Neale Richmond
Ceist:215. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60514/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 27 January 2022
Ceisteanna (215)
Freagraí scríofa
Since its entry into force at the beginning of 2021, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) has provided a framework for continued trade and cooperation with the UK.
While no agreement could have replaced the seamless relationship with the UK enjoyed prior to Brexit, the TCA provides for tariff- and quota- free goods trade between the EU and the UK as well as preferential arrangements in areas such as transport, energy, fisheries, and policing. The agreement is underpinned by provisions to ensure a continued level playing field for businesses as well as extensive governance structures and processes for resolving any disputes which might arise.
The EU and the UK have been meeting regularly through those governance structures over the past year. A meeting of the EU-UK Partnership Council took place last June, at which the EU was represented by Commission Vice President Maroš Šefcovic and the UK was represented by David Frost. At that meeting, the two sides discussed the implementation of the Agreement, including in the areas of fisheries, work visa fees, law enforcement and judicial cooperation, and the UK’s participation in Union programmes.
All of the Specialised Committees, the forums for EU-UK engagement across each of the areas covered by the agreement, have now met at least once and discussions have largely been productive. Ireland has actively contributed to the preparation of the EU side’s position for those meetings and we continue to follow very closely, with the European Commission, the overall implementation of the agreement.
Effective implementation of the TCA is a priority for Ireland. Not only does it underpin our trade and business relationship with the UK, but it also provides the framework for cooperation in a wide range of areas of significance to us. It also provides a platform for developing further cooperation into the future.
Reaching an agreed approach on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland will be an important factor in allowing us all to turn a page and open up a new chapter in a forward-looking EU-UK partnership. There are a range of global challenges which we will all be better equipped to address with the EU and the UK working together.