Description
Addressing the 'unique circumstances on the island of Ireland' was a joint UK and EU ambition which bedevilled the negotiations of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. The resulting Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland included in the Withdrawal Agreement established conditions for the region's legal, governance and trading position that were unprecedented in international terms (Hayward, 2021; Whitten, 2023). It is perhaps unsurprising that the implementation of the Protocol has been fraught with political and practical difficulties. Such difficulties have been addressed through further 'flexible and imaginative solutions' from both the UK and EU. Some six years on from their conception, and over four years since coming into effect, this panel covers key aspects of the arrangements and their impact, including in the areas of human rights, trade, identity and governance. A second common theme in the papers will be an evaluation as to their significance for the UK, for the EU and for International Studies more broadly.
