Brexit round-up – 05/03/21

Council requests European Parliament’s consent on EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement

The Council of the European Union has asked for the European Parliament’s consent to its decision on the conclusion of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and United Kingdom 2020 and a security of information agreement. Following consent and the establishment of all 24 language versions of the agreements as authentic and definitive, the Council will be able to adopt the decision on the conclusion of the agreements, allowing their entry into force. The agreements were subject to a time-limited provisional application until the end of February 2020 but the EU-UK Partnership Council made an extension until 30 April 2021 to allow sufficient time to complete the legal-linguistic revision of the 24 agreements.

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UK government statement on unilateral measures relating to Northern Ireland Protocol

In a written statement to Parliament on 3 March 2021, the government announced that it is taking several temporary operational steps relating to the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol to avoid cliff edges, as engagement with the EU continues through the UK-EU Joint Committee. For supermarkets and their suppliers, the current scheme for temporary agri-food movements to Northern Ireland will continue until 1 October 2021. Certification requirements will then be introduced in phases alongside the roll-out of the digital assistance scheme. Further guidance will be provided on parcel movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to provide additional time for traders beyond 1 April 2021. Guidance will be provided to help address practical problems on soil attached to the movement of plants, seeds, bulbs, vegetables and agricultural machinery. The government will write to the Northern Ireland Executive to confirm that flexibilities within the Official Controls Regulation 2017/625 are such that no charging regime is required for agri-food goods.

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EU Vice-President responds to governments announcement on Northern Ireland Protocol

Following the announcement from the UK government that it is taking temporary operational steps relating to the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič issued a statement in which he expressed the EU’s strong concerns over the UK’s unilateral action. He stated that this amounts to a violation of Northern Ireland Protocol provisions and the good faith obligation under the withdrawal agreement, and undermines mutual trust and the work of the Joint Committee. Vice-President Šefčovič, in his capacity as co-chair of the Joint Committee, said that he would inform the UK co-chair David Frost that the European Commission will respond to these developments in accordance with the legal means established by the withdrawal agreement and the trade and co-operation agreement.

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Video: Crossing Brexit borders – the impact on importers and exporters

The second in our series of post-Brexit webinars looks at the impact of Brexit on importers and exporters. We brought together a panel of experts to talk about the impact on cross border trade for businesses, what the threats are, and what potential opportunities might exist.

Click here to view it.

If you have any questions about any of the issues which are raised, or would like to discuss your own organisation’s options during the Brexit process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.