Fine Gael’s Colm Markey will negotiate elements of the Windsor Framework on behalf his political grouping in the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, ahead of a final vote by MEPs in May.
The Midlands-North-West MEP has been appointed ‘shadow rapporteur’ for the agri-food (SPS) aspect of the deal, meaning he will represent the EPP Group in the drafting of the legislation at Committee level.
This morning, the European Commission presented the proposal to MEPs who sit on the Agriculture and Environmental Committees.
Markey commented, “The Windsor Framework provides certainty and stability for businesses and citizens in Northern Ireland, preserves the integrity of the EU Single Market and protects the Good Friday Agreement. The proposed measures will mean traders using the new green lane will only need a single certificate, while physical checks will be reduced to just 5%. Overall, it simplifies the whole process and is good news for businesses in the North who can now take advantage of being in both the UK market and the EU market. “
“It’s fitting that as we finalise this deal, we mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. To borrow a phrase from EU Chief Negotiator Maros Sefcovic: if the last 25 years were about peace, the next 25 years should be about increased prosperity for the people of Northern Ireland“, he continued.
Mr. Markey also welcomed confirmation that members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee will visit Northern Ireland in the near future.
“I was the first to call on the Agriculture Committee to come to Northern Ireland to see how these new arrangements will play out on the ground. This is a unique situation and it’s important to reassure MEPs that what has been agreed is working and that the Single Market is protected. They should also take the opportunity to visit some of the border counties to get an idea of how the all-island economy works without any physical border. I look forward to welcoming them to my constituency in the not-too-distant future“, Markey concluded.
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