Brexit talks to focus on Ireland

The next round of Brexit negotiations between the U.K. and the EU will focus on the complex and unique issues involving Ireland. Both sides have said that resolving the special issues related to Ireland and the U.K. is a top priority.

Key issues include:

• Maintaining the Common Travel Area agreement, which provides for freedom of movement for Irish and U.K. nationals and which predates EU free movement.
• Preserving the Good Friday Agreement that has brought 20 years of peace to Northern Ireland and stabilized relations between Ireland and the U.K., and specifically between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Avoiding a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland that would impose immigration and customs checks, inhibiting trade and travel.

The next scheduled meeting of Brexit at the end of August will address the issues in further detail. The U.K.’s Brexit Department is expected to release its proposal on Ireland this week ahead of the talks.

BAL has published a White Paper that examines Brexit from an Irish perspective and analyzes the primary questions involving Ireland to be resolved in U.K.-EU negotiations.

Read the full White Paper, “Brexit: What’s at Stake for Ireland” here.

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