For the EU and its member Ireland, the Northern Ireland Protocol was a basic condition for the Brexit agreement. After lengthy renegotiations, there is now a consensus on the special rules that will resonate positively.
No matter what the details of a revised Northern Ireland Protocol deal, one thing is certain: people and businesses in the northern part of the UK would finally be able to plan ahead. They would know which rules apply and might adapt to them – an important prerequisite for growth and stability in the former civil war region.
But it might also mean the beginning of better times for the rest of the kingdom. After all, the British economy recently narrowly escaped a recession. This is of course also due to the consequences of the pandemic and the effects of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but Brexit is making the situation on the island worse.
Once the Northern Ireland Protocol dispute is resolved, many other issues might be discussed and resolved. These include the stalled import of food from the EU to Great Britain, which, in addition to the bad weather conditions, is currently causing cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables to be rationed in supermarkets on the island.
The discussions regarding the protocol can be compared to a disruptive plug that might finally come loose in order to get cooperation with the EU going once more. Either way, it would be for the best for the people of the UK.
