. EU office in NI cd have a diplomatic function to increase EU awareness of NI needs.
(Bear in mind Protocol exists due to NI complexity)
6/7
All this is explained in our, erm, Explainer hosted on @UKandEU.
Take a look for more detail + bit of a headsup on the issue that may well prove a big stumbling block for the next set of UK & EU negotiations...
Yup, that'll be N.Ireland
#awkward
7/7 https://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/an-eu-presence-in-northern-ireland-after-brexit/
Take a look for more detail + bit of a headsup on the issue that may well prove a big stumbling block for the next set of UK & EU negotiations...
Yup, that'll be N.Ireland
#awkward
7/7 https://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/an-eu-presence-in-northern-ireland-after-brexit/
