The Windsor Framework and its implications – for Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU

Policy Study

Since the 2016 referendum, Brexit has destabilized Northern Ireland’s political landscape. The UK government’s push to dismantle ties with the European Union, particularly through unilateral actions, has strained the peace settlement. Among Republicans and Nationalists, the denial of the EU’s ongoing role in Northern Ireland has undermined support for the peace process, while the Irish Sea border created by the Northern Ireland Protocol has threatened the territorial identity of Unionists. Although the Windsor Framework of 2023 aimed to address Unionist concerns, it failed to restore Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, leaving the political environment fragile.

While Brexit did not directly alter the power-sharing arrangements established by the Good Friday Agreement, it disrupted the delicate institutional balance in Northern Ireland. The original agreement was negotiated with both the UK and the Republic of Ireland as EU members, with the EU providing a key political framework that emphasized power-sharing and redefined concepts of sovereignty. The UK’s withdrawal from the EU, especially through a “hard” Brexit, has strained cooperation between the UK and Irish governments, which is vital for sustaining peace.

Though power-sharing institutions were temporarily restored in early 2024 after amendments to the Windsor Framework, the risk of instability remains high. This policy study argues that the EU must continue to play an active role in Northern Ireland, using its resources and influence to support social cohesion, cross-community contact, and effective governance amidst these ongoing challenges.

This publication will be presented at our event ‘Beyond the border‘ on 16-17 October.