The deal works both ways, according to UK and Brexit economist Stefan Koopman of Rabobank. Goods can be transported more easily from Northern Ireland to the UK. “The vote was 515 to 29 in favor of a deal,” he says. ‘So the bombing of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, among others, had little effect. A big win for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and it wasn’t very exciting before.’
“Their strategy was to seek confrontation with the EU, and it led nowhere”
Koopman refers to the fact that Labor and Liberal Democrat MPs had already pledged to vote in favor of the deal. According to the economist, this state of mind indicates that Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and other extremists of the European Research Group are fighting “a rearguard action”. “And I think there’s something sad about that, because their strategy – which consisted mainly of seeking a confrontation with the EU – hasn’t really gotten anywhere.”
Interest
He stresses the importance of the trade agreement with the European Union, which is quite decent. “In any case, it is good that relations between the EU and the UK do not deteriorate further,” he says. “But when there is less friction in trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, it will have a positive effect on Northern Ireland’s economy.”
As an example, Koopman cites the Northern Irish business community, which has been campaigning for a similar deal for months and has even expressed its support on several occasions.
Social policy
He also believes that the importance of social policy should not be underestimated. “There is a fear among unionists that Northern Ireland – certainly on the basis of the old deal – is becoming increasingly Irish and less British,” Koopman continues. “Because it would make it easier to do business with the Irish than the British, but this deal should change that.”
Koopman therefore dares to put his hand in the fire that this agreement symbolizes a structural improvement in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Especially since the nadir of the mutual relationship is far behind. “It was actually last summer when Liz Truss took over from Boris Johnson,” he says. He calls the current prime minister Sunak more pragmatic, “and understands that there is no point in stoking the fire any further.”
Anti-EU rhetoric
According to Koopman, the British are increasingly cutting back on anti-EU rhetoric as a distraction from domestic problems, and he thinks the British are actually largely done with it. ‘And if Labor wins the election in two years’ time – as all the polls are now indicating – then you can indeed expect structural improvements. There will be no pro-EU campaign, but there will be more rapprochement.’