CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Karichashvili, Ketevan |
|---|---|
| Title | Brexit, Borders, and Balance: The Northern Ireland Protocol, Windsor Framework, and the UK's Global Trade Strategy |
| Summary | This research is significant because it investigates the complex ramifications of Brexit within the context of the United Kingdom’s evolving global strategy. It focuses on the legal and political aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol and its revision under the 2023 Windsor Framework. Under these arrangements, Northern Ireland follows many of the European Union’s rules for goods, even though it’s still officially part of the UK’s customs territory. This unusual setup has created a de facto internal border in the Irish Sea, separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK in practical trade terms. This situation touches on unresolved questions about the UK’s constitutional integrity and the unity of its internal market. Both, the Northern Ireland protocol and Windsor Framework truly align with the spirit of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, particularly in areas like keeping the border open, maintaining cross-community support, and ensuring political stability in Northern Ireland. Key areas of analysis include the UK’s post-Brexit trade policy choices, the strategic implications of pursuing new trade agreements, and the country’s re-engagement with the World Trade Organization. The thesis highlights how Brexit has transformed the UK’s trade governance model and assesses the long-term impact of these arrangements not only on UK-EU constitutional arrangements but also on the UK’s global economic strategy. The study also situates how recent trade agreements, notably a revamped UK-EU trade deal and new UK-US Economic Prosperity Agreement, signal a more pragmatic and flexible trade posture. Rather than taking an all-or-nothing stance, the UK is now pursuing targeted partnerships with major allies, reflecting a more mature and realistic view of its role in the global trading system. |
| Supervisor | Tomasso Soave |
| Department | Legal Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/karichashvili_keta.pdf |
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