View source for Windsor Framework

{{Short description|2023 agreement between the EU and UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2022}}
[[File:The Prime Minister welcomes the President of the European Commission (52715396793).jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Rishi Sunak]] and [[Ursula von der Leyen]] in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] on 27 February 2023 to announce the finalised deal]]
{{Brexit sidebar}}
The '''Windsor Framework''' is a [[Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union|post-Brexit]] legal agreement between the [[European Union]] and the [[United Kingdom]] which adjusts the operation of the [[Northern Ireland Protocol]]. The Framework was announced on 27 February 2023, formally adopted by both parties on 24 March 2023<ref>{{cite web |work=BBC News |date=24 March 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65058955 | title=UK and EU formally adopt new Brexit Windsor Framework deal}}</ref> and came into effect on 1 October 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66953035 |title=Windsor Framework: New NI trade rules 'will work unbelievably well' |first=Enda |last=McClafferty |work=BBC News |date=2 October 2023}}</ref> The UK Government announced plans for revisions to the Framework's operation in January 2024.<ref name=Politico />

The Framework was negotiated to address political concerns in the UK and especially among [[Ulster Unionism|Ulster Unionists]] about the Northern Ireland Protocol.<ref>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |house=House of Commons |date=27 February 2023 |column=575 |speaker=Rishi Sunak  |position=Prime Minister}}</ref> Under the terms of the Protocol, Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, remains in the EU single market for goods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brexit Questions and Answers |url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/brexit-and-beyond/brexit-questions-and-answers/#QA7 |website=Northern Ireland Assembly |date=2023}}</ref> This puts in place a ''de facto'' [[Irish Sea border|Irish Sea trade border]] for goods moving to Northern Ireland from Great Britain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50083026 |website=BBC |date=October 2019 |title=Brexit: What is in Boris Johnson's new deal with the EU?}}</ref>{{efn|{{section link|Northern Ireland Protocol|Articles 4 and 5}} govern movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. {{section link|Northern Ireland Protocol|Article 6}} affirms that goods from Northern Ireland shall have unfettered access to the rest of the [[United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020|UK internal market]]. So the issue only arises for westbound traffic.}}  The Framework changes aspects of the Protocol's operation, particularly to ease custom checks on goods arriving from Great Britain. It gives UK government more control over [[VAT]] rates applying in Northern Ireland and states that medicines placed on the market in Northern Ireland will be regulated by the UK and not the EU. It gives the Northern Ireland administration and UK government a mechanism to object to, pause, and potentially disapply updated and amended EU laws, mainly concerning goods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Ireland Protocol: The Windsor Framework |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9736/CBP-9736.pdf |website=House of Commons Library |date=March 2023}}</ref>

Following the Framework's announcement, Ulster Unionist politicians, while stating that the Framework was an improvement on the original implementation of the Protocol, remained concerned that the nature of Northern Ireland's participation in the [[UK Internal Market]] was diminished by the Protocol's very existence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Destructive ambiguity{{snd}}Northern Ireland, the Union and the Windsor Framework |first=Andrew |last=McCormick |date=29 June 2023 |website= [[UK in a Changing Europe]] |url=https://ukandeu.ac.uk/destructive-ambiguity-northern-ireland-the-union-and-the-windsor-framework/ }}</ref> These concerns were a key factor in the  refusal of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP), from February 2022,  to allow the operation of the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], thus suspending devolved government in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |website=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-67076620 |title=DUP: Jeffrey Donaldson's Windsor Framework dilemma |first=Brendan |last=Hughes |date=17 October 2023}}</ref> In January 2024 the UK Government and DUP reached agreement on proposed revisions to the Framework's operation, the end of the DUP boycott, and thereby the restoration of devolved government.<ref name=Politico>{{cite web |website=Politico |title=DUP agrees to drop boycott of Northern Ireland power-sharing |date=31 January 2024 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/dup-agrees-to-end-two-year-boycott-of-northern-ireland-power-sharing/ }}</ref>

== Contents of the agreement ==
The agreement relates to [[Irish Sea border|goods crossing the Irish Sea]] from [[Great Britain]] to [[Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Culbertson |first=Alix |title=Rishi Sunak promises 'beginning of a new chapter' as he unveils 'Windsor Framework' deal on Brexit |url=https://news.sky.com/story/uk-and-eu-agree-new-deal-on-northern-ireland-post-brexit-trade-rules-senior-government-source-12820788 |access-date=27 February 2023|date=27 February 2023 |work=[[Sky News]]}}</ref> It introduces "conceptual" [[Customs#Red and green channels|green and red lanes]] to reduce checks and paperwork on goods that are destined for Northern Ireland, and separates them from goods at risk of moving into the EU Single Market.<ref name="Next stage">{{cite news |title=Windsor Framework: How will the next stage of the Brexit deal work? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66937192 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 October 2023 |date=1 October 2023 }}</ref> It also includes a number of agreements on medicine control, VAT and alcohol duty.<ref name="At-a-glance">{{cite news |title=Northern Ireland Brexit deal: At-a-glance |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64790193 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227170151/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64790193 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==="Not for EU"<span class="anchor" id="Not for EU"></span>===
An element of the agreement that facilitates minimal checks on (mainly) food items being shipped from Great Britain, is the use of "not for EU" labels.<ref name="Next stage" /> This label indicates that the product is not guaranteed to conform to EU standards and thus may not legally be sold (or resold) in the EU.{{efn|This does not mean that the product would not meet EU standards but only that it is not ''warranted'' to do so.}} The requirement for these labels is to be phased in over three years. "Meat and fresh dairy products are to be labelled from October 2023, all other dairy products from October 2024, and composite products, fruit, vegetables, and fish from July 2025".<ref>{{cite web |title=Implementing the Windsor Framework |first1=Lisa Claire |last1=Whitten |first2=David |last2=Phinnemore |publisher=[[UK in a Changing Europe]] |date=3 October 2023 |url=https://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/implementing-the-windsor-framework/ |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref> The Framework only requires these labels to be used on GB goods intended for sale in Northern Ireland, but the Government has decided that they should be used in Great Britain too, beginning in 2024.<ref name="Next stage" />

=== Stormont brake ===
The framework introduces a mechanism called the "Stormont brake", which would allow the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] to temporarily stop any changes to EU goods regulations from applying in Northern Ireland if the Assembly feared that the changes would have "significant and lasting effects on everyday lives".<ref name="Sparrow">{{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=27 February 2023 |title=What is the Stormont brake and will it help restore power sharing in Northern Ireland? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/27/what-is-the-stormont-brake-restore-power-sharing-northern-ireland |access-date=27 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

According to the agreement, the Northern Ireland Assembly can trigger the brake on any new "significantly different" rule being implemented if 30 [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|Members of the Legislative Assembly]] from two or more parties object, giving way to a 14-day consultation period before reference to the UK Government for consideration.<ref name="At-a-glance" /> [[cross-community vote|Cross-community consent]] (support from both [[Unionism in Ireland|unionists]] and [[Irish nationalism|nationalists]]) is not required. However, "the government says a decision on whether to permanently block an EU rule, once suspended and following discussion in the Joint Committee, would not happen 'in the absence of a cross-community vote'".<ref>{{cite news |title=Brexit: What is the Stormont brake? |work=BBC News |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=1 March 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64795902 |first=Jayne |last=McCormack}}</ref>

As part of the Stormont brake, the [[Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee]] was established.

== Agreement and signing of the Framework ==
The agreement was named after the meeting of the [[UK Prime Minister]], [[Rishi Sunak]], and the [[President of the European Commission]], [[Ursula von der Leyen]], at the [[Fairmont Hotels and Resorts|Fairmont Hotel]] at [[Windsor Great Park]].<ref>{{citation |last=Ng |first=Ellie |title=Fairmont Windsor Park hotel delighted to be part of 'historic occasion' |date=27 February 2023 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ursula-von-der-leyen-rishi-sunak-european-commission-windsor-great-park-northern-ireland-b1063444.html |newspaper=Evening Standard |language=en |access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref> After meeting the Prime Minister and announcing the deal at the [[Windsor Guildhall]], von der Leyen then had tea with King [[Charles III]] in [[Windsor Castle]].<ref>{{citation |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |title=How No 10 sweetened up the EU president with a royal cup of tea |date=27 February 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/27/kings-meeting-ursula-von-der-leyen-outcry-monarchy-northern-ireland |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref>

