Skip to main content
SVG version of QUB Shield - White

European Parliament

When the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement was approved by the EU in January 2020, it was agreed that the European Commission would report annually to the European Parliament (EP) on the implementation and application of the Withdrawal Agreement. This includes the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

MEPs have insisted that the Protocol be implemented in full; that decisions taken by the Joint Committee are taken under the scrutiny of the EP; and that MEPs are kept fully informed on the application of the Protocol.

Links to EP resolutions concerning the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) are included below with any sections that refer specifically to the Protocol or Northern Ireland noted where applicable.

Links to the European Commission's annual reports and the EP responses will be included once published.

 

Date Title Notes
18.01.2023 European Parliament resolution of 18 January 2023 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022 (2022/2048(INI)) "Urges the UK to ensure the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, and to pursue practical, flexible and durable common solutions within the Protocol’s legal framework; stresses that the full implementation of the Protocol is fundamental for maintaining the peace and stability in Northern Ireland ensured by the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, as well for the integrity and the proper functioning of the European single market" [para. 62]
07.04.2022 European Parliament legislative resolution of 7 April 2022 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 as regards a derogation from certain obligations concerning investigational medicinal products made available in the United Kingdom with respect to Northern Ireland as well as in Cyprus, Ireland and Malta (2021/0432(COD)) Resolution to approve proposals for a regulation to introduce derogations to certain obligations concerning supply of medicines to Northern Ireland, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. In a statement annexed to the resolution the Commission states its 'full commitment' to "accompanying Cyprus, Ireland and Malta in their efforts" to phase out the relevant derogations within three years and thereby "decrease the dependency of their domestic markets on the supply" of medicinal products from or through "parts of the United Kingdom other than Northern Ireland". 
16.02.2022 European Parliament resolution of 16 February 2022 on the assessment of the implementation of Article 50 TEU (2020/2136(INI)) Resolution analysing "the ways in which the provisions of Article 50 TEU have been interpreted and applied, and the way that the procedure for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU under that Article was organised and conducted, including the lessons drawn with respect to EU law and the functioning of the European Union" [A]. Includes reflections on Northern Ireland, 1998 Agreement and the Protocol ([M] paras 7, 10, 12, 16). 
15.10.2021 European Parliament decision of 5 October 2021 on setting up a delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, and defining its numerical strength (2021/2917(RSO)) Decision regarding the setting up of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly under the TCA. 
21.05.2021 European Parliament resolution of 21 May 2021 on the adequate protection of personal data by the United Kingdom (2021/2594(RSP)) Resolution regarding 'data adequacy' protections in the UK. 
28.04.2021 The outcome of EU-UK negotiations: European Parliament resolution of 28 April 2021 on the outcome of EU-UK negotiations (2021/2658(RSP))  Resolution reiterates support for the Protocol [para 6]; raises concerns regarding the operational capacity of the EU presence in Northern Ireland in respect to customs [para. 26]; welcomes the TCA’s specific provisions for road haulage operators in Northern Ireland [para. 49]; underlines the importance of cooperation on energy matters in view of the continuation of Article 9 Protocol [para. 50]; welcomes the continued participation of Northern Ireland students in Erasmus following Ireland’s commitment to finance this [para. 53]. 
18.12.2020 European Parliament legislative resolution of 18 December 2020 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules ensuring basic road freight and road passenger connectivity following the end of the transition period mentioned in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (COM(2020)0826) European Parliament resolution on proposal regarding road freight and transport at the end of the Transition Period; recognises "Cross-border coach and bus services between Ireland and the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland are of particular importance for communities living in the border regions, in view of ensuring basic connectivity between communities inter alia as part of the Common Travel Area" [Explanatory Memorandum, Context]. 
15.12.2020 European Parliament decision to raise no objections to the Commission delegated regulation of 29 October 2020 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 as regards official controls at the border control post where goods leave the Union and certain provisions on transit and transhipment (2020/2855(DEA)) Decision to raise no objections to European Commission delegated regulation that amends Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 on officials controls at the border regarding use of "flexibility" in the management of controls of goods passing through Great Britain to Ireland and vice versa (ie via the 'landbridge') [D]. 
15.12.2020 European Parliament decision to raise no objections to the Commission delegated regulation of 7 December 2020 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the identification mark to be used for certain products of animal origin in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (2020/2907(DEA)) Decision to raise no objections to European Commission delegated regulation that amends Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 to introduce a new identification mark to be used on certain products of animal origin to indicate that they have been produced in Northern Ireland. 
26.11.2020 European Parliament legislative resolution of 26 November 2020 on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 by granting a Union General Export Authorisation for the export of certain dual-use items from the Union to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (COM(2020)0692) Regulation makes an amendment applicable to the whole of the UK but the change is "without prejudice" to the continued application of Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 on dual-use items to Northern Ireland under the Protocol. [Article 1(2)].
10.11.2020 European Parliament legislative resolution of 11 November 2020 on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax as regards the identification of taxable persons in Northern Ireland (COM/2020/360) Council Directive amending an EU Directive on VAT (2006/112/EC) so as to introduce a new identification prefix for VAT numbers which is specific to Northern Ireland ('XI') to enable arrangements under the Protocol to be implementation. 
12.02.2020 European Parliament resolution of 12 February 2020 on the proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2020/2557(RSP)) Resolution notes: "[I] whereas the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the Withdrawal Agreement provides for legal framework that preserves the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the rights of the people of Northern Ireland, and safeguards single market integrity and the all-island economy and therefore avoids a hard border as long as the consent mechanism provides for its continuation; whereas the UK’s obligation to ensure the application of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts applies under all circumstances;" and "[9] Expresses its concern at the UK Prime Minister’s interpretation of the provisions of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland of the Withdrawal Agreement concerning border controls in the Irish Sea; considers that trust is an essential element of any negotiation, is of the opinion that the UK Prime Minister must immediately clarify in a satisfactory manner the UK’s intended approach to the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland". 
29.01.2020  Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community: European Parliament legislative resolution of 29 January 2020 on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (XT 21105/3/2018 – C9-0148/2019 – 2018/0427(NLE) Resolution simply states EP’s consent to the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.