Brexit & Beyond newsletter

25 June 2025

Welcome to the 25 June 2025 Brexit & Beyond newsletter

While recent events in the Middle East have dominated the headlines, work has continued following the EU-UK summit in May, and the Assembly has also been busy with EU related matters.

Since our last issue, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, have met with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. Additionally, the Council of Nations and Regions met in London, and the East-West Council met in Belfast.

Several legislative consent memoranda have been laid before the Assembly, many at short notice,  prompting the Speaker to express his concern that the Assembly is not being given an appropriate opportunity to effectively examine legislation and on whether or not to grant or withhold legislative consent.

New pet travel rules from Great Britain to Northern Ireland came into effect on 4 June. In addition, the UK government has announced two new schemes designed to support the continued supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.

On  a more personal note, after 16 years I am moving on to a new post outside of the Northern Ireland Assembly and therefore this edition of Brexit & Beyond will be the last one published by me in my current role as EU Affairs Manager. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere and  heartfelt thanks to all of our subscribers, readers and also to those who have taken the time over the years to give us informative and worthwhile feedback over the years. I leave the office and Brexit & Beyond in the more than capable hands of my wonderful colleagues.

Thank you and farewell, Shauna Mageean

 

 

UK-EU Relations

On Thursday 6 June, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP and the Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds MP met with the EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.

Following the meeting, the Secretary of State posted “It was a pleasure to meet EU Trade Commissioner @MarosSefcovic today. A UK/EU SPS agreement will ease trade barriers for agrifood products and plants, cut costs for businesses and help Northern Ireland to continue to enjoy the benefits of dual market access.”

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary BennEU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP

Meanwhile on X, the EU Commissioner thanked both the Secretary of State and Minister Thomas-Symonds , commenting that they had “…reviewed progress under the Windsor Framework and what remains to be done. Also discussed the way forward after the [EU-UK] summit, with a focus on Northern Ireland's specific situation and potential benefits.”

Asked during Assembly Question Time on 9 June about recent discussions with the UK Government in relation to building global economic, cultural and tourism connections (AQO 2102/22-27), the deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA said that she and the First Minister had attended the meeting of the Inter-ministerial Group on UK-EU Relations on 12 May, at which they “highlighted the issues with the Windsor framework.”

She continued: “...the UK Government promised the people of Northern Ireland unfettered internal trade, and that is a promise that they must fulfil. It is our role to continue to hold their feet to the fire to ensure that they do so. The internal market of the United Kingdom is incredibly important to Northern Ireland. The promises were made; the promises must be fulfilled.”

The following day, again during Assembly Question Time (10 June), the Minister for the Economy was asked to provide a breakdown of the implications for businesses of the UK-EU agreement (AQO 2126/22-27). The Minister for the Economy responded:

“On 19 May, broad heads of agreement were announced between the British Government and the EU. We have a significant agri-food sector, so I welcome the commitment to negotiate a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. While that agreement would extend only to Britain, it should result in significantly fewer regulatory checks and controls on animals, plants and related products moving east to west. It is also welcome that the British Government and EU will continue to work on a youth mobility scheme. It will be important to understand how those high-level positions are translated into legal text and then implemented in practice. At this stage, we have few details, including on time frames. Clear and timely communications will be important for individuals and businesses. I continue to make those points to the British Government.”

Writing for the UK in a Changing Europe blog, Professors Anand Menon and Jonathan Portes, take stock of the agreements reached at the EU-UK summit.

 

Fishing and Coastal Communities Fund

Following the UK-EU Summit on 19 May, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA has confirmed that the proposed £360 million Fishing and Coastal Communities Fund is still in development and not yet open for bids or applications.

In response to a recent written question (AQW 27399/22-27), the Minister said the UK Government plans to consult with industry stakeholders to help shape how the fund will work. However, it’s not expected to open for applications until sometime in 2026.

 

 Council of Nations and Regions 

At a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London on 23 May, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the First Minister and deputy First Minister that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth in Northern Ireland as tariffs on key industries are slashed.

The Prime Minister said:

“These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Northern Ireland. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives.”

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland issued a Press Release on the same day in which he underlined the benefits for Northern Ireland of recent trade deals, and a new intended partnership agreement with the European Union.

He commented: “Of particular significance will be the deal we reached on agrifood and plants, which will smooth flows of trade, ease the frictions for businesses and protect the UK internal market. Applying the same rules across the UK will give businesses greater certainty, and mean we can eliminate paperwork and mandatory identity and physical checks on goods moving under these arrangements.”

