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| UK and EU formally adopt new Brexit Windsor Framework deal | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The new Brecit deal was agreed by Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last month | The new Brecit deal was agreed by Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last month |
| The Windsor Framework has been formally adopted by the UK and EU, Downing Street has confirmed. | |
| The UK-EU deal is designed to make trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK smoother. | The UK-EU deal is designed to make trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK smoother. |
| It gives Stormont's Assembly more say over EU rules and has been welcomed by most Northern Ireland parties. | It gives Stormont's Assembly more say over EU rules and has been welcomed by most Northern Ireland parties. |
| However, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) voted against a key aspect of the deal on Wednesday and is still refusing to re-enter power-sharing. | However, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) voted against a key aspect of the deal on Wednesday and is still refusing to re-enter power-sharing. |
| Earlier the EU's chief Brexit negotiator said the framework allows the UK and EU to begin a "new chapter in relations". | |
| Maros Sefcovic was in London to ratify the new post-Brexit deal with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. | |
| Mr Sefcovic said the EU would continue listening to everyone in Northern Ireland and continue its commitment to the peace process. | |
| Maros Sefcovic, pictured after a meeting in February, was in London to ratify the new post-Brexit deal with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly | |
| Mr Cleverly said both sides had found a way to move forward and "unlock the potential" of a partnership aimed at promoting prosperity. | Mr Cleverly said both sides had found a way to move forward and "unlock the potential" of a partnership aimed at promoting prosperity. |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the DUP - Northern Ireland's second largest party after Sinn Féin - has yet to come to terms with the significance of Wednesday's overwhelming parliamentary vote in support of the new Brexit deal. | Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the DUP - Northern Ireland's second largest party after Sinn Féin - has yet to come to terms with the significance of Wednesday's overwhelming parliamentary vote in support of the new Brexit deal. |
| Jayne Brady, the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, was the representative from Northern Ireland at the Joint Committee meeting | |
| She was taking part in the absence of a first and deputy first minister. | |
| No renegotiating | No renegotiating |
| Opening the meeting, Mr Cleverly said there was a "spirit of positivity" in relations between the UK and EU. | Opening the meeting, Mr Cleverly said there was a "spirit of positivity" in relations between the UK and EU. |
| "What we achieved was... something which protected the European Union's single market, protected the UK's internal market but most importantly perhaps protected the elements of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement," he said. | "What we achieved was... something which protected the European Union's single market, protected the UK's internal market but most importantly perhaps protected the elements of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement," he said. |
| Mr Sefcovic said people and businesses in Northern Ireland could now benefit from "certainty and predictability" because of the framework. | Mr Sefcovic said people and businesses in Northern Ireland could now benefit from "certainty and predictability" because of the framework. |
| On Thursday Mr Heaton-Harris said the deal was done and would be "no renegotiating" of it. | On Thursday Mr Heaton-Harris said the deal was done and would be "no renegotiating" of it. |
| His comments came a day after MPs voted by 515 to 29 to support the deal agreed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month. | His comments came a day after MPs voted by 515 to 29 to support the deal agreed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month. |
| It will open the door to talks in other areas of cooperation that had been blocked, including financial services and Britain's access to the EU's flagship Horizon research scheme. | It will open the door to talks in other areas of cooperation that had been blocked, including financial services and Britain's access to the EU's flagship Horizon research scheme. |
| But the DUP and some Conservative MPs voted against the deal, saying the UK government had to make changes to it. | But the DUP and some Conservative MPs voted against the deal, saying the UK government had to make changes to it. |
| Today is really more a formality - the deal itself had already been reached. | Today is really more a formality - the deal itself had already been reached. |
| And the UK government is feeling pretty relieved after it passed through the House of Commons with a far smaller Tory rebellion than some had anticipated. | And the UK government is feeling pretty relieved after it passed through the House of Commons with a far smaller Tory rebellion than some had anticipated. |
| There are still some EU-UK negotiations ahead. | There are still some EU-UK negotiations ahead. |
| Today's talks will mark the start of, yes, more talks and later negotiations and wrangling over money when it comes to Britain's access to the EU's flagship Horizon research scheme. | Today's talks will mark the start of, yes, more talks and later negotiations and wrangling over money when it comes to Britain's access to the EU's flagship Horizon research scheme. |
| The big sticking point is still the DUP refusing to back The Windsor Framework, and go back into power sharing in Northern Ireland. | The big sticking point is still the DUP refusing to back The Windsor Framework, and go back into power sharing in Northern Ireland. |
| The main concession the UK government gained, that Stormont will now get more of a say over EU rules that apply in Northern Ireland, is currently somewhat redundant when Stormont is not currently sitting and Northern Ireland remains without a functioning devolved government. | The main concession the UK government gained, that Stormont will now get more of a say over EU rules that apply in Northern Ireland, is currently somewhat redundant when Stormont is not currently sitting and Northern Ireland remains without a functioning devolved government. |
