Belgian PM "very satisfied" with Northern Ireland deal

Belgium is "very satisfied" with the agreement reached on Monday between the UK and the European Commission on the new Northern Ireland Protocol, prime minister Alexander De Croo tweeted. "This is great news for the British-European relationship," he said.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen presented the 'Windsor Framework' in London on Monday afternoon. In a nutshell, goods from Britain with final destinations in Northern Ireland will no longer be subject to extensive border controls. These checks remain necessary only when there is a chance that goods will travel onward to Ireland and the European single market. This should solve supply and other problems for Northern Irish families and businesses without putting a "hard border" between Ireland and Northern Ireland or between Ireland and the rest of the EU.

Belgium is "very pleased" that there is an agreement, said De Croo, who congratulated von der Leyen via Twitter. "This is great news for the British-European relationship. Close ties between Europe and the UK are crucial in these turbulent times."

(BRV)

^{Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo © BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS}