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{{Short description|Agreement between the EU and UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
[[File:The Prime Minister welcomes the President of the European Commission (52715396793).jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Rishi Sunak]] and [[Ursula von der Leyen]] in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] on February 27 2023 to announce the finalised deal]]
{{Brexit sidebar}}
The '''Windsor Framework''' is a [[Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union|post-Brexit]] legal agreement between the [[European Union]] and the [[United Kingdom]] which was announced on 27 February 2023 and formally adopted by both parties on the 24 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65058955 | title=UK and EU formally adopt new Brexit Windsor Framework deal}}</ref> It is designed to address the [[Brexit and the Irish border|problem of the movement of goods]] between the [[European single market|European Single Market]] and the United Kingdom in the current [[Northern Ireland Protocol]].

== Overview ==
The agreement was named after the meeting of the UK Prime Minister, [[Rishi Sunak]], and the [[President of the European Commission]], [[Ursula von der Leyen]], at the [[Fairmont Hotels and Resorts|Fairmont hotel]] at [[Windsor Great Park]].<ref name=Ng>{{citation |last=Ng |first=Ellie |title=Fairmont Windsor Park hotel delighted to be part of 'historic occasion' |date=2023-02-27 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ursula-von-der-leyen-rishi-sunak-european-commission-windsor-great-park-northern-ireland-b1063444.html |newspaper=Evening Standard |language=en |access-date=2023-02-28}}</ref> After meeting the Prime Minister and announcing the deal at the [[Windsor Guildhall]], von der Leyen then had tea with [[Charles III|King Charles III]] in [[Windsor Castle]].<ref name=Elgot>{{citation |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |title=How No 10 sweetened up the EU president with a royal cup of tea |date=2023-02-27 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/27/kings-meeting-ursula-von-der-leyen-outcry-monarchy-northern-ireland |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |access-date=2023-02-28}}</ref>

The proposed agreement was reached in accordance with Articles 16 and 17 of the protocol and did not formally need parliamentary approval.<ref name=Webber>{{cite news |URL=https://www.ft.com/content/3d2b4e24-5c92-4a28-b2fa-c4bfe143e814 |title=Rishi Sunak threatens to push through Brexit deal on Northern Ireland without DUP |first1=Jude | last1=Webber |first2=Robert |last2=Wright |first3=Jim |last3=Pickard |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023 |quote=The deal was reached under provisions set out by the protocol for the amendment of its rules, and does not technically require ratification}}</ref> However, the Prime Minister promised that MPs should have an opportunity to vote on it: the vote took place in the House of Commons on the 22nd March 2023 and the Framework was passed with a large majority. <ref name=Vote>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=Rishi Sunak promises MPs vote on 'Windsor Framework' Brexit deal |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sunak-windsor-brexit-deal-vote-parliament-b2290522.html |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Independent}}</ref><ref name=how>{{cite news |title=How did your MP vote on the Windsor framework? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/mar/22/how-did-your-mp-vote-on-the-windsor-framework |work=The Guardian}}</ref> The adoption halted the [[Northern Ireland Protocol Bill]] which the UK government had been taking forward, and the infringement procedures by the [[European Commission]] brought against the UK in relation to the bill.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-27 |title=Brexit: UK and EU leaders hail 'extraordinary' deal on Northern Ireland protocol – live |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/feb/27/rishi-sunak-brexit-ursula-von-der-leyen-eu-northern-ireland-brexit-deal-uk-politics-live?page=with:block-63fce9148f08f5a1c2a0bafb#block-63fce9148f08f5a1c2a0bafb |access-date=2023-02-27}}</ref> <ref name=Qanda>{{cite web |publisher=European Commission |title=Questions and Answers: political agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework, a new way forward for the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland |date=27 February 2023 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_1271|quote=These arrangements, when implemented, mean that there will no longer be grounds for the existing Commission legal proceedings against the United Kingdom relating to the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland}}</ref>

On the EU side, there was no single vote or decision on the Framework as a whole. Some of the changed arrangements put in place under the Framework required agreement through [[Voting in the Council of the European Union|qualified majority in the Council of the European Union]]. Some parts of the agreement required the consent of the [[European Parliament]].<ref name=Pronczuk>{{Cite news |last=Pronczuk |first=Monika |date=27 Feb 2023 |title=Britain and E.U. Agree on Northern Ireland Trade Deal |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/27/world/northern-ireland-brexit-trade-deal/a3ab6a4c-f169-5bea-9053-5c8d0d4e53b1?smid=url-share |access-date=28 Feb 2023 |quote=On the E.U. side, the deal has to be green lighted by the super majority of member nations, E.U. officials said, with the decision expected in the next couple of weeks. Some parts of the agreement have to be approved both by member nations and the European Parliament, a process that could take several months.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Leary |first=Naomi |date=27 Feb 2023 |title=Windsor Framework: What are the main points of the new UK-EU deal? |work=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/02/27/windsor-framework-what-are-the-main-points-of-the-new-uk-eu-deal/ |access-date=28 Feb 2023 |quote=Some will need the agreement of the 27 EU member states, which would take a few weeks, while others would need to go to the European Parliament, something that could take months.}}</ref>

