Thread by @hayward_katy, The EU has written twice to the UK requesting an Office in [...]

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/

UK refuses EU request for Belfast office

The British government is resisting a request by the EU to open an office in Northern Ireland, following the closure of the European Commission's representation in Belfast at the end of January, RTÉ...

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

Stormont leaders write to PM after UK knocks back EU Belfast office request

Four Stormont leaders have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressing their concern at the UK's rejection of a request by the EU to establish an office in Belfast.

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

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

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

Getting ready for the end of the transition period

Getting ready for the end of the transition period

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

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

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/

An EU presence in Northern Ireland after Brexit - UK in a changing Europe

Dr Katy Hayward and Professor David Phinnemore explore what EU presence in Northern Ireland will look like after Brexit.

https://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/an-eu-presence-in-northern-ireland-after-brexit/

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