-
The UK and Ireland agree to work together to facilitate post-Brexit trade

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheal Martin are seen at Hillsborough Castle, in Belfast, Northern Ireland August 13, 2020. Brian Lawless/Pool via Reuters
London Reuters:
Britain and Ireland will work together to maintain smooth trade between Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland, the leaders of Britain and Ireland said on Friday after meeting at Prime Minister Boris Johnson's country residence.
Since Britain completed its exit out of the European Union at the end of last year, ties between the two have soured, especially over parts of their agreement governing trade between Britain and its province of Northern Ireland.
Negotiations between the two sides over how to stop any disruption in trade between Britain and Northern Ireland have so far failed to produce any solutions but London may hope EU member Ireland could help move those talks along.
Johnson and Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin agreed "on the importance of working together to uphold the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and to maintain smooth trade between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland", a spokesperson for Johnson's office said in a statement.
The Belfast or Good Friday Agreement ended three decades of violence between mostly Catholic nationalists fighting for a united Ireland and mostly Protestant unionists, or loyalists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.
The peace accord took centre stage in the Brexit talks, with both sides agreeing to an open Irish land border to help safeguard peace, free trade and travel on the island. But the deal also meant that Northern Ireland effectively stayed in the EU's single market for goods, meaning checks at its ports.
The two leaders also agreed it was "profoundly sad" that the families of victims had to wait so long for the truth over the deaths of 10 people killed in a 1971 incident in Belfast during a British Army operation, the spokesperson said.
On Wednesday, Johnson apologised "unreservedly" on behalf of the government after a judge-led inquiry found that British soldiers unjustifiably shot or used disproportionate force in the deaths of nine of the 10 people killed in the incident.
The Belfast or Good Friday Agreement ended three decades of violence between mostly Catholic nationalists fighting for a united Ireland and mostly Protestant unionists, or loyalists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.
The peace accord took centre stage in the Brexit talks, with both sides agreeing to an open Irish land border to help safeguard peace, free trade and travel on the island. But the deal also meant that Northern Ireland effectively stayed in the EU's single market for goods, meaning checks at its ports.
The two leaders also agreed it was "profoundly sad" that the families of victims had to wait so long for the truth over the deaths of 10 people killed in a 1971 incident in Belfast during a British Army operation, the spokesperson said.
On Wednesday, Johnson apologised "unreservedly" on behalf of the government after a judge-led inquiry found that British soldiers unjustifiably shot or used disproportionate force in the deaths of nine of the 10 people killed in the incident.
Reuters, May 14, 2021, Britain, Ireland agree to work together to smooth post-Brexit trade
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!