Readers may be aware that the Bennett Institute for Public Policy published a report in collaboration with PolicyWISE in May entitled “A More Collaborative Way of Governing? Why the UK’s Council of the Nations and Regions Matters”.

 

The East-West Council  

The first East-West Council to take place in Northern Ireland, and under this UK government was held on 12 June. The UK government said this demonstrated its “ongoing commitment to Safeguarding the Union command paper.” The East-West Council was co-chaired by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden MP.

Northern Ireland Office Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Fleur Anderson MP announced the Connect Fund which “…will provide awards from a funding pot of up to £1 million to support groups working in sectors which directly affect Northern Ireland communities, helping them to tackle mutual challenges and opportunities which also affect communities in Great Britain. Applicants will fulfil objectives such as strengthening East-West connections by developing long lasting civic relationships; supporting the development of cultural, sports and people links; building leadership capability and facilitating constructive dialogue on shared opportunities and challenges facing UK communities. Each group will be able to bid for between £300 and £50,000 to deliver its objectives.”

Pictured l-r: The deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, the First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office Fleur Anderson MPPictured l-r: The deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, the First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA,  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office Fleur Anderson MP

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP added:

“Today’s East West Council has demonstrated how the UK Government is strengthening East-West connections across the UK, through the launch of the NIO’s Connect Fund to benefit community and voluntary groups, as well as the ambitious work programme to boost trade brought forward by Intertrade UK.”

The East-West Council also heard from representatives of Intertrade UK on the body’s draft programme of work to facilitate and boost trade across the UK.

 

Legislative Consent at the Assembly

Legislative consent is the process by which the UK Parliament seeks the agreement of the Assembly to legislate on a subject matter which is devolved to the Assembly (a “devolution matter”).  Convention requires the agreement of the Assembly before Parliament may pass such legislation.

Since our last issue, several legislative consent memoranda (LCM) have been laid before the Assembly. On 9 June, the Speaker highlighted his concern about the Assembly “not routinely being given an appropriate opportunity to give or withhold legislative consent.”

“…our Ministers, on some occasions, are still not engaging with the Assembly in a timely manner. If a Minister wants the Assembly to give its consent, that Minister should ensure that a legislative consent motion is tabled and moved in good time in order to allow the Assembly to carry out its role. Any legislative consent motion needs to be debated prior to the Bill's relevant final amending stage at Westminster, in case the Government need to table amendments. That is the relevant deadline for seeking consent, not at Royal Assent.”

The requirements of the Assembly’s Standing Orders were not met in respect of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The Bill was introduced in Parliament in October 2024, yet a legislative consent memorandum was laid until 28 May 2025. The Speaker said the timing meant “that it was too late for the Committee for Finance to undertake its scrutiny or for the Assembly to have any meaningful opportunity to decide whether to give its consent. That is simply unacceptable.”

Matthew O'Toole MLA, Chair of the Committee for Finance described the situation as “shambolic”.

Appearing before the Committee for Finance on 10 June, Department of Finance Permanent Secretary Neil Gibson took full responsibility for the delay. He explained that, due to the nature of the Bill, the UK Government (UKG) was required to complete a Windsor Framework Article 2(1) assessment. The Department of Finance had sought legal advice from the Departmental Solicitor’s Office (DSO) on the UKG’s assessment. However, the UKG was unable to share the full details of that assessment, limiting the Department’s ability to scrutinise it fully.

He said that as a result, the DSO lacked sufficient information to provide a definitive legal view, which necessitated direct and ongoing engagement with officials from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Mr Gibson noted that this complex process took approximately two and a half months to complete—an additional step not required in Wales or Scotland.

Mr Gibson noted that this complex process took approximately two and a half months to complete—an additional step not required in Wales or Scotland.

He added: “One of the things that we will enact after this is a tracker of all the LCMs that we have so that we can keep you regularly updated, month by month, on whether an LCM is coming forward, whether it has gone for assessment under the Windsor framework and what the delay might be.”

 

Assembly debates LCM on the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill 

On Monday 16 June, the Assembly debated a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) on the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which had its first reading in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024.

Opening the debate, the Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA expressed her frustration over the UK Government’s handling of the Bill which seeks to update UK rules on product safety, regulatory standards, and legal metrology (weights and measures) in light of technological advances and post-Brexit regulatory needs.

The Minister noted that inadequate engagement and poor timing meant that the Assembly was left unable to consent to most of the Bill clauses. She confirmed that only the devolution amendment requiring consent from devolved departments for specific regulations and which was added at Committee Stage, was still open for the Assembly’s consideration and consent. However, the Minister outlined that despite these challenges, she recommended support for the motion, citing that “…it has the potential to allow Britain to align more easily with EU product regulation, which would greatly benefit our businesses trading east-west.”

