EU-UK Agreement gets thumbs up from NI business leaders
FSB commends EU-UK agreement
The Federation for Small Business has welcomed the EU-UK agreement signed by UK PM Rishi Sunak and Eu but said it will take time and space to study it in detail
Speaking about the announcement of a fresh agreement between the EU and UK to address challenges caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol, FSB NI Policy Chair, Alan Lowry, said: “Business has been to the fore in understanding the operation of the Protocol.
“It has highlighted many of the problems its implementation has been causing.
“Accordingly, we commend the great efforts made by the EU and the UK Government to find joint solutions to these challenges.
“Our research identified five distinct business cohorts in respect of the Protocol.
- those for whom it works really well;
- those who are unaffected;
- those who are largely unaware because their suppliers deal with the burden;
- those who are protected by the grace periods.
- and those who are badly impacted.
“All of the issues have been thoroughly highlighted in advance of these latest negotiations, so we are looking forward to seeing the text of the final agreement and exploring with our members how well it addresses the issues they have raised since the Protocol was first introduced
“Reaching an agreement is an important step in securing the stability and certainty that businesses have been seeking.
“But we also really need some form of ‘Service Level Agreement’ that ensures any difficulties that arise in the future are dealt with as a matter of priority, unrelated to any other distractions that might be around at that time.
“We will now take time and space to work through the technical detail with our members.”
IoD welcomes UK and EU joint approach
Responding to the announcement of a joint solution between the UK and EU on the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol, Jonathan Geldart, the Director General of the Institute of Directors, said:
“The IoD welcomes the news that the UK and EU have agreed a joint approach to the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol. For some time, our members have been seeking a negotiated agreement that enables businesses to flourish.
“We hope that this new agreement will stimulate economic growth and investment. However, our members will want to take a close look at the detail in the weeks ahead.
“Going forward, we look forward to renewed cooperation between the UK and the EU in the interests of consumers and businesses alike.”
Retail NI Response to Windsor Framework
Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “On an initial analysis, this new agreement represents welcome progress towards providing the stability and certainty that our retail, wholesale and supplier members are seeking.
“The technical detail of this agreement will need to be studied further and, following consultation with our membership, we will be able to comment more definitively.
“In the interim, what is blatantly evident, is that the agreement needs to work, not just for all the businesses in our local supply chain, but also for local consumers.
“Ongoing engagement between the business community and the EU and UK Government will be critical as the implementation process of this deal begins.
“It is imperative that the NI Executive and Assembly is now restored to deal with the huge economic challenges that lie ahead. Northern Ireland needs a working Government.”
