Description
This paper is based on PhD research that is examining the unique post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland in comparison with the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It does this in two ways. First, considering the legal requirements in terms of customs and regulatory controls on the movement of goods. Secondly, it looks at the implementation of these arrangements in practice, as experienced by exporters/importers. This paper will outline what it is that makes the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland quite so unusual, considering Articles 5-10 in particular and how the Windsor Framework deal adjusted the application of these in practice. It will then go on to compare more traditional borders (physical infrastructure, checks, etc. rules-based), as used elsewhere at the EU’s geographical limits, with the more abstract operation of both the Irish Sea Border (for GB-NI movements) and the Irish land border post-Windsor Framework (risk-based at point of entry, data-driven, emphasis on surveillance and monitoring, labelling).