During the debate, the Chairperson of the Economy Committee, Phillip Brett MLA also confirmed the Committee’s support for the motion, recognising the Bill’s potential to reduce regulatory divergence between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

However, there was opposition from Timothy Gaston MLA who expressed his concern that the Bill had the potential to “… reverse Brexit by stealth” and that [the Bill] behind the legislative consent motion is “…the means by which GB is brought into line with Northern Ireland, not the other way around.” Despite opposition, the LCM passed and the Bill will now return to the House of Lords for consideration of House of Commons amendments. You can watch the full debate here. 

 

Assembly agrees to update regulations on Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Bill

Also on 16 June, the Northern Ireland Assembly debated and agreed to update regulations regarding polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) linked to serious health risks and environmental contamination. The amendment mandates that all equipment in Northern Ireland, primarily held by Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIEN), that contain more than 0.005% PCBs by weight and 0.05 cubic decimetres in volume must be decommissioned by the end of 2025. This will bring Northern Ireland into regulatory alignment with Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and the European Union, ensure compliance with the Stockholm Convention on POPs and further obligations within the Windsor Framework.

The DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir MLA estimated that the destruction of existing equipment will cost equipment holders in the region of £385,000, which he said was a justified expense under the ‘polluter pays principle’. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has developed an online system which will go live in the coming weeks and will help to streamline enforcement and tracking.

While the debate garnered general support from Members, there was some discussion that the requirement to align with EU regulations through the Windsor Framework undermined local democratic authority and legislative independence. Despite objections, the motion passed and the amendment was approved by the Assembly.

Watch the full debate. 

 

UK Extends Suspension of EU Fruit and Veg Border Checks Ahead of SPS Deal

The UK government announced on 2 June that it will delay introducing border checks on fruit and vegetables imported from the EU. The move is designed to ease trade ahead of a planned new agreement with the EU covering sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules—standards that relate to food safety and animal and plant health.

The upcoming SPS deal aims to simplify trade by removing routine checks on food imports and exports, reducing red tape, and cutting costs for businesses. As a result, medium-risk produce like tomatoes, grapes, and peppers will continue to enter the UK without inspection or associated fees, as planned checks due this summer will no longer go ahead.

This suspension was initially intended as a short-term measure to help businesses adjust, but has now been extended until January 2027. In the meantime, businesses must still follow the UK’s Border Target Operating Model, and risk-based surveillance will remain in place to protect biosecurity.

While the full details of the SPS deal are still being negotiated, the Government says the changes will help make food more affordable and supply chains more efficient.

 

Great Britain to Northern Ireland Pet Travel

New pet travel rules from Great Britain to Northern Ireland came into effect on 4 June.

If you live in Northern Ireland:

You do not need a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD) when returning from Great Britain with your dog, cat, ferret, or assistance dog. You can continue to travel without new paperwork, but your pet must be microchipped.

If you're travelling to Northern Ireland from Great Britain:

From 4 June 2025, residents of Great Britain will need a free Northern Ireland PTD to bring their pet into Northern Ireland.

  • The PTD is free and only needs to be applied for once — it's valid for your pet's lifetime.
  • No vet visit is required to apply.
  • Pets must be microchipped.
  • The PTD and microchip will be checked at ports or airports.

Travelling onward to Ireland or the EU?

You'll still need an Animal Health Certificate for that part of your journey.

The supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland

The UK government has announced the introduction of two new schemes aimed at ensuring the continued supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland. From 2026, the supply of those medicines will be covered by EU regulations rather than UK rules. This regulatory shift is a consequence of the post-Brexit arrangements outlined in the Northern Ireland Protocol.

From 1 January 2026, new arrangements for placing veterinary medicines on the Northern Ireland market will apply. These differ from those applicable to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Two routes will be available to support the supply of veterinary medicines in NI, the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made a written statement to the House of Commons on 19 June in which he stated:

“First, the veterinary medicines internal market scheme will allow veterinary surgeons to use their own judgment to determine whether to move veterinary products into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, where doing so is the only reasonable way of preventing unacceptable suffering of animals in their care, building on and simplifying existing processes. The requirement for a special import certificate will also be removed for Great Britain to Northern Ireland movements of therapeutic veterinary medicines, reflecting the importance of the UK internal market and recognising that this requirement exists for products entering the UK from outside the UK rather than movements within the UK internal market. Secondly, the veterinary medicines health situation scheme will allow the supply of alternatives to critical products in Northern Ireland, if these are not authorised and the situation of animal or public health so requires. These arrangements will last for as long as the animal or public health justification for it persists.”

