The Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland’s largest pro-British party, agreed to proposals from London on the country’s position after Brexit in the night from Monday to Tuesday. British media report this. After a blockade of almost two years, the deal paves the way for a government with the pro-Irish party Sinn Féin.
The precise agreements are not yet known, but they revolve around the conditions under which goods can move between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom after Brexit. Currently, one in ten loads is still checked to see whether they are not destined for the EU after all.
The DUP imposed a condition that that number goes to zero. Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson said, according to the daily The Irish Times that that was also successful, but broadcaster BBC writes that the European Union should also agree to this.
Billions
Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland’s two largest parties have had to form a government. The impasse between election winner Sinn Féin and the DUP therefore brought the country’s governance to a standstill. Northern Ireland was given temporary separate status from the rest of the UK.
Senior civil servants have therefore taken over most of the work in the past two years, but they cannot make political decisions. This was especially noticeable in climate issues and in healthcare, where there are enormous waiting lists. In economic terms, Northern Ireland effectively remained in the EU.
When the government and parliament are functioning again, more than 3 billion pounds (3.8 billion euros) will also become available from London, intended for Northern Ireland.
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