Remarks at EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

Robin Swann MP, as the sole Northern Ireland MP , spoke at the 5th meeting of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnerships Assembly in Brussels today on the need for "ruthless pragmatism" to address the impact of the Windsor Framework.

Full remarks: “Can I welcome comments yesterday in the opening session, especially in regards to Northern Ireland and the importance of Northern Ireland.

“As the only Northern Ireland Member of Parliament here, and actually someone who lives with the implications of the trade impediments that have been put on us with the Windsor Framework, something that may be lauded in this place as a solution and in some parts of Westminster isn't so for my community, nor many small-medium sized enterprises in Northern Ireland who want to trade with GB, and indeed many small enterprises who are from GB who want to trade with Northern Ireland.

“One example that I'll give the Assembly is Coleman's Garden Centre.

“Many examples have been used from jam to cheeses. Coleman's Garden Centre in my constituency of South Antrim deals with the fruit supplier of plants in Scotland. That same supplier has now recently won a contract with Japan and they have said it is easier for them to supply Japan from Scotland than it is to Northern Ireland.

“It’s easier to transport supplies 6,000 miles across international borders than 14 miles across a short stretch of water.

“The Windsor Framework is an economic framework bureaucratic solution. And I listened to the EU Chair's comments earlier about technical work that was complex, but it's an economic bureaucratic solution to a [politically complex problem].

“I do welcome words in regard to how we can make that trade across the EU and GB, but also internally within the United Kingdom easier in regards to the [EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement] if it is to be ambitious, it also needs to address those peculiarities to the internal trade of the UK with Northern Ireland.

“So, to use Minister Thomas-Symonds' words from yesterday, it needs to address that with the "ruthless pragmatism," Chair, Something that Northern Ireland politicians aren't short of.”