Brexit and the Implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement

Abstract

The Agreement on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU of January 2020 should focus on dissolution, while the future relationship is governed by the yet to ratify Trade and Cooperation Agreement of December 2020. Yet, continuing bonds impact on the future, most prevalent in the situation of EU citizens who moved to the UK and UK citizens who moved to the EU, relying on the continuity of the UK’s EU membership, and the necessity of managing the hybrid position of Northern Ireland and its people, which is protected by the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland retain some EU citizenship rights and Northern Ireland’s access to the EU Internal Market for goods. Implementing those remnants of EU membership constitutes a permanent struggle. This chapter elaborates the ensuing difficulties and concludes with practical proposals how to alleviate negative repercussion.

Keywords: Brexit, Belfast Good Friday Agreement, EU Citizenship Rights, Implementation by disagreement, Northern Ireland