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Re: [Updated] The UK’s future relationship with the EU
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking
The term "backstop" is just a term for an alternative subset of arrangements that are put in place if no other arrangements are there by the end of this year. Where does it say there would be a customs border in the Irish Sea?
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In the House of Commons Library.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk...reland-border/
Quote:
Boris Johnson’s plan
When Boris Johnson became Prime Minister he pledged to remove the backstop. He said it was undemocratic and he wanted the Northern Ireland Assembly to agree to any new Withdrawal Agreement. He wanted the whole of the UK to leave the EU’s Customs Union at the end of the transition period, and Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK’s customs territory but to follow EU rules on goods.
This was essentially option A – a special status for Northern Ireland. It meant the customs border would be between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The EU did not accept all these conditions, but Mr Johnson was able to change the Withdrawal Agreement significantly in respect of Northern Ireland.
The details
Under the terms of the new Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland remains part of the UK customs territory, so Northern Ireland will be included in UK free trade agreements. Northern Ireland will also technically be part of the UK’s VAT area.
In practice, however, Northern Ireland will apply many EU customs rules and there will effectively be a customs and regulatory border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Irish Sea.
The Northern Ireland Assembly will have an opportunity to vote periodically on whether this arrangement should continue. The first opportunity will be four years after the end of the transition period.
The other major difference is that Mr Johnson’s Agreement for Northern Ireland, unlike the backstop, is no longer temporary. It is, unless the Northern Ireland Assembly votes otherwise, the permanent end state for Northern Ireland.
The level-playing field rules that were part of the backstop are not part of the new Agreement. However, the trade relationship between Great Britain and the EU is still to be agreed; the EU is likely to request that the UK sign up to similar guarantees.
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