Any unilateral action to disapply parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol by the UK would undermine the peace process and destabilise the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement said Conor Long, Ambassador of Ireland in Cyprus, to CNA.
Ambassador Long was speaking on the sidelines of a media briefing regarding Bloomsday celebrations, which will take place globally, including Nicosia, on 16 June.
Commenting on recent developments regarding Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol, Long said that the Protocol was jointly formulated and agreed between the EU and this British Government to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, while reminding that the same time that Northern Ireland voted very strongly to remain in the EU.
In addition, Long said that the Protocol protects the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process from the challenges brought about by Brexit, and in particular the type of Brexit chosen by the UK Government, including their decisions to leave both the Single Market and the Customs Union.
“The way forward must be through engagement towards agreed and joint solutions. Unilateral action, effectively disapplying an international agreement such as the Protocol, would neither build trust between the EU and UK, nor support the Northern Ireland peace process”, stressed the Irish diplomat, adding that “we should remain sensitive to the Executive formation process that is underway in parallel in Northern Ireland. While a very clear majority of legislative assembly members elected support the Protocol, the DUP remains the largest Unionist party and its support will be necessary for the formation of a new Executive. It is looking for changes to the Protocol before it will re-enter the Executive”.
Long said that the Irish government fully supports the approach being taken by the European Commission and Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic, noting that last October the EU put forward ideas that would reduce checks and cut paperwork, making the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland much smoother, while adding that there is further potential to be explored in the package of proposals it put forward last October.
“There is no lack of flexibility of creativity on the EU side, but what is needed now is a partner who is willing to engage constructively – not further unilateral actions”, said Long, who was also very appreciative of the continued patience, support and solidarity from Cyprus and other EU partners.
Asked about possible risks from a possible negotiations deadlock, the Irish diplomat said that it is regrettable that with so many important issues on the EU agenda, not least the Russian aggression in Ukraine, that new threats of unilateral action have once again put Brexit back in the limelight.
“The EU has proposed specific changes to the implementation of the Protocol in its October 2021 proposals and has shown that it remains open to talking and finding flexible solutions in negotiations with the UK about the implementation of the Protocol. We are still awaiting the response from the UK side. We believe that any possible unilateral action to disapply parts of the Protocol by the UK would undermine the peace process and destabilise the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement” he noted, adding that the Irish government is keen to continue to engage with the UK to try and persuade them to abandon this proposed unilateral approach. “Only jointly agreed solutions can bring the legal certainty and predictability that people and businesses in Northern Ireland need”, he stressed.
Finally, asked to comment on whether recent election results in Northern Ireland affect internal political dynamics, as well as relations with the UK, Long stressed that it is essential to recall that the Protocol protects the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions and fully recognises the constitutional position of Northern Ireland and the principle of consent.
He also noted that the majority of members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly elected in the recent elections are from parties that support the Protocol (53 out of 90), and support immediate formation of the Executive in Northern Ireland.
“Business in Northern Ireland does not support unilateral action. They want certainty and stability and for the EU and the UK to work together to address the practical issues of concern to people and business in Northern Ireland”, said Long and concluded that the views of the people of Northern Ireland are clear from the fact that the majority of members returned in the May Assembly election support the Protocol.
Source: Cyprus News Agency