Brexit and the implications for Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union

Since the original referendum in 1975, the story of United Kingdom’s membership to the European Union has been characterized by calls for a vote of the British people on whether it should stay in the EU or not. Therefore, the announcement in 2013 of Prime Minister David Cameron’s intention to hold a referendum on British membership to the European Union, had the Conservatives won the 2015 election, came with no surprise. Conversely, its result with 51.9% of votes for the ‘Leave’ did represent an authentic political shock as well as a symbolic turn for the entire European Union. In the past two years and a half, the forthcoming British withdrawal from the Union, has raised several political, economic and social debates about different questions such as the rights of EU citizens in UK, trade and tariffs and the Irish border problem, which is a major issue in the negotiations. Indeed, it will represent the only physical border between United Kingdom, becoming a third Country after 29 March 2019 and the European Union, as the Republic of Ireland is part of the Union and will remain so. It is on this latter matter that the research will focus with the intent of identifying the foreseeable consequences for Northern Ireland of UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The ultimate goal is therefore a contribution to the analysis on the impact and practical effects of Brexit on Northern Ireland after all the great efforts made to put an end to 30 years of violent conflict.