Policy briefing: Brexit and EU negotiations

Resolving the challenges of implementing the Northern Ireland protocol remains critical to business while the UK and EU continue to engage with each other’s proposals

The government will continue its talks with the EU in the coming weeks after talks re-opened on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Despite the EU working constructively with the UK on their proposals, sticking points remain. Among these suggestions, the EU agreed to reduce the amount of certification needed to move lorries between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; legislate for the easy flow of medicine across the Irish Sea; and formalise the involvement of business in the Protocol going forward.

The key areas of tension from the UK government are over the continued jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and the existence of customs checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If agreement between the UK and EU is not found, the UK government could poten