 

Sporting guns, ammunition distributors and the Windsor Framework

In response to a recent Assembly question (AQW 27164/22-27), the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA provided an update on the situation facing sporting gun and ammunition distributors under the Windsor Framework.

He explained that while his Department is responsible for devolved firearms and explosives policy in Northern Ireland, import and export matters are reserved and fall under the UK Department for Business and Trade.

The Minister noted that his officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in Great Britain, who keep them informed about any firearms or explosives developments that could affect local responsibilities. Although he hasn’t personally engaged on this specific issue, he confirmed that no concerns have been raised to date regarding the import, export, or distribution of firearms or ammunition under the Windsor Framework.

 

The NI Executive’s International Relations

On 28 May, officials from the Executive Office gave an oral briefing on EU matters to the Committee of the Executive Office. They explained that since the UK’s exit from the EU, their work has shifted toward focusing on how post-Brexit arrangements are implemented and delivered. This work can be quite complex and sometimes requires direction from UK Government Ministers.

The Committee heard that the Executive Office plays a central role in coordinating post-EU exit issues across the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS). It also represents NICS in different parts of the governance arrangements related to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the Withdrawal Agreement, and the Windsor Framework.

Officials highlighted that the Executive Office stays in regular contact with the Cabinet Office and other UK Government departments. It also keeps an eye on new EU legislation proposals, working closely with other Executive departments.

To support this, the Executive Office manages the EU Legislation Information Tracking System (EULITS), which helps officials across departments keep track of relevant developments in EU law. However, they clarified that this system does not monitor areas where the UK is diverging from EU rules.

At its meeting on 4 June, the Committee for the Executive Office heard from departmental officials, including Brenda Henderson, the newly appointed Deputy Secretary for International Relations. She was asked about the value for money of the Executive’s overseas office in Beijing, and what’s being done to make spending more transparent. The Deputy Secretary said:

“One of the things that I want to do is to get that coherency across all three bureaux and with the international relations team in Belfast to make sure that we have a clear narrative, that our communications plans can let you see, and let our ministers see, exactly who we’re meeting, what is the outcome of that, what does it mean, the ‘so what’ question in terms of the Programme For Government.”

By putting clear communication plans in place, she explained, Ministers and the Committee will be able to better understand what each office is achieving and how their work is benefiting Northern Ireland.

Brenda Henderson asked for time when measuring value for money. She said:

“One of the things that I know that the overseas offices do is that they build relationships, you have to build those relationships before you utilise them.”

 

Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

At its meeting on Thursday 29 May, the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee heard from Keith Brown, the Head of Trade Regulation in the Department for the Economy on the ‘Proposal for a Regulation Establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority and Repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013:’.  

Mr. Brown noted that the Committee had previously voiced its concern about the ‘standard of evidence’ from the Department’ and that officials were now in the process of undertaking a review on this matter which would be completed in June 2025. He underlined that a key element identified [by Members] and which he described as ‘not rocket-science’ was the importance of ensuring closer working links with the UK Government, especially for reserved and excepted matters. He was keen to stress that that the recent reset in UK-EU relations was already improving coordination between the Department, HMRC and the UK Government, underlining that HMRC had been ‘excellent’ in helping the Department to respond quickly to Committee concerns. However, he did underline that ‘changing global events’ and the UK-EU Reset meant that this particular regulation had not been finalised and was subject to ongoing negotiations.

Mr. Brown outlined that areas of particular focus within ‘the proposal’ included e-commerce and business-to-business parcels and that ‘… HMRC would welcome the Committee's views on the potential impacts and benefits as the proposal progresses.' He stressed that as the process was ongoing, HMRC had noted that it was ‘…hard to assess benefits and costs other than in general terms’ but that ‘…the customs procedure will be strengthened, administrative burdens will be lessened, having central functions will reduce costs, and there will be greater coordination across member states.' This could result in the creation of ‘…a more level playing field between e-commerce and traditional trade’, while the Windsor Framework’s UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) still protects low-friction parcel movement, especially business-to-business.

With regards, red lane movements, Mr. Brown cited the commitment made in the Command Paper ‘Safeguarding the Union’ that “80% of all freight movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be treated as 'not at risk'".

The Committee noted that there had been some confusion around the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a new requirement which will mean exporters and importers must declare the carbon footprint of goods. Mr. Brown told the Committee that the Department was working on an internal guide which they hoped to share with Members later in the year.  

Further discussions centred upon the EU’s plan to remove the €150 Customs threshold that exempts low-value goods from customs duty. Committee Members noted their concerns that this could cost consumers and retailers and were keen to discover if it would mean extra red lane traffic and increased paperwork.

