Brexit & Beyond newsletter
10 March 2025
Welcome to the 10 March 2025 Brexit & Beyond newsletter
Last week UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin met in Liverpool for the UK-Ireland Summit. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Independent Monitoring Panel met to discuss the panel’s role in scrutinising the UK Internal Market Guarantee.
The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework met on Thursday, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission and the UK Government.
In the House of Commons, Douglas Alexander, the Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, answered questions about the devolved administrations. Meanwhile, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, the Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, addressed queries regarding Northern Ireland and trade tariffs.
At the Assembly, the First Minister gave an update on the East-West Council and the Health Minister replied to a written question about cross-border medicines.
- UK-Ireland Summit
- Windsor Framework Monitoring Panel
- The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework
- UK Government and the Devolved Administrations
- Northern Ireland and Trade tariffs
- East-West Council
- Cross-border medicines
- Appointments to the Board of the International Fund for Ireland
- Other news
UK-Ireland Summit
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed a "new era" in UK-Irish relations at the UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool on Thursday. During the summit, both governments agreed to launch a new programme of cooperation, called UK-Ireland 2030. A joint statement between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin following UK-Ireland Summit said this “renewed programme of co-operation will be taken forward in a spirit of respect and affinity, and by a shared ambition to reach the potential of our partnership across our islands, recognising that, in a changing world beyond our shores, the benefits and significance of a stronger and more settled relationship between our two countries have never been greater.”
A range of commitments were made to work together, including strengthening international cooperation, enhancing security, launching joint energy and infrastructure initiatives, and driving economic and infrastructure growth.
They agreed to establish a UK-Ireland 2030 Steering Group led by the UK Cabinet Office and Department of the Taoiseach in order to take forward the range of commitments made. Together, they committed to “ensure this complements the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and their crucial role at the heart of our essential and unique relationship.”
Windsor Framework Monitoring Panel
Last Monday (3 March) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Independent Monitoring Panel met to discuss the panel’s role in scrutinising the UK Internal Market Guarantee. The meeting followed the Northern Ireland Secretary’s announcement to Parliament on 24 February 2025, confirming that the first six-month reporting period for the Internal Market Guarantee began on 1 January 2025 and will end on 30 June 2025, after which the Panel will submit its report to the Secretary of State.
The UK Internal Market Guarantee undertakes that over 80% of freight movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are considered ‘not at risk’ of onward movement to the EU, thus staying within the UK internal market. During the meeting, the Panel members reaffirmed their commitment to the role, acknowledging the support they have received in facilitating the scrutiny of goods movements data. The Panel also stated its intention to engage with business organisations and other stakeholders in the second half of the reporting period, in line with the commitments outlined in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said:
“Today’s meeting demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting the UK internal market. I look forward to working with the panel and receiving their recommendations.”
Alastair Hamilton, Chair of the Independent Monitoring Panel said:
“Our desire is to ensure, within the parameters of the Windsor Framework, that our work will help to reduce and remove burdens for businesses and citizens and maximise the competitiveness and opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses.”
The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework
The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework met on Thursday, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission and the UK Government.
The co-chairs noted overall progress on the implementation of the Windsor Framework, notably in the area of human medicines, where the specific arrangements previously announced started applying on 1 January 2025.
In its joint statement the Specialised Committee recorded that:
“The co-chairs discussed further work underway in the areas of sanitary and phytosanitary goods / agrifood, pet travel, customs and veterinary medicines and trade, with a view to ensuring full implementation of all the elements of the Windsor Framework. They agreed to continue to step up implementation progress in these areas, which remains essential to ensure that the safeguards and flexibilities of the Windsor Framework operate for people and businesses in Northern Ireland and protect the Union’s Single Market.”
The Committee co-chairs also took stock of the work of the Joint Consultative Working Group and its structured sub-groups.
They reiterated the importance of continued joint engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders.
UK Government and the Devolved Administrations
On Thursday the Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander told the House of Commons that since entering government, he and his colleagues “have reset working relations with the devolved Governments.” Furthermore, “[a]ll three tiers of the intergovernmental structures are in operation. Several of the portfolio-level inter-ministerial groups have met, while the middle tier inter-ministerial Standing Committee and finance inter-ministerial Standing Committee both met last Thursday. The top-tier meeting between the Prime Minister and the Heads of the devolved Governments also met alongside the Council of the Nations and Regions in October.” He emphasized that these structures do not fully encompass the extent of their engagement.
