Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government at which ports in Northern Ireland will EU officials be stationed to conduct checks on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

There will be no port or airport at which EU officials will be conducting checks on goods moved between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Under Article 12(2) of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the role of EU officials’ is limited to the right to be present during the activity of UK authorities relating to the implementation and application of EU law under the Protocol, and activities relating to the implementation and application of Article 5 of the Protocol, relating to the movement of goods. All procedures under the Protocol will be carried out by UK authorities. The 17 December 2020 Joint Committee Decision on Article 12 reflects these arrangements.

In practice, this could include EU officials being present at any ports or airports in Northern Ireland where UK authorities are undertaking activities within the scope of Article 12. This would include, for example, Belfast Port, Larne Harbour, Warrenpoint Port, Foyle Port and Belfast International Airport, all of which have been designated as Points of Entry for SPS goods. However, it will be for the EU to decide upon how they propose to allocate those officials present in Northern Ireland, in line with the relevant requirements of the December Joint Committee Decision.