Description
The implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is governed by three UK-EU bodies:
i) The Joint Committee is to oversee the implementation of the Protocol.
ii) The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is to facilitate and administer the Protocol.
iii) The Joint Consultative Working Group is to inform the work of the Specialised Committee.
In addition, there are now formal structures for stakeholder engagement between business and civic groups in Northern Ireland. Even aside from the unique nature of these arrangements for all concerned, there is the complexity of communication and coordination between regional (devolved) structures and national and supranational ones. This paper arises from the ESRC-funded project 'Governance for 'a place between’: the Multilevel Dynamics of Implementing the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland'. This paper draws upon data from participant observation, elite interviews, and stakeholder workshops. It also includes comparative analysis between the operation of these institutions and the work of the UK and EU Domestic Advisory Groups and Civil Society Forum, which are more standard bodies for overseeing EU external agreements.