Northern Ireland and Trade tariffs
Last Thursday, during Cabinet Office questions, Alex Burghart MP (Conservative) asked the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations) Nick Thomas-Symonds MP what conversations he has had with his European counterparts to ensure that “Northern Ireland is not caught in the crossfire of a trade war.” The Minister said the UK Government would continue to monitor the impact of any such policy on Northern Ireland.
Alex Burghart MP asked the Minister “to make it clear to our friends in Europe that should trade and manufacturing be disrupted in Northern Ireland, we will not hesitate to use our powers under article 16 of the Windsor framework to protect businesses there?”
The Minister responded: “the Windsor framework taskforce is based in the Cabinet Office and I regularly discuss issues on Northern Ireland with my European counterparts. I can assure him that I will speak to Maroš Šefčovič on a number of occasions prior to 19 May [the UK-EU leaders Summit]. I hope the hon. Gentleman will take that reassurance. He should also be reassured that we will, of course, always act in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland.”
East-West Council
Last week, during question time (AQO 1632/22-27), the First Minister told the Assembly that the goal of the East-West Council is to boost cooperation between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The idea is to bring together key figures from sectors like government, business, education, trade, transport, and culture, while encouraging collaboration between Ministers and industry experts. The UK Government is responsible for setting the arrangements and timings for the Council's meetings. The First Minister also mentioned that over the past year, both the First and Deputy First Ministers have attended eight ministerial intergovernmental meetings, including sessions with the Interministerial Standing Committee, the Council of the Nations and Regions, meetings with the Prime Minister and the heads of devolved governments, as well as British-Irish Council summits.
The First Minister stated her desire for “free-flowing trade that allows our people to benefit by growing our economy and creating opportunities for growth.”
Cross-border medicines
Last Tuesday, the Health Minister responded to AQW 22740/22-27 and clarified that from 1 January 2025, as part of the Windsor Framework arrangements for medicines, all medicines in Northern Ireland, including prescription-only medicines, will be authorised by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). They can now be packaged on a UK-wide basis.
He stated:
“These arrangements addressed the pharmaceutical industry’s main concerns in relation to the long-term supply of medicines into NI. Medicines released onto the NI market by a qualified person (QP) must now contain ‘UK only’ on their outer packaging to prevent the movement of these medicines into the Single Market.”
All medicines in Northern Ireland will be authorised by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
In his response the Health Minister noted that the Irish medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), has updated its guidance. It has clarified that it will accept the movement of NI authorised medicines from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland under certain conditions, including on an unlicensed basis, to meet patients’ needs.
Appointments to the Board of the International Fund for Ireland
The Irish and UK Governments announced new appointments to the Board of the International Fund for Ireland on Monday, 3 March. The International Fund for Ireland is an international organisation established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986 with the objectives of promoting economic and social advance and of encouraging contact, dialogue and reconciliation between Unionists and Nationalists throughout Ireland.
The appointments are:
- Ms Shona McCarthy, Chair
- Ms Janet McConkey
- Professor Katy Hayward
- Ms Anne Conaghan
- Ms Anne Carr
- Ms Angila Chada
- Mr Bill Pauley
Other news
- Arj Singh, writing for The i Paper, reports that UK government ministers have been privately lobbied by the farming industry. They want to make sure that animal welfare is excluded from negotiations on the veterinary deal, also known as the SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement.
- Last Monday, Austria’s President Alexander van der Bellen swore in the country’s new three-party government. Conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) leader Christian Stocker will be the prime minister.
- Last Friday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar opened new Consulate General of India in Belfast as part of moves to strengthen ties between the India and the UK.
- The UK’s Foreign Secretary and Business Secretary travelled to Japan last Thursday for the Economic 2+2, a new strategic way for the UK and Japan to coordinate international economic policy.
- The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill has its third reading in the House of Lords on Wednesday.
- The House of Commons’ Northern Ireland Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into the operation of the Windsor Framework this week. It will take evidence from representatives from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, the NI Consumer Council, the Horticultural Trades Association and Logistics UK.
- Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney will be the next Prime Minister of Canada after his election as leader of the Liberal party. He will lead a minority government.
