Brexit: the European Union and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on border controls in Northern Ireland

There European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom reached an agreement on the the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, British government sources reported on Monday.

The agreement culminates negotiations on Monday between the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunakand the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, in the city of Windsor (east of London), according to an official source of the executive of the United Kingdom with the British media. They are expected to offer a joint press conference in the afternoon.

The particular situation of Northern Ireland, territory of the United Kingdom and border with the Republic of Ireland, member of the EU, was one of the most important stumbling blocks in the negotiations between the government of London and the Twenty-Seven to reach the Brexit agreement. , with the aim of avoid a physical border between the two Ireland, so as not to undermine the peace agreement that ended the sectarian conflict between Catholics and Protestants in 1998.

After two years of disagreements between the European Union and the previous British governments to unblock this crisis, the succession that Sunak took over from Boris Johnson at the head of Downing Street at the end of last year has enabled the rapprochement between London and Brussels and the reactivation of negotiations to devise “pragmatic solutions”.

The pact concluded between Sunak and Von der Leyen must still pass the judgment of the British Parliament and the Community blocAlthough it remains to be seen what the treatment process will be. He is likely to face opposition from Brexit supporters, including Sunak’s predecessor, potentially thuggish Boris Johnson, and lawmakers representing Northern Ireland’s pro-British unionist community.

For the moment, the Prime Minister plans to appear this Monday before the House of Commons while, on the European side, the Vice-President of the Community executive who led the negotiations, Maros Sefcovic, is meeting the ambassadors of the 27 in Brussels for their transfer details of recent conversations.

The UK government had threatened a unilateral revision of the protocol unless the EU agrees to substantial changes, which would sour diplomatic relations and risk a wider trade war, but that prospect appears to be receding.

“I can’t wait to turn the page and open a new chapter with our partner and friend,” von der Leyen said as he left Brussels ahead of the talks.

The EU chief was also due to meet King Charles III during his stay in Windsor, fueling allegations in Britain that Sunak was trying to project royal support for the long-awaited deal. Sunak’s spokesperson insisted the monarch’s meeting with von der Leyen was decided by Buckingham Palace.

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