Northern Ireland Protestant party skeptical of Windsor deal with EU

The Windsor deal, sealed at the end of February by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission chief Ursula van der Leyen, removes some “fundamental problems”, TUP leader Geoffrey Donaldson said on Tuesday in the US capital, Washington. Company PA. Donaldson said that while this “undoubtedly represents significant progress”, it requires “further clarifications, changes and contract extensions”.

The DUP has been blocking the formation of a regional government for months in opposition to Brexit rules for the province, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. According to the 1998 peace agreement, known as the Good Friday Agreement, it must always have two major parties, Catholics and Protestants. Whether the Sunak deal can be successful will depend on the DUP’s approval.

The Northern Ireland Protocol was originally negotiated as part of the Brexit deal for Britain’s departure from the European Union. It stipulates that the customs border between Great Britain and the EU runs in the Irish Sea. This would prevent the introduction of border controls between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

But regulation brought difficulties, for example sending parcels, medicines and bringing pets from the UK to Northern Ireland. Protestant supporters of the Union in Northern Ireland also felt disconnected from Britain and called for changes. These demands were taken into account in the Treaty of Windsor.