== Contents of the agreement ==
The proposed agreement relates to [[Irish Sea border|goods crossing the Irish Sea]] from [[Great Britain]] to [[Northern Ireland]].<ref name="Windsor Framework">{{cite news |last=Culbertson |first=Alix |title=Rishi Sunak promises 'beginning of a new chapter' as he unveils 'Windsor Framework' deal on Brexit |url=https://news.sky.com/story/uk-and-eu-agree-new-deal-on-northern-ireland-post-brexit-trade-rules-senior-government-source-12820788 |access-date=27 February 2023|date=27 February 2023 |work=[[Sky News]]}}</ref> It would introduce [[Customs#Red and green channels|green and red lanes]] to reduce checks and paperwork on goods that are destined for Northern Ireland, and separate them from goods at risk of moving into the EU Common Market.<ref name="At-a-glance">{{cite news |title=Northern Ireland Brexit deal: At-a-glance |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64790193 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227170151/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64790193 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> It also includes a number of agreements on medicine control, VAT and alcohol duty.<ref name="At-a-glance" />

=== Stormont brake ===
The framework introduces a mechanism called the "Stormont brake", which would allow the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] to temporarily stop any changes to EU goods regulations from applying in Northern Ireland if the Assembly feared that the changes would have "significant and lasting effects on everyday lives".<ref name="Sparrow">{{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=2023-02-27 |title=What is the Stormont brake and will it help restore power sharing in Northern Ireland? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/27/what-is-the-stormont-brake-restore-power-sharing-northern-ireland |access-date=2023-02-27 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

According to the agreement, the Northern Ireland Assembly can trigger the brake on any new "significantly different" rule implemented if 30 [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|Members of the Legislative Assembly]] from two or more parties object, giving way to a 14-day consultation period before reference to the UK Government for consideration.<ref name="At-a-glance" /> [[cross-community vote|Cross-community consent]] (support from both [[Unionism in Ireland|unionists]] and [[Irish nationalism|nationalists]]) is not required. However, "the government says a decision on whether to permanently block an EU rule, once suspended and following discussion in the Joint Committee, would not happen 'in the absence of a cross-community vote'".<ref>{{cite news |title=Brexit: What is the Stormont brake? |work=BBC News |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=1 March 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64795902 |first=Jayne |last=McCormack}}</ref>

== Reactions ==
[[File:The Windsor Framework a new way forward.pdf|thumb|The [[command paper]] presented to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] on 27 February 2023]]

=== Ireland ===
[[Leo Varadkar]], the [[Taoiseach]], welcomed the agreement and said: "The Irish Government will do all we can to make these new arrangements work in the interest of people and enterprises in Northern Ireland, here in the Republic of Ireland while protecting the European Single Market and the [[Common Travel Area]] between Ireland and the United Kingdom and the [[Good Friday Agreement]]."<ref name="Taoiseach">{{cite web |title=Taoiseach welcomes positive outcome in Protocol talks |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2023/0227/1359071-ni-protocol/ |work=[[RTÉ]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227192238/https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2023/0227/1359071-ni-protocol/ |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sinn Féin]] president [[Mary Lou McDonald]] indicated her support for the agreement.<ref name="Sparrow"/>

=== Northern Ireland ===
[[President of Sinn Féin#Vice Presidents|Vice President of Sinn Féin]] [[Michelle O'Neill]] said "I rarely find myself agreeing with a British prime minister but access to both markets has to be grabbed with both hands".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-01 |title=Stormont: We need government and we need it now - Sinn Féin |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64808694 |access-date=2023-03-01}}</ref>

