One of the most controversial Brexit issues since the 2015 referendum has been the border between Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI). The NI protocol recently fueled a flurry of speech from UK Brexit Secretary Lord Frost calling for a “significant change” in its ineffectiveness. Until now, a border has been established in the Irish Sea, with checks being carried out on goods entering NI from the UK to avoid a land border with the RoI. Not only has this caused a disruption in supply chains and reduced consumer choice in NI (the potential to miss the UK Banger), but it now also risks undermining the stability of the region.

Lord Frost described the issue as “the poison” of the EU-UK relationship, saying he wanted to use the “grain of the protocol” but “design it in such a way as to allow goods to flow freely and avoid undermining the balance [of] the Good Friday Agreement. Frost’s most recent speech also casually suggested the triggering of Article 16, according to which the EU or the UK can overturn large parts of the protocol if its implementation leads to adverse consequences. European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, however, said threats of this type were “unnecessary” and that the EU’s proposals were not based on “take it or leave it”, but that the two sides would have to compromise if progress was to be made. be done. At NI, Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told Irish Tanaiste (Ireland’s Deputy Head of Government) Leo Varadkar that “protocol harms our [N.I.’s] relationship with the rest of the UK ”and remains deeply unpopular with trade unionists who believe that the maritime border keeps them away from the UK

The EU has already proposed substantive changes whereby the UK would follow Brussels rules on trade, allowing almost all controls to be lifted. The UK, however, has rejected this approach because it infringes on Whitehall’s ability to make its own rules. Once again, the sovereignty mantra chanted by the Brexiteers resonates in the air and, alas, appears to be placed higher on the UK government’s priority list than peace. On October 13, the EU is to provide a list of goods with low risk of entering the rest of the single market from NI that can pass through some sort of “green corridor” without the need for heavy checks. This is a bold move on the part of the EU, aimed at mitigating the potential risks of non-resolution. Sadly, a dueling game has already started, with Lord Frost now demanding that the European Court of Justice stop monitoring EU law at the border.

Diplomatic pettiness risks the resurgence of the turbulent Irish history before 1998, when a disagreement between Republican Catholics seeking an independent Ireland and Unionist Protestants who wanted close relations with the UK led to disagreements. violence and murder of ethnic groups and civilians at the hands of the Irish. Ulster Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups. While the UK and the EU are both aware of the importance of the Good Friday deal and seemingly intend to honor it, a failure to resolve the NI protocol risks a potential re-emergence of a such brutality and therefore constitutes a “risk to stability.” As US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned the BBC.

Recent claims about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s long-standing intention to forgo the NI protocol by his vitriolic former aide Dominic Cummings have further angered Irish ministers and EU peace seekers already concerned. What was forever reported as a “predictable” problem is now very much present and must be approached diplomatically in order to maintain stability for the citizens of NI.