EU General Affairs Council to discuss EU-UK relations
Today the ministers of the European Union General Affairs Council (GAC) will discuss relations between the EU and UK.
Since the UK left the EU in January of 2020, relations between the two have undergone significant changes across all sectors, leaving the status of many areas of contention unresolved. The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement now plays a significant role in how both parties address issues including the rights of of EU citizens living in the UK and border disputes with other EU member states like Ireland.
Expect the protocol on the Northern Irish border to feature heavily in the discussions. The EU will continue highlighting the importance of protecting the integrity of the “all-island economy” and the EU’s Single Market. However, it remains unlikely that the meeting will produce long term solutions to the problems of Brexit in regards to Ireland. Because further negotiations with the UK will be required, expect the economic situation in Ireland to remain tumultuous for the foreseeable future. But in the long-term, the EU and UK will likely find a practical way to uphold the Agreement, in hopes of finding ways to avoid damage incurred by the Irish economy or risking Northern Ireland becoming closer to the EU.
Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.
