Aiken: Scrutiny Committee rubber stamps biggest EU customs shake-up in decades

Ulster Unionist Windsor Framework Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA has criticised the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee after it agreed its inquiry report on the EU’s new Union Customs Code, which will apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. Dr Aiken, a member of the Committee, said Alliance and Sinn Féin members had voted against taking action despite clear advice that the new code differs significantly from the regulation it replaces.

Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:

“Today the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee rubber-stamped its inquiry report on Regulation (EU) 2026/2108, which establishes the new Union Customs Code. This introduces the most fundamental change to customs rules and regulations across the EU and, thanks to the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland. It will add significant cost, force companies to introduce additional digital systems, hand power to an EU digital customs super-agency (which we are going to be paying for), introduce the automatic adoption of rules and regulations, and build further barriers across the Irish Sea.

“Despite the very clear advice the Committee received that this replacement EU act differs significantly in content and scope from the regulation it replaced, the Alliance and Sinn Féin members voted against taking action to safeguard our constituents. Further, because of the Committee’s skewed membership, the final report will say there will be no significant impact on everyday life in Northern Ireland, despite clear evidence that there will be.

“Indeed, because of the Committee’s ‘rules’, we cannot even publish a dissenting opinion so that the business community in Northern Ireland can see that not every MLA is a slavish and unquestioning follower of EU diktats.

“To call this a travesty of process is an understatement. Despite the clearest advice on the impact the UCC will have – on every business and every consumer, on strengthening the Irish Sea border, and on further diverting and disrupting trade with our biggest market, our own country – Alliance and Sinn Féin have yet again put their ‘Brexit’ purity above the good of our people.

“Kafka, a European author, would have understood the absurd position in which Northern Ireland has been placed; it is a pity that this misnamed, completely incurious and vestigial committee cannot see the same thing. If the Assembly is looking for obvious savings, getting rid of this farce of a committee would be a good start.”