Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any areas of North–South cooperation were contained in the Belfast Agreement; how many additional areas of such cooperation are suggested in the EU–UK draft withdrawal agreement; and whether the parties involved in the Belfast Agreement will now be asked to consider any changes proposed by the EU.

The Belfast Agreement, under Strand Two, outlined the areas for North-South cooperation on matters of mutual interest within the competence of the Administrations, Northern Ireland and Ireland. The UK Government remains committed to the Belfast Agreement, as we have stated many times. Upholding the Agreement has consistently been, and will remain, at the heart of the UK’s approach as we negotiate our withdrawal from the EU.

The UK and EU have mapped out areas of cooperation that function on a cross-border basis, in line with the principles of the Belfast Agreement. We have identified over 140 areas of cross-border cooperation, demonstrating a wide range of cooperation across different aspects of the economy, public services, and the environment.