Background to the report

On 17 October 2019 the UK and the EU concluded the Withdrawal Agreement, establishing the terms of the UK leaving the EU, and setting out Northern Ireland’s future relationship with the EU and Great Britain (GB) (known as the Northern Ireland Protocol or the Protocol). On 31 January 2020 the UK left the EU, no longer participating in the EU’s decision-making, and entered a transition period during which existing rules on trade, travel and business between the UK and the EU continued to apply. On 31 December 2020, the transition period ended and the Northern Ireland Protocol came into effect.

Jump to downloads

Scope of the report

Since the UK’s decision to leave the EU in 2016, the National Audit Office has reported five times on the management of the UK border, focusing primarily on the government’s preparedness for exiting the EU without a deal. Since we last reported, the transition period has ended, and the new relationship between the UK and the EU has begun. The purpose of this report is primarily to draw together information on the impact of the new arrangements and on future risks which the government must manage. We have done this by:

  • assessing government and third parties’ preparedness to manage the GB–EU border after the transition period (Part One);
  • setting out the impact of the new border arrangements at the GB–EU border (Part Two);
  • reporting on significant future events relating to the management of the GB–EU border, including progress with the phased implementation of full import controls (Part Three); and
  • reporting on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol (Part Four).

Report conclusions

The government, departments and third parties all faced a very challenging set of circumstances at the end of the transition period. It is a significant achievement that collectively, they delivered the initial operating capability needed at the GB–EU border. However, this capability was achieved in part using temporary measures such as delaying imposing import controls, putting in place easements and providing direct financial support to businesses to help them continue to trade. The current overall operating model for the EU–GB border is not sustainable, and much more work is needed to put in place a stable operating model that eliminates any risk of WTO challenge from trading partners, does not require any temporary supports, and has clarity and ease of use for border users.

Regarding Northern Ireland, the arrangements that the UK government put in place to help facilitate trade into Northern Ireland from GB have been of value. However, it is very unlikely that all the systems, infrastructure and resources could have been put in place to implement the Protocol when grace periods were due to expire on 1 October 2021. The UK government’s position is that the ending of the grace periods would impose potentially unsustainable challenges for authorities and businesses, and it intends to continue operating the Protocol on the current basis to allow time for further discussion with the EU. It is critical that UK government departments and devolved Northern Ireland departments deliver quickly on any agreement reached between the UK and the EU and put in place the systems, infrastructure and resources required to make it work.

“We recognise the significant achievement of government, departments and third parties in delivering the initial operating capability needed at the border for the end of the transition period. However, this was done in part by using interim measures and by delaying the introduction of full import controls.

"Much more work is needed to put in place a model for the border that reduces the risk of non-compliance with international trading rules, does not require any temporary fixes, and is less complicated and burdensome for border users.”

Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO

Downloads

Publication details

Press release

View press release (5 Nov 2021)

Latest reports