The Institutional Framework for Managing the Protocol
The implementation of the Protocol is overseen by an institutional framework bringing together a set of dedicated UK-EU committees established under the Withdrawal Agreement and a series of bodies established by or as a consequence of the 1998 Belfast ‘Good Friday’ Agreement that underpins the Northern Ireland peace process; including those created under the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Dedicated to the implementation of the Protocol are:
- Joint Committee - the decision-making body for the Protocol
- Specialized Committee - makes recommendations regarding the functioning of the Protocol to the Joint Committee
- Joint Consultative Working Group - forum for exchange of information and mutual consultation regarding the implementation of the Protocol
Feeding into the work of the Specialized Committee are:
- The North-South Implementation Bodies established by the 1998 Agreement
- The North-South Ministerial Council
- A set of Human Rights and Equality Bodies set up pursuant to the 1998 Agreement