Brexit and Beyond

19 January 2026

banner says Brexit and Beyond Newsletter with date 19 January 2026. On the left are two signposts one pointing left which says EU and the other pointing right which says Brexit

It’s a big day for the EU and Interparliamentary Affairs team as we mark the 200th edition of Brexit and Beyond! Starting back in 2017, over the last nine years we’ve covered red lines and green lanes, common frameworks and the common understanding, tariffs, treaties and trade! Whether you’ve recently subscribed, or been with us for a while, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your feedback and support.  

In what was a busy week for Brexit and EU related affairs at the Assembly, we take a closer look at debates on Establishing an EU Office in Belfast,  Rejecting the New EU Customs Fee on Small Parcels and the vote on Observer Status in the European Parliament, we also look ahead to what’s on the Assembly agenda this week.  

Our regular ‘Parliamentary Planner’ section highlights upcoming debates and discussion topics at other legislatures this week. And as always, we link you through to recent news stories and items of interest you may have missed.  

 

 

Assembly Round-up  

photograph of Parliament Buildings taken from the bottom of the front steps.

 The Assembly returned last week following the Christmas recess. The first plenary of 2026 unfolded in a similar vein to the final sessions of 2025, with Brexit and EU related matters prominent on the agenda.  

 

 

 Debate on Establishing an EU Office in Belfast 

During Private Members’ Business on Monday 12 January, the Assembly debated a motion re: Establishing an EU Office in Belfast. Moving the motion, Ciara Ferguson MLA told Members: “…for the people of Ireland, our businesses and our economic potential, the reality is that the opening of an EU office in Belfast will provide a much-needed channel for local businesses and citizens.” Ms. Ferguson continued: “We should all want to enhance any and every opportunity and practical step that there is to strengthen the confidence and security of local businesses and traders, whilst making this region a pivotal location for increased exports, additional good jobs and economic growth.” 

Speaking in opposition to the motion, David Brooks MLA said: “The proposal would do little to address the real challenges facing businesses that cannot directly influence the laws that govern them.” He added that he found it difficult to believe that: “…the major stumbling block for any major business considering investment in Northern Ireland and wishing to grasp that great white elephant of the protocol — the legion of so-called dual market access benefits — is the lack of a physical office for the EU in Belfast city centre.” 

Stewart Dickson MLA told the Assembly that the Alliance Party supported the motion, noting that: “The EU has European External Action Service (EEAS) offices in a wide range of non-EU states.” Mr. Dickson continued that an EEAS office in Belfast would: “…be well placed to help consumers with queries and businesses that operate from, in and out of Northern Ireland. It would allow the EU to see and feel at first hand the concerns about and benefits of the ever-evolving Brexit rules.” 

Dr. Steve Aiken MLA addressed Lord Murphy’s report, noting that his recommendations had been accepted in full by Whitehall. He said: “Lord Murphy proposed a multimillion pound clearing house facility to reduce the challenges presented by the Irish Sea border. That recommendation, and the push to do something practical about it, is what we should be debating.” 

The Leader of the Opposition, Matthew O’Toole MLA said that he was:“…unapologetic about the fact that I think that Northern Ireland's best future is in a new Ireland back inside the European Union.” He added: “… Even if you have no interest in ever rejoining the EU, surely you want the rules to work better. Surely you want us to have better access to decision makers inside the Commission. Surely you want the businesses of constituents whom you represent to have better, quicker access and answers. That would be delivered by Commission representation in Belfast.” 

Opposing the motion, Timothy Gaston MLA said: “The proper response to the challenges facing business is not a bigger EU footprint here in Belfast; it is the removal of the barriers within the United Kingdom. That is what we need. We need the restoration of democratic control.” 

In his winding-up speech, Declan Kearney MLA told the Assembly: “…our collective focus should be on identifying pragmatic and practical solutions to address the challenges that are associated with this post-Brexit context, and that extends to technical issues that our businesses have identified as they navigate the new trade, investment and regulatory arrangements that have been imposed on all of us.” He concluded by noting that:  

 

 Assembly votes on Observer Status in the European Parliament 

Earlier on Monday afternoon, the Assembly voted on an amended Private Members’ motion on Observer Status in the European Parliament.  

The debate on the motion and a vote on the amendment took place on 8 December. However, due to the presentation of a valid petition of concern, a vote on the substantive motion could not take place until a date after 22 December.   

