Thread by @DrBrendanMoore

Thread: One thing you won't find (or I haven't) in either the revised Ireland/NI Protocol or the Political Declaration on the Future Relationship...

Any reference to non-regression in environmental protection, a core environmental provision in Nov. 2018 (on left).

2. The revised Political Declaration refers to relatively broad commitments to high standards

3. The Protocol, outside references to EU legislation that will apply to Northern Ireland, references to the environmental are limited to North-South cooperation and safeguards if 'environmental difficulties' are foreseen.

4. In conclusion, the references to the environment are much less specific & detailed than in the previous agreement.

Revised Protocol: ec.europa.eu/commission/sit…

Revised Political Declaration: ec.europa.eu/commission/sit…

Original Nov. 2018 Docs: gov.uk/government/pub…

/ends

PS as alluded to above, the protocol does still require Northern Ireland to follow a number of single market regulations, including on the environment

https://twitter.com/DrBrendanMoore/status/1184885204005117952

Addendum, new WA also removes specific commitments re: the Office for Environmental Protection

https://twitter.com/DrBrendanMoore/status/1184894886014787586

Addendum 2, it removes powers of EU-UK joint committee to set things like air quality limit values (think the PM2.5 limits that were a highlight in the #EnvironmentBill this week)

https://twitter.com/DrBrendanMoore/status/1184896209732931584

Would be very open to feedback from others, this was a first analysis, @UCLlaw_env, @LydgateEmily, @aglawfoodie @VGravey did I miss something?

@UCLlaw_env @LydgateEmily @aglawfoodie @VGravey As @LydgateEmily points out, these removed provisions were tied to the UK-wide customs territory, so are not a 'surprise'.

In other words, taking GB out reduces the commitments (specifically in the WA, not the future relationship) to env. protection.

https://twitter.com/LydgateEmily/status/1184900290614562816