The agreement was reached in accordance with [[Northern Ireland Protocol#Article 14|Article 14]] and [[Northern Ireland Protocol#Article 15|Article 15]] of the protocol and did not formally need parliamentary approval.<ref>{{cite news  |work= Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3d2b4e24-5c92-4a28-b2fa-c4bfe143e814 |title=Rishi Sunak threatens to push through Brexit deal on Northern Ireland without DUP |first1=Jude | last1=Webber |first2=Robert |last2=Wright |first3=Jim |last3=Pickard |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023 |quote=The deal was reached under provisions set out by the protocol for the amendment of its rules, and does not technically require ratification}}</ref> However, the Prime Minister promised that MPs should have an opportunity to vote on it: the vote took place in the House of Commons on 22 March 2023 and the Framework was passed with a large majority.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2023 |title=Rishi Sunak promises MPs vote on 'Windsor Framework' Brexit deal |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sunak-windsor-brexit-deal-vote-parliament-b2290522.html |access-date=27 February 2023 |work=Independent |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How did your MP vote on the Windsor framework? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/mar/22/how-did-your-mp-vote-on-the-windsor-framework |work=The Guardian |date=22 March 2023}}</ref> The adoption halted both the [[Northern Ireland Protocol Bill]] which the UK government had been taking forward, and the infringement procedures by the [[European Commission]] brought against the UK in relation to the bill.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2023 |title=Brexit: UK and EU leaders hail 'extraordinary' deal on Northern Ireland protocol – live |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/feb/27/rishi-sunak-brexit-ursula-von-der-leyen-eu-northern-ireland-brexit-deal-uk-politics-live?page=with:block-63fce9148f08f5a1c2a0bafb#block-63fce9148f08f5a1c2a0bafb |access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=European Commission |title=Questions and Answers: political agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework, a new way forward for the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland |date=27 February 2023 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_1271|quote=These arrangements, when implemented, mean that there will no longer be grounds for the existing Commission legal proceedings against the United Kingdom relating to the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland.|access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>

On the EU side, there was no single vote or decision on the Framework as a whole. Some of the changed arrangements to be put in place under the Framework required agreement through [[Voting in the Council of the European Union|qualified majority in the Council of the European Union]]. Some parts of the agreement required the consent of the [[European Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pronczuk |first=Monika |date=27 February 2023 |title=Britain and E.U. Agree on Northern Ireland Trade Deal |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/27/world/northern-ireland-brexit-trade-deal/a3ab6a4c-f169-5bea-9053-5c8d0d4e53b1?smid=url-share |access-date=28 February 2023 |quote=On the E.U. side, the deal has to be green lighted by the super majority of member nations, E.U. officials said, with the decision expected in the next couple of weeks. Some parts of the agreement have to be approved both by member nations and the European Parliament, a process that could take several months.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Leary |first=Naomi |date=27 February 2023 |title=Windsor Framework: What are the main points of the new UK-EU deal? |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/02/27/windsor-framework-what-are-the-main-points-of-the-new-uk-eu-deal/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |quote=Some will need the agreement of the 27 EU member states, which would take a few weeks, while others would need to go to the European Parliament, something that could take months.}}</ref>

== Reactions ==
[[File:The Windsor Framework a new way forward.pdf|thumb|The [[command paper]] presented to the [[UK Parliament]] on 27 February 2023]]

=== Ireland ===
[[Leo Varadkar]], the [[Taoiseach]], welcomed the agreement and said: "[[Government of Ireland|The Irish Government]] will do all we can to make these new arrangements work in the interest of people and enterprises in Northern Ireland, here in the Republic of Ireland while protecting the European Single Market and the [[Common Travel Area]] between Ireland and the United Kingdom and the [[Good Friday Agreement]]."<ref>{{cite web |title=Taoiseach welcomes positive outcome in Protocol talks |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2023/0227/1359071-ni-protocol/ |work=[[RTÉ]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227192238/https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2023/0227/1359071-ni-protocol/ |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sinn Féin]] president [[Mary Lou McDonald]] indicated her support for the agreement.<ref name="Sparrow"/>

=== Northern Ireland ===
[[President of Sinn Féin#Vice Presidents|Vice President of Sinn Féin]] [[Michelle O'Neill]] said "I rarely find myself agreeing with a British prime minister but access to both markets has to be grabbed with both hands".<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 March 2023 |title=Stormont: We need government and we need it now – Sinn Féin |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64808694 |access-date=1 March 2023}}</ref>