[[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP) leader [[Sir Jeffrey Donaldson]]'s initial reaction to the agreement was one in which he said progress was made in several areas with several obstacles outstanding, adding that the framework would have to hold up to the party's seven tests on a suitable replacement to the Northern Ireland Protocol. [[Sammy Wilson (politician)|Sammy Wilson]] expressed scepticism toward the Stormont brake, saying that "[DUP MPs] still fear our position in the United Kingdom is not going to be restored".<ref name="MPs reaction">{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Jennifer |title=The Windsor Framework: How have MPs reacted to the new post-Brexit Northern Ireland deal? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-windsor-framework-how-have-mps-reacted-to-the-new-post-brexit-northern-ireland-deal-12821640 |publisher=[[Sky News]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227222745/https://news.sky.com/story/the-windsor-framework-how-have-mps-reacted-to-the-new-post-brexit-northern-ireland-deal-12821640 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023}}</ref> On 20 March 2023, Donaldson announced that the DUP would oppose the framework, with the party and other unionists arguing that the agreement would continue to require Northern Ireland to comply with EU law.<ref name="Unionists oppose">{{cite web |title=N.Ireland unionists oppose key part of Brexit trade deal |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230320-n-ireland-unionists-oppose-key-part-of-brexit-trade-deal |website=[[France 24]] |publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]] |access-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320174437/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230320-n-ireland-unionists-oppose-key-part-of-brexit-trade-deal |archive-date=20 March 2023 |location=London |date=20 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]] deputy leader [[Stephen Farry]] and [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] leader [[Colum Eastwood]] both expressed concerns about the Stormont Brake and the need for dual access to the UK and European markets.<ref name="MPs reaction"/><ref name="ready to engage">{{cite web |title=DUP 'ready to engage' in any required re-working of Windsor Framework |url=https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-02-27/dup-say-significant-progress-made-with-windsor-framework |publisher=[[ITV News]] |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227224607/https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-02-27/dup-say-significant-progress-made-with-windsor-framework |archive-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
On 2 March 2023, former prime minister [[Boris Johnson]] said it will be "very difficult" for him to vote for the Windsor Framework. Johnson said the deal was "not about the UK taking back control".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64823710 |title=Boris Johnson says he will find it hard to vote for Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal |first=Sam |last=Francis |work=BBC News |date=2 March 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023}}</ref> Former prime minister [[Liz Truss]] fully concurred with Johnson and stated that the Windsor Framework does not "satisfactorily resolve the issues thrown up by the Northern Ireland Protocol".<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Dominic |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=Windsor Framework: Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to vote against Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal - 'The best course of action is to proceed with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill' |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/windsor-framework-boris-johnson-and-liz-truss-to-vote-against-rishi-sunaks-brexit-deal-the-best-course-of-action-is-to-proceed-with-the-northern-ireland-protocol-bill-4074256}}</ref>

On 21 March 2023, the [[European Research Group]] (ERG), a faction of Conservative MPs, denounced the framework as “practically useless” but confirmed they would not vote as a bloc against it.<ref>{{cite news |title= Brexit-backing Tory MPs undecided on Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland deal vote|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65024165 |publisher=BBC</ref>

On 22 March 2023, the date of the parliamentary vote, 22 Conservative MPs and six DUP MPs voted against the government legislation.<ref name=":0" /> The vote ultimately passed by 515 votes to 29.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title='Not true' Brexit deal was propped up by Labour, Rishi Sunak insists after Tory rebellion led by Boris Johnson |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-brexit-deal-passes-commons-2226166 |website=[[i (newspaper)|i]] |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>

=== International ===
US President [[Joe Biden]] called the framework an "essential step to ensuring that the hard-earned peace and progress of the [[Good Friday Agreement|Belfast/Good Friday Agreement]] is preserved and strengthened".<ref name="Biden">{{cite web |last1=Biden |first1=Joe |author1-link=Joe Biden |title=Statement from President Joe Biden on the Windsor Framework |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/27/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-windsor-framework/ |publisher=[[White House]] |access-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228005442/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/27/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-windsor-framework/ |archive-date=28 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Brexit withdrawal agreement]]
*{{annotated link|Petition of concern}}

{{Clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-windsor-framework Official website (UK)]{{snd}}Contains political and legal documents
* {{Cite press release |title=Windsor Framework unveiled to fix problems of the Northern Ireland Protocol |date=27 February 2023 |publisher=United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/windsor-framework-unveiled-to-fix-problems-of-the-northern-ireland-protocol |access-date=27 February 2023}}
* {{Cite press release |title=A new way forward on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland: political agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework |date=27 February 2023 |publisher=European Commission |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1268 |access-date=27 February 2023 }}
* {{cite web | title=Why the Windsor Framework could come back to bite Sunak | url=https://ukandeu.ac.uk/why-the-windsor-framework-could-come-back-to-bite-sunak/ |publisher = UK in a changing Europe |first=Joël |last=Reland |date=4 May 2023 |access-date=4 May 2023}}

{{Brexit topics}}{{Rishi Sunak}}

[[Category:Brexit-related agreements]]
[[Category:2023 in British politics]]
[[Category:2023 in the European Union]]
[[Category:2023 in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:February 2023 events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rishi Sunak]]
[[Category:Windsor, Berkshire]]
[[Category:2023 introductions]]

Windsor Framework - Revision history

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