Northern Ireland Protocol: What is it and why is it required?

Since the UK's departure from the European Union, the Northern Ireland Protocol has caused friction as it permits the transfer of goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland without undergoing inspections.
What is the rationale behind the Northern Ireland Protocol?
Prior to Brexit, the ease of transporting goods across the Northern Ireland-Ireland border was facilitated by both countries being in the EU. However, following Brexit, Northern Ireland, along with the rest of the UK, left the EU while Ireland did not.

The EU has stringent food regulations and mandates border checks for goods, such as milk and eggs, imported from non-EU nations. The land border is a sensitive matter due to Northern Ireland's turbulent political history.

The concern was that the introduction of cameras or border posts for inspecting goods could lead to instability. Given the priority of preserving the peace deal for Northern Ireland - the Good Friday Agreement - the UK and EU agreed to sign the Northern Ireland Protocol as part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. This protocol is now an integral part of international law.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the process of inspecting goods at the Irish border was replaced by conducting inspections and document checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which occur at ports in Northern Ireland. Additionally, Northern Ireland is required to continue adhering to EU product standards.

The UK government intends to modify the protocol by instituting distinct regulations for goods transported from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and those that cross the border into Ireland. The proposal includes a green lane for trusted traders shipping goods to Northern Ireland, which would be exempt from checks and customs controls. The red lane would apply to products destined for Ireland and the remainder of the EU, and it would require full inspections and customs controls.

European Commission, as a response, initiated legal proceedings against the UK for failing to comply with the protocol and urged the government to engage in negotiations. The EU has stated that it is not willing to renegotiate the protocol but has offered to collaborate on the application of the rules.

This includes decreasing customs and checks on goods, reducing the amount of paperwork, and easing regulations to enable chilled meats to be transported across the Irish Sea. In January, an agreement was reached by both sides to share trade data, allowing the EU to access the UK's IT systems to obtain detailed information about goods transported from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The UK and the EU have committed to working quickly on other issues, giving rise to hopes of a potential agreement before the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April.

FAQs:

1. Who is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
   Rishi Sunak.
2. What is the largest city in Ireland?
   Dublin.