On Monday, the Principal Deputy Speaker told Members that: “The petition of concern that was presented on Monday 8 December 2025 in relation to the vote on the motion on observer status in the European Parliament was subsequently confirmed on 22 December 2025. In accordance with section 42 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, if the petition is presented by 30 members, the vote on the matter requires cross-community support.”   

The Assembly voted on the amended motion, resulting in 50 Ayes in support against 33 Noes. The Principal Deputy Speaker informed Members that as cross-community support had not been achieved, the motion as amended had been negatived. 

 

 

 Executive Office Statement on the forty-fourth summit of the British-Irish Council 

Image is of the deputy First Minister in the Chamber giving a statement on the British-Irish Council

 On Tuesday, the deputy First Minister delivered a statement on the forty-fourth summit of the British-Irish Council, which she attended alongside the First Minister on 4 and 5 December 2025.  

Responding to a question from Phillip Brett MLA on what representations she had made to the UK Government regarding ongoing issues faced by car dealerships in Northern Ireland, the deputy First Minister said that she had: “…raised the issue of GB-registered cars with the Prime Minister.” She added that there was a commitment from the Prime Minister to look at the issue.  

On the issue of the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland, the deputy First Minister said that she had taken the opportunity at the British -Irish Council to raise directly with the Prime Minister: “…significant concerns and problems that the continued lack of EU-UK agreement on veterinary medicines for Northern Ireland is creating.” She continued by stating that: “… the current arrangement should only be a transitional arrangement pending a full and substantive agreement with the European Union to sort out the issue and to ensure that consumers and vets here in Northern Ireland are able to fully access all GB veterinary medicines.” 

 

 

 Assembly debates motion on Rejecting the New EU Customs Fee on Small Parcels  

image shows the hands of two people exchanging small parcels

On Tuesday, the Assembly also debated a Private Members’ Motion on Rejecting the New EU Customs Fee on Small Parcels. Opening the debate, David Brooks MLA told Members that: “The motion is necessary because Brussels has decided to impose a new €3 customs duty on small parcels from 1 July 2026 on consignments below €150.” He argued that the UK Government must: “…guarantee that consumer parcels from GB face no customs duty or handling fee not applied by the UK Government across the UK and that the parcels staying within the UK internal market are shielded, without the imposition of further registration burdens on honest traders.”

Speaking in opposition to the motion, Eoin Tennyson MLA said: “The fact is that, when you come out of the customs union, you create a customs border. It then becomes a question of whether that customs border is on land, at a porous land border that people and communities cross daily, or whether it happens in the Irish Sea.” He continued that the obvious solution is: “…that the UK and the EU collaborate on the issues and that there are no barriers, checks or tensions anywhere on these islands…”  

Diana Armstrong MLA told Members that her party supported the motion, noting that: “Any additional charge applied here but not in Great Britain creates inequality in the United Kingdom. Suppliers may simply stop shipping to Northern Ireland or pass the cost directly to our consumers.” She added that: “The UK Government must stand up for Northern Ireland's traders and consumers, restore sovereignty over all aspects of UK trade and make it absolutely clear that no new customs duties will apply to parcels moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.” 

Referencing the Windsor Framework, Sinead McLaughlin MLA said that it had: “…introduced added complexity, additional paperwork and uncertainty that they simply do not have the capacity to absorb, and new customs fees for small parcels will put additional pressure on those small businesses. Those concerns are real. They are legitimate, and they must be addressed.” 

Meanwhile, Declan Kearney MLA said that: “The issue of duties on parcels is a friction that requires a practical and pragmatic solution… A resolution to this issue requires engagement by all relevant stakeholders.” Mr. Kearney continued: “At all times, our focus should be on minimising the frictions created by Brexit and maximising the opportunities of our dual market access…” 33 Members voted Aye in support of the motion with 48 Noes against.   

 

 

 Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee takes evidence on new EU Regulation on the safety of toys 

image shows Members of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee sitting around a table in an Assembly Committee room listening to evidence,

On Thursday, the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee (DSC) took evidence from Executive Office officials on Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 on the safety of toys and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC.  The Committee had agreed at its meeting on Thursday, 8 January that it would conduct an inquiry into the new regulation.   

