R
egular readers will remember that we included articles on the Northern Ireland Protocol in both the February and May issues earlier this year. The latest development is the request by the United Kingdom to renegotiate the Protocol. As a result, the questions and communications have been taking a great deal of our time so it might be a good idea to revisit this topic.
The Northern Ireland Protocol A Current Review
There are two reasons why this situation can be difficult to follow. The first is that there is too much politics involved. You frequently hear the equivalent of “Our side is always right and the other side is always wrong.” If a politician happened to walk on water, the opposition party would accuse him of not knowing how to swim. The second problem is that virtually all of the countries and groups involved are making statements and taking positions for their own benefit, often at the expense of other countries or groups. Before you consider a news report or comment, you first need to figure out where the speaker or writer stands.
by Larry Plachno
Hence, two things are happening. There has not been a lot of cooperation and looking at the practical side of things. This has increased animosities and bad feelings between many of those involved and only made things worse for finding solutions. In addition, this has made it increasingly difficult for an outsider to follow what is going on and what is actually meaningful. As a result, I am going to try to go through the more important points on all of this for any readers who want to take the time to follow along. Brexit
Brexit is a simplified form or contraction for “British Exit” – the United Kingdom (UK) vote to leave the European Union (EU). In retrospect, the UK was always somewhat of an uneasy member of the EU. The UK applied for membership in 1963 and 1967 but were turned down both times. They were finally admitted in 1973. Two years later, the UK voted on whether to remain in the EU and that vote was positive. However, in 1979 the UK decided not to use Euros and instead stay with their traditional Pounds Sterling, reportedly the oldest monetary system still existing.
In 2016 the UK voted to “remain” or “leave” the EU. Approximately 1.9 percent more voters decided to leave rather than remain. Since the margin is so small for those who were dissatisfied, people have asked whether Brexit could have been averted had the British leadership or even the EU stepped in to correct the reasons why some voters wanted to leave. There were complaints about more money being spent in London than in the rural areas as well as concerns over the National Health Service. None of these could be attributed to the EU to any extent. Other complaints included EU coun24• National Bus Trader / September, 2021
Brexit – the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, caused numerous changes in the relationship between the UK and the EU. One of the more important items was the establishment of a customs border to separate the two. This has increasingly become a concern as difficulties have come up with the original arrangement. PIXABAY.
tries fishing in UK waters and EU immigrants not assimilating. Could British leaders have brought these concerns before the EU in order to prevent Brexit? Of course, the next question would be whether the EU was willing to take action or not. Unfortunately, things turned political instead of practical. Geography
All of this activity is taking place on two large islands to the west of Continental Europe. The larger of the two islands, and the one closer to Continental Europe, is called Great Britain and includes England, Wales and Scotland. Located further west is the island of Ireland that includes the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Today, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland constitute the United Kingdom.
At one point both islands were part of the United Kingdom. In 1922, the southern and central portions of the island of Ireland broke away and formed what is today the Republic of Ireland. Six remaining counties in the northeastern part of the island became Northern Ireland.
What has become a major problem is that the residents of Northern Ireland are a mixed group of Irish and British people. The Irish relate to the Republic of Ireland while the British relate to the United Kingdom. The two groups do not mix well. Some people suggest that this may be a religious difference but since some Irish are Protestant and some British are Catholic, the distinction seems to follow national rather than religious differences.
