Northern Ireland

Why was the Northern Ireland Protocol created?

The NI Protocol created a sea border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. This keeps Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland within the same customs territory.

The reason for this is to prevent a land border being created between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, due to the historical conflict between the two countries.

What is the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) agreement?

The Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) convention aims to increase trade between the European Union and other countries who are entered into the PEM partnership by making the rules of origin more flexible and business-friendly.

Following a demand for a solution from the Northern Irish Government, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has proposed a solution: the Northern Ireland Bill. This is a piece of UK legislation that is intended to alter the Northern Ireland Protocol and support businesses on both sides of the border.

Although Boris Johnson insists that the bill is needed to address serious issues that the NI Protocol has created, it has been met with fierce opposition from the EU and members of the UK parliament.