Since the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, media coverage of the UK-EU future relationship negotiations has focused on the vital area of trade and tariffs. But of equal importance is how the UK and the EU will collaborate post-Brexit to support policing and security on both sides of the border on the island of Ireland.
EU law enforcement and criminal justice mechanisms, such as the European Arrest Warrant, have played a key role in supporting the operations of the police forces in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. On 17 November, the Security and Justice Sub-Committee, chaired by Lord Ricketts, a former UK National Security Adviser, will examine with experts the value of those EU mechanisms, and what should replace them to ensure minimal impact on policing and security on the island of Ireland.
Meeting details
Topics likely to be covered across both sessions include:
- What are the main policing challenges on the island of Ireland today and how to the police forces on either side of the border cooperate to meet those challenges?
- How has Brexit affected those challenges?
- What role have EU law enforcement and criminal justice mechanisms, such as the European Arrest Warrant, played in cross-border policing?
- How should those mechanisms be replaced post-Brexit?
- What will be the consequences of the UK and EU failing to reach agreement on cross-border policing and security?
- If there is failure to reach agreement, will the Irish government be able to negotiate bilateral agreement with the UK on policing and security?