You can watch the full evidence session here

The Committee is keen to hear the views of stakeholders on this proposal via Citizen Space. The consultation can be accessed here and is open until 29 June.

 

The Interparliamentary Forum

The Interparliamentary Forum (IPF) held its seventh meeting on 12 June 2025 at the House of Commons, chaired by Simon Hoare MP, Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Paula Bradshaw MLA, Chair of the Committee for the Executive Office and Matthew O’Toole MLA, Chair of the Committee for Finance attended along with representatives from the House of Commons, House of Lords, Scottish Parliament and the Senedd Cymru.

MEmbers at the Interparliamentary Forum at the House of Commons Pictured  back row l-r: Alun Davies MS; Alexander Stewart MSP; Patricia Ferguson MP; Ruth Jones MP; Lord (Peter) Goldsmith; and, Matthew O'Toole MLA. Front row l-r: Clare Adamson MSP; Simon Hoare MP; and, Paula Bradshaw MLA. 

Members discussed shared concerns around intergovernmental relations, devolution, and the legislative consent process, highlighting challenges with the Internal Market Act and the opacity of the current devolved funding system. Lord Ricketts briefed the Forum on developments within the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. The Forum met the Rt Hon. Douglas Alexander MP, Minister for State in the Cabinet Office and Darren Tierney, Director General, Propriety and Constitution Group in the Cabinet Office to discuss how the UK Government has approached intergovernmental relations since the 2024 General Election.

A joint statement was issued which can be accessed here.

 

The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee visits Northern Ireland

The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee visited Northern Ireland on 12 and 13 of June as part of its current inquiry into Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework.

On 12 June the Committee was in Newry to meet with business leaders and civic society representatives to discuss how their organisations currently operate in the context of Windsor Framework, the level of support they receive and how they engage with the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the European Commission.

The Committee met at Parliament Buildings on13 June to hear oral evidence from Dr Steve Aiken MLA of the Ulster Unionist Party and Eóin Tennyson MLA of the Alliance Party in relation to its inquiry.

This afternoon (Wednesday, 25 June) , the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP and the Cabinet Office Minister Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP will appear before the Committee. This will be the concluding evidence session of the Committee’s inquiry and the first appearance by Government ministers since the Committee’s formation in February 2025.

Questions will focus on the effectiveness of the complex institutional architecture of the Windsor Framework, and how the voices of Northern Ireland stakeholders, policymakers and politicians are represented within those structures. The Committee will also explore topical issues such as the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland and the potential impact of US global tariffs on Northern Ireland.

Against the backdrop of recent political developments, the Ministers will also be questioned on the significance of the 19 May UK-EU ‘Common Understanding’ agreement for Northern Ireland.

 

Other news 

  • Following the UK-EU agreement, the UK Government announced on 27 May that public research organisations can apply to host the UK’s AI Factory Antenna – a facility that, if approved, would link British research expertise to its advanced supercomputers across Europe.  
  • On 4 June, EU member states adopted a set of new measures governing the regulation of medicines, following two years of deadlock. The pharma package is the first major revision of EU pharmaceutical laws since 2004. Its aim is to better meet patient needs, boost Europe’s competitiveness and support innovation. The package will now go forward for negotiation with the European Parliament.
  • Ignacio Garcia Bercero writing for the think tank ‘UK in a Changing Europe’ explores the future of the UK-EU trading relationship in light of the agreements reached at the recent UK-EU summit. He argues that the agreements mark an important first step in improving bilateral relations and facilitating trade, but that both sides should continue to build on this.
  • The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework met on 10 June after which the UK Government and European Commission issued a Joint Statement.  They reiterated the importance of continued joint engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders.
  • The British-Irish Council Summit met in Newcastle, County Down, on 13 June. The Summit meeting had a thematic focus on The Role of AI in Reform and Transformation and was co-chaired by First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA.
  • The Prime Minister met French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 Summit on 16 June. As well as discussing the Middle East, they looked ahead to “the upcoming UK-France Summit in July and agreed that their teams should pursue high-ambition outcomes that deliver for the British and French people.”
  • The House of Commons Library published a research briefing titled ‘Windsor Framework: Democratic Oversight and the Independent Review’ on 18 June.
  • On 20 June, the European Commission announced its intention to withdraw the Green Claims Directive Proposal. The proposed directive would have required companies to substantiate misleading claims about environmental merits of their products and services made in business-to-consumer commercial practices, by complying with a number of requirements regarding their assessment.
  • This afternoon, the UK government issued an update to say it had written to the EU to confirm the measures it has taken to comply with the Arbitration Tribunal’s ruling in the UK-Sandeel case.