On April 10, 1998, one of the most significant peace agreements in modern history was signed in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, marked the end of decades of violence and political unrest in Northern Ireland. The agreement`s primary focus was to establish a set of principles that would guide the region towards a peaceful and democratic future. One of the key areas that the agreement addressed was the movement of goods within Northern Ireland and between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The Good Friday Agreement recognized that the movement of goods was critical to Northern Ireland`s economic success. It acknowledged that the region had to remain economically connected to the Republic of Ireland while still maintaining its ties to the rest of the United Kingdom. The agreement achieved this by creating a balance between the need for economic cooperation and the need to maintain Northern Ireland`s constitutional status as part of the United Kingdom.
The Agreement established the principle of North-South cooperation, which aimed to ensure that both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could benefit from cross-border trade. It recognized that there were many economic and social benefits to be gained from cross-border commerce and that this could help to promote peace and stability in the region.
The movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is protected by a range of EU laws and regulations. However, with the UK`s exit from the EU, the Good Friday Agreement`s safeguards have come under threat. Brexit has created a new border in the Irish Sea, which has led to new customs checks and regulatory controls. This has made it more difficult for businesses in Northern Ireland to export goods to the rest of the UK.
The UK and the EU agreed in December 2020 to a protocol that would protect the Good Friday Agreement`s measures for the movement of goods. The protocol aims to ensure that there are no customs checks or regulatory controls on goods moving from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. However, it does mean that there will be customs checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.
The Good Friday Agreement`s measures for the movement of goods have been critical in maintaining peace and stability in Northern Ireland. They have helped to ensure that the region remains economically connected to the Republic of Ireland while still retaining its ties to the rest of the UK. The protocol agreed between the UK and the EU in December 2020 aims to protect these measures and ensure that commerce continues to flow freely across the border.