On Monday, 27 February 2023, the UK Government and the European Commission announced the new Windsor Framework, which aims to facilitate trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain while maintaining the region’s access to the European single market, a situation which, according to the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, could make Northern Ireland “the world’s most exciting economic zone.” The Windsor Framework may also mark the beginning of a new phase in UK-EU relations, and, if accepted by all parties, could put an end to the current political impasse in Northern Ireland. In this keynote address to the IIEA, Tony Connelly discusses what the Windsor Framework means for Northern Ireland and for future UK-EU relations.

About the Speaker:

Tony Connelly is Europe Editor for RTÉ News. He has reported extensively on Brexit, and has been covering European affairs since 2001, most recently reporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mr Connelly is the recipient of two ESB National Media awards, a European Journalism Award and a New York Festivals radio award. He was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in journalism award by UCD Smurfit Graduate School and an Irish Law Society award for his coverage of the Brexit negotiations. Mr Connelly is the author of Brexit and Ireland.