Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol: the EU must play the long-game

Northern Ireland is now officially still in the customs territory of the UK and still an integral part of the UK internal market. Consequently, the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol that regulates this state of affairs is no ordinary international arrangement. Recent moves from the UK side have not been welcome by the EU. It is frustrated at the lack of readiness, compliance and, now, the trustworthiness of the UK. It, must, however, play the long-game, claims Katy Hayward (Queen’s University Belfast).