Opening the evidence session, Lynsey Moore,  Director, Europe Strategy and International Relations at the Executive Office, told Members that following extensive engagement with Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) colleagues: “…the consistent messaging from departments is that product safety sits solely with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and is not within the policy remits of any of the NICS departments.”  

Following Committee discussion on the issue, and at the suggestion of Johnathan Buckley MLA, the Committee agreed that it would write to the Cabinet Office to ask who will carry out the regional level of stakeholder engagement with businesses as well as the regulatory impact assessment.   

The Chairperson, Ciara Ferguson told Members that while an invitation had been extended to the UK Government for OPSS representatives to provide evidence at Thursday’s meeting, a response had not yet been received. She noted that the Committee had been informed that the response was awaiting final clearance. Members agreed that the Committee would write again to note its disappointment that representatives from OPSS had not attended the meeting to provide evidence to Members.    

You can watch Thursday’s meeting in full here: 

 

 

 This Week in the Assembly 

image shows the inside of the Assembly Chamber in Parliament Buildings

At Question Time today, the First Minister responded to a question on how she and the deputy First Minister work with HM Government to remove any internal UK trade barriers which have been created and maintained following Brexit and the Windsor Framework.  

At its meeting on Thursday, the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee will hear from Departmental Officials on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026.  The Assembly’s Research and Information Service will also provide the Committee with a briefing on US Tariffs.  

 

 

 Parliamentary Planner  

image shows arms resting on a desk as someone types with their left hand and writes on a planner with their right hand.

In the House of Commons on Monday, the Department of Education will respond to a question regarding the Minister’s assessment of the potential merits of expanding home fees status to British citizens who relocated to the EU prior to the UK's withdrawal. 

On Wednesday, the House of Lords European Affairs Committee will take evidence from the Home Office Minister, Lord Hanson of Flint.  

On Thursday, questions to the Cabinet Office include: what steps are being taken to help increase the number of education and training opportunities for young people through the Erasmus+ programme; what steps have been taken to improve relations with the EU and what recent discussions the Minister has had with his EU counterparts on future trade agreements. A further question on what recent progress has been made on improving cooperation between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations has also been tabled.  

Also on Thursday, the House of Commons will hold two general debates on government support for the fishing industry and on the impact of import standards on the agricultural sector. 

Meanwhile in Senedd Cymru on Thursday, questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning include: What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the economic benefits to Wales of the UK joining a customs union with the EU? 

The European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (D-UK) will hold an ordinary delegation meeting in Strasbourg from 9.30-11am on Thursday 22 January. There will be an exchange of views on "Local and regional dimension of EU-UK relations" with the following speakers: 

  • Peter Byrne, Chair of the EU-UK Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee 

  • Karl Vanlouwe, Chair of the UK-CoR Contact Group, Committee of the Regions 

  • Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive, Special EU Programmes Body, PEACEPLUS 

The D-UK meeting will be web-streamed live here:  

 

 

 Business and Trade Committee take evidence on inquiry into UK trade with the US, India and the EU  

image is photograph of Westminster taken at night.

On Tuesday, 13 January the Business and Trade Committee heard oral evidence on UK trade with the US, India and EU. The Committee invited witnesses from a range of sector bodies including the Road Haulage Association, who previously provided evidence to the Assembly’s Economy Committee on 5 November 2025.   

Joining Alastair Gunn, Trade Policy Lead at Road Haulage Association (RHA), in the first evidence session were Toby Ovens, Managing Director at Broughton Transport and Julian Walker, Chief Commercial Officer and Regional Director at Associated British Ports.  

Alastair Dunn told Committee Members about the current difficulties faced by businesses and hauliers moving goods from the UK to the EU, highlighting that due to complexities around the Windsor Framework, many businesses in GB are finding it easier to ship goods to ports in the Republic of Ireland instead of directly into Northern Ireland.  Mr. Dunn repeated recent calls from the RHA for the UK Government to introduce a ‘Trusted Hauliers Scheme’ as well as moving determination of ‘at risk’ goods to the point of sale, away from the border.  

An article published in the Guardian focussed on evidence given by Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport, who told the Committee that hopes of a reset with the EU represented “light at the end of the tunnel”. 

The Committee also heard evidence from the National Farmers' Union, UK Steel, Airbus UK, National Grid, the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress.  You can watch the meeting in full here:   

 

 

 In case you missed it… 

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