The Northern Ireland Protocol

January 2024 devolution deal and political developments

Northern Ireland devolution: Safeguarding the Union

A briefing paper on the UK Government's Safeguarding the Union deal to restore power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland
Developments in Northern Ireland, 2022-24

A briefing paper on constitutional developments in Northern Ireland since the collapse of its devolved institutions in February 2022.
Northern Ireland Protocol/Windsor Framework: New devolution deal

Information on the new deal to restore the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, including proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol/Windsor Framework
The Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework

A short overview of what is the Northern Ireland Protocol, what it does, how it was changed by the Windsor Framework and new proposals in the January 2024 devolution deal

Northern Ireland Protocol: The Windsor Framework

What is the Windsor Framework - the new EU UK agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol? What does it change? What happens next?
Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation, grace periods and EU-UK discussions (2021-22)

This briefing paper looks at the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, including grace periods and UK/EU negotiations on changing the Protocol in 2021/22.
Northern Ireland – The Stormont Brake

A briefing paper on the Stormont Brake mechanism which forms part of the Windsor Framework

The October 2019 EU UK Withdrawal Agreement

Boris Johnson's Government negotiated a new 'deal' with the European Union, formed of a Political Declaration and a Withdrawal Agreement. This paper focuses on the Withdrawal Agreement and how it compares to the one negotiated by Theresa May's Government.
Joint Committee decisions on the Northern Ireland Protocol

This paper looks at decisions made by the EU-UK Joint Committee established as part of the Withdrawal Agreement, to update and supplement the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Northern Ireland Protocol Bill 2022-2023

This briefing looks at the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. What it does, questions over whether it breaks international law, why the Government is introducing the Bill, and the reaction to it including from the EU and political parties in Northern Ireland.
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill 2019-21

This briefing paper sets out the background to the UK Internal Market Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 9 September 2020.
Principles of International Law: a brief guide

This briefing provides a brief overview of principles of international law, including how it works, its sources, and what happens when states breach their international obligations.
- EU law and treaties
- International law

The UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee: functions and tasks

This briefing paper provides an overview of the responsibilities of the Joint Committee, established to oversee the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. It sets out the tasks that need to be undertaken by the Joint Committee and indicates whether they have been completed.
Northern Ireland Protocol: Article 16

This paper looks at Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, including how it might be triggered, the arbitration process, and settling disputes.
Governing the new UK-EU relationship and resolving disputes

What dispute settlement mechanisms are in place for the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement?
- International trade
- The EU
Northern Ireland Protocol: Article 16 and EU vaccine export controls

What is Article 16? How is it triggered? How does it relate to EU’s new plans for vaccine controls?
- International trade
- The EU