The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Independent Monitoring Panel met today (3 March) to discuss the panel’s role in scrutinising the ‘UK Internal Market Guarantee’.

Both parties discussed the announcement made to Parliament by the Northern Ireland Secretary on 24 February 2025, confirming the first six month reporting period for the Internal Market Guarantee commenced on 1 January and will conclude on 30 June 2025. The Panel will report to the Secretary of State thereafter.

The Internal Market Guarantee relates to movements taking place under the UK Internal Market System and undertakes that more than 80% of all freight movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be treated as ‘not at risk’ of moving onwards to the EU, and therefore moving within the UK internal market.

The members of the Panel expressed their commitment to the role and thanked those who have been involved in supporting the arrangements for it to scrutinise and report on goods movements data. The Panel confirmed to the Secretary of State that it will engage with business organisations representing affected traders and other stakeholders in support of the commitments in Safeguarding the Union Command Paper and commence that in the second half of the reporting period.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said:

“Today’s meeting demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting the UK internal market. I look forward to working with the panel and receiving their recommendations.”

Alistair Hamilton, Chair of the Independent Monitoring Panel said:

“Our desire is to ensure, within the parameters of the Windsor Framework, that our work will help to reduce and remove burdens for businesses and citizens and maximise the competitiveness and opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses.”

Background

A commitment to establish the Independent Monitoring Panel was made in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper published in January 2024. The Panel’s role is to report to the Government on:

• the performance of the ‘UK Internal Market Guarantee’ as set out in the Command Paper; 
• the activities of public authorities delivering the operational activity to give effect to the Windsor Framework; and
• how the Government’s wider ambitions on improving UK-EU trade could support smooth flows of trade within the UK internal market.

On 19 September 2024, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland appointed Alistair Hamilton CBE, Aidan Reilly and Dr Anna Jerzewska to the Panel.

Further information on the Panel’s work will be made available online in due course.