| It's not yet clear what the DUP's next move will be, and what will give them the reassurances to return to power-sharing. | It's not yet clear what the DUP's next move will be, and what will give them the reassurances to return to power-sharing. |
| But No10 is keen to plough on and play the long game even if the DUP are not yet on side. | But No10 is keen to plough on and play the long game even if the DUP are not yet on side. |
| UK ministers argue the DUP need to come to terms with the support for the deal, and are adamant it won't be renegotiated. | UK ministers argue the DUP need to come to terms with the support for the deal, and are adamant it won't be renegotiated. |
| Mr Heaton-Harris said he would have to set Northern Ireland's budget for the coming year within the next few weeks if the executive was not up and running soon. | Mr Heaton-Harris said he would have to set Northern Ireland's budget for the coming year within the next few weeks if the executive was not up and running soon. |
| He added that Northern Ireland's public finances were "definitely not in a good state". | He added that Northern Ireland's public finances were "definitely not in a good state". |
| More on new NI Brexit deal | More on new NI Brexit deal |
| AT-A-GLANCE: The keys points in the agreement | AT-A-GLANCE: The keys points in the agreement |
| EXPLAINED: The Stormont brake and how it works | EXPLAINED: The Stormont brake and how it works |
| What is the Windsor Framework? | What is the Windsor Framework? |
| The Windsor Framework was signed to alter the Northern Ireland Protocol - and aims to significantly reduce the number of checks on any goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain. | The Windsor Framework was signed to alter the Northern Ireland Protocol - and aims to significantly reduce the number of checks on any goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain. |
| The Stormont Brake mechanism, which the DUP voted against, would also allow the Northern Ireland Assembly to object to new EU rules. | The Stormont Brake mechanism, which the DUP voted against, would also allow the Northern Ireland Assembly to object to new EU rules. |
| Thirty assembly members, from two or more parties, can pause new EU legislation applying in NI. | Thirty assembly members, from two or more parties, can pause new EU legislation applying in NI. |
| This could happen in instances were a new EU law would have a "significant impact specific to everyday life". | This could happen in instances were a new EU law would have a "significant impact specific to everyday life". |
| Honeysuckle hassle? | Honeysuckle hassle? |
| A body representing horticultural businesses has said the framework leaves several issues unresolved for the trade in plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. | A body representing horticultural businesses has said the framework leaves several issues unresolved for the trade in plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. |
| The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has written to the prime minister, complaining that the deal means "several key species of trees and plants will remain prohibited for exporting to Northern Ireland". | The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has written to the prime minister, complaining that the deal means "several key species of trees and plants will remain prohibited for exporting to Northern Ireland". |
| It said this includes popular species such as hawthorn, hazel, honeysuckle and jasmine. | It said this includes popular species such as hawthorn, hazel, honeysuckle and jasmine. |
| However the government has suggested that those could permitted for Great Britain to Northern Ireland sales at a later date. | However the government has suggested that those could permitted for Great Britain to Northern Ireland sales at a later date. |
| The Horticultural Trades Association has written to the prime minister to voice its concerns | The Horticultural Trades Association has written to the prime minister to voice its concerns |
| The EU has strict rules on plant health and, under the original Northern Ireland Protocol, species it considered high risk were banned from being sent to Northern Ireland from Great Britain. | The EU has strict rules on plant health and, under the original Northern Ireland Protocol, species it considered high risk were banned from being sent to Northern Ireland from Great Britain. |
| The framework means some but not all of those species are now permitted. | The framework means some but not all of those species are now permitted. |
| NI garden centres struggling to get plants from GB | NI garden centres struggling to get plants from GB |
| Horticulture "incredibly frustrated" by Irish Sea border | Horticulture "incredibly frustrated" by Irish Sea border |
| A government spokesperson said: "We have paved the way for 11 banned plant species to move again by the time of the next planting season. | A government spokesperson said: "We have paved the way for 11 banned plant species to move again by the time of the next planting season. |
| "Those were priority cases identified by industry itself and we will progress further cases wherever there is industry appetite." | "Those were priority cases identified by industry itself and we will progress further cases wherever there is industry appetite." |
| The HTA is also calling for the establishing of what it calls a British and Northern Irish Horticulture and Seed Potato Traders Forum to identify and work through the outstanding issues. | The HTA is also calling for the establishing of what it calls a British and Northern Irish Horticulture and Seed Potato Traders Forum to identify and work through the outstanding issues. |
| It is understood the government is planning to step up consultation with businesses in the coming weeks. | It is understood the government is planning to step up consultation with businesses in the coming weeks. |
| That is aimed at finalising the details of the trusted trader scheme and "green lane", which will be central to easing the flow of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. | That is aimed at finalising the details of the trusted trader scheme and "green lane", which will be central to easing the flow of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| NI Brexit | NI Brexit |
| Brexit | Brexit |