The Unionist Party DUP have remained at the negotiating table in an effort to salvage the “protocol” for Northern Ireland. Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the DUP, said that the decisions taken by the Prime Minister and the European Commission will either condemn Northern Ireland to further division or clear the way for healing and restoration of political institutions. Sinn Fein also want an agreement to be reached as soon as possible.
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set out a test to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the internal market, the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and to solve the practical problems that the protocol is causing for families and businesses. Without the protocol, the Good Friday agreements are in jeopardy.
London and Brussels have been negotiating for months to try to ease tensions over trade deals. Both sides are hoping to reach an agreement that will not cause commercial and political friction. Negotiations are still ongoing and it remains to be seen if an agreement can be reached between London and Belfast.