[[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP) leader [[Sir Jeffrey Donaldson]]'s initial reaction to the agreement was one in which he said progress was made in several areas with several obstacles outstanding, adding that the framework would have to hold up to the party's seven tests on a suitable replacement to the Northern Ireland Protocol. [[Sammy Wilson (politician)|Sammy Wilson]] expressed scepticism toward the Stormont brake, saying that "[DUP MPs] still fear our position in the United Kingdom is not going to be restored".<ref name="MPs reaction">{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Jennifer |title=The Windsor Framework: How have MPs reacted to the new post-Brexit Northern Ireland deal? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-windsor-framework-how-have-mps-reacted-to-the-new-post-brexit-northern-ireland-deal-12821640 |publisher=[[Sky News]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227222745/https://news.sky.com/story/the-windsor-framework-how-have-mps-reacted-to-the-new-post-brexit-northern-ireland-deal-12821640 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023}}</ref> On 20 March 2023, Donaldson announced that the DUP would oppose the framework, with the party and other unionists arguing that the agreement would continue to require Northern Ireland to comply with EU law.<ref>{{cite web |title=N.Ireland unionists oppose key part of Brexit trade deal |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230320-n-ireland-unionists-oppose-key-part-of-brexit-trade-deal |website=[[France 24]] |publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]] |access-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320174437/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230320-n-ireland-unionists-oppose-key-part-of-brexit-trade-deal |archive-date=20 March 2023 |location=London |date=20 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]] deputy leader [[Stephen Farry]] and [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] leader [[Colum Eastwood]] both expressed concerns about the Stormont Brake and the need for dual access to the UK and European markets.<ref name="MPs reaction"/><ref>{{cite web |title=DUP 'ready to engage' in any required re-working of Windsor Framework |url=https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-02-27/dup-say-significant-progress-made-with-windsor-framework |publisher=[[ITV News]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227224607/https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-02-27/dup-say-significant-progress-made-with-windsor-framework |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
On 2 March 2023, former prime minister [[Boris Johnson]] said it will be "very difficult" for him to vote for the Windsor Framework. Johnson said the deal was "not about the UK taking back control".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64823710 |title=Boris Johnson says he will find it hard to vote for Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal |first=Sam |last=Francis |work=BBC News |date=2 March 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023}}</ref> Former prime minister [[Liz Truss]] fully concurred with Johnson and stated that the Windsor Framework does not "satisfactorily resolve the issues thrown up by the Northern Ireland Protocol".<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Dominic |date=22 March 2023 |title=Windsor Framework: Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to vote against Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal – 'The best course of action is to proceed with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill' |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/windsor-framework-boris-johnson-and-liz-truss-to-vote-against-rishi-sunaks-brexit-deal-the-best-course-of-action-is-to-proceed-with-the-northern-ireland-protocol-bill-4074256}}</ref>

On 21 March 2023, the [[European Research Group]] (ERG), a faction of Conservative MPs, denounced the framework as "practically useless" but confirmed they would not vote as a bloc against it.<ref>{{cite news |title= Brexit-backing Tory MPs undecided on Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland deal vote|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65024165 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

On 22 March 2023, the date of the parliamentary vote, 22 Conservative MPs and six DUP MPs voted against the government legislation.<ref name="i-230323" /> The vote ultimately passed by 515 votes to 29.<ref name="i-230323">{{cite web |title='Not true' Brexit deal was propped up by Labour, Rishi Sunak insists after Tory rebellion led by Boris Johnson |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-brexit-deal-passes-commons-2226166 |website=[[i (newspaper)|i]] |date=22 March 2023 |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>

=== International ===
US President [[Joe Biden]] called the framework an "essential step to ensuring that the hard-earned peace and progress of the [[Good Friday Agreement|Belfast/Good Friday Agreement]] is preserved and strengthened".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Biden |first1=Joe |author1-link=Joe Biden |title=Statement from President Joe Biden on the Windsor Framework |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/27/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-windsor-framework/ |publisher=[[White House]] |access-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228005442/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/27/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-windsor-framework/ |archive-date=28 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Brexit withdrawal agreement]]
*{{annotated link|Petition of concern}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-windsor-framework Official website (UK)]{{snd}}Contains political and legal documents 
* {{Cite press release |title=Windsor Framework unveiled to fix problems of the Northern Ireland Protocol |date=27 February 2023 |publisher=United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/windsor-framework-unveiled-to-fix-problems-of-the-northern-ireland-protocol |access-date=27 February 2023}}
* {{Cite press release |title=A new way forward on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland: political agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework |date=27 February 2023 |publisher=European Commission |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1268 |access-date=27 February 2023 }}
* {{cite web | title=From the Protocol to the Windsor Framework | url=https://nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/nilq/article/view/1081/879 |publisher = NILQ |first=Colin |last=Murray |date=12 May 2023 |access-date=12 May 2023}}
* {{cite web | title=Why the Windsor Framework could come back to bite Sunak | url=https://ukandeu.ac.uk/why-the-windsor-framework-could-come-back-to-bite-sunak/ |publisher = UK in a changing Europe |first=Joël |last=Reland |date=4 May 2023 |access-date=4 May 2023}}

{{Brexit topics}}{{Rishi Sunak}}

[[Category:Brexit-related agreements]]
[[Category:2023 in British politics]]
[[Category:2023 in the European Union]]
[[Category:2023 in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:February 2023 events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Premiership of Rishi Sunak]]
[[Category:Windsor, Berkshire]]
[[Category:2023 introductions]]
[[Category:Political phrases related to Brexit (2016–2020)]]