Global menu

Our global pages

Close

Border with Northern Ireland

  • Ireland
  • General

24-11-2017

The UK Government has repeatedly stated that it wants a frictionless border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, however it has yet to make its plans in this regard clear. In the absence of clarity, several options have been mooted.

It was reported on 27 October that Pascal Lamy, former WTO head and ex-EU Trade Commissioner, considers a “frictionless” border with no infrastructure to be unrealistic.  Mr Lamy suggested a sea border between the island of Ireland and the United Kingdom. This would entail Northern Ireland having a special economic status or regulatory approach after Brexit.

It was reported on 6 November that James Brokenshire, the British Minister for Northern Ireland, has ruled out Northern Ireland staying in the EU Single Market or Customs Union, and has said that nothing should be done that undermines the integrity of the UK Single Market.

The UK Parliament recently heard from the head of Switzerland’s customs service, Christian Bock. Mr Bock said that he believed an invisible border was possible, using technology, intelligence and joint British-Irish mobile customs patrols. However he said that physical checks were unavoidable, either at the Border or elsewhere. Switzerland is not part of the EU, and as a result the Swiss customs service is, after the Swiss army, the biggest unit of the federal government, employing 5,000 customs officers with an annual budget €1.3 billion.

Sean Ryan, Partner

This information is for guidance purposes only and should not be regarded as a substitute for taking legal advice. Please refer to the full terms and conditions on our website.

< Go back

Print Friendly and PDF

© Eversheds Sutherland 2021. All rights reserved. Eversheds Sutherland is a global provider of legal and other services operating through various separate and distinct legal entities.

Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client.