The impact of Brexit will become increasingly evident on the island of Ireland as the UK diverges from the EU, a new report has warned.
According to the think tank 'UK in a Changing Europe', areas not covered by the Northern Ireland Protocol, such as certain environmental protection standards or recognition of professional qualifications, will mean that the Northern Ireland border will become increasingly pronounced.
It said that such Brexit impacts do not have to become crises, but should be anticipated in order to be resolved.
Ahead of the fifth anniversary of the UK leaving the European Union at the end of the month, the report from the think-tank 'UK in a Changing Europe' has examined the impact of Brexit and considers what may happen in the future.
It warns that a "lack of detail" around what the UK wants from its reset in relations with the EU risks making it harder for the country to achieve its objectives.
The report calls on the UK government to set out specific objectives promptly, ahead of negotiations on closer ties with the EU.
It added that failure to do so "poses the risk that, like in 2017, the EU sets the terms of negotiations before the UK has fully thought through its own proposals".
It was the 1 February 2020 when the UK officially left the European Union.
Five years on from that exit, it still has a significant impact on the daily lives of people across the UK and will continue to do so, the think-tank has found.
The report looks back on the origins of Brexit as well as the future consequences of the decision.
It notes that the UK Labour Party has stated that it wants a new veterinary agreement, an arrangement to allow artists tour around the EU, and a mutual recognition agreement for professional qualifications.
However, 'UK in a Changing Europe' warns that "these proposals would do little to address the overall economic impact of Brexit and are often described as tinkering around the edges of the existing agreements".
The Office for Budget Responsibility, the independent public body which monitors government spending and provides forecasts on future economic forecasts, has previously stated that Brexit will result in a 4% reduction in the UK's GDP.
In relation to Ireland, the report warns that the ramifications of Brexit will become increasingly evident on the island of Ireland, as the UK diverges from the EU in areas not covered by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
"The Northern Ireland/Ireland border will become more pronounced, for example, in relation to non-recognition of professional qualifications or differing environmental protection standards being applied at either end of a field or lake straddling the border", the report states.
It said that such Brexit impacts do not have to become a crises, instead it states that such situations should be anticipated.
According to the think-tank "Brexit will forever require evolution, innovation and trustworthy public communication - not unlike the peace process itself".
