The Withdrawal Agreement (Windsor Framework and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Withdrawal Agreement (Windsor Framework and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(2) They come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(3) They extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

2.—(1) The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 7A(5)—

(a) in paragraph (e), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (b) in paragraph (f), for "Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework".

(3) In section 7C(2), in paragraph (c)—

(a) for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (b) for "Protocol", the second time it occurs, substitute "Framework".

(4) In section 8C—

(a) in the heading, for "Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (b) in subsection (1)— (i) in paragraph (a), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (ii) in paragraphs (b) and (c), for "Protocol", in each place it occurs, substitute "Framework"; (c) in subsection (5), for "Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (d) in subsection (5A)(c), in sub-paragraph (ii), for "Northern Ireland Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (e) in subsection (7)— (i) for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (ii) in paragraphs (a) and (b) and in the words after paragraph (b), for "Protocol", in each place it occurs, substitute "Framework".

(5) In section 10(3), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework".

(6) Omit section 15C.

(7) In section 20(1), after the definition of "Wales" and "Welsh Zone" insert—

"“Windsor Framework” means the part of the withdrawal agreement known as the Windsor Framework by virtue of Joint Declaration No. 1/2023 of 24 March 2023 made between the EU and the United Kingdom in the Joint Committee established by the withdrawal agreement."

(8) In the table in section 21(1) after the entry for "Welsh Zone" insert—

"Windsor Framework | Section 20(1)"

(9) In Schedule 2, in Part 1C—

(a) for the heading of Part 1C, for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (b) for the heading above paragraph 11M, for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (c) in paragraph 11M— (i) in sub-paragraph (1)(a), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (ii) in sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and (1)(c), for "Protocol", in each place it occurs, substitute "Framework"; (iii) in sub-paragraph (2)(a), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (iv) in sub-paragraphs (2)(b), (2)(c) and (6), for "Protocol", in each place it occurs, substitute "Framework"; (v) in sub-paragraph (8)— (aa) for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (bb) in paragraphs (a) and (b) and in the words after paragraph (b), for "Protocol", in each place it occurs, substitute "Framework".

(10) In Schedule 4, in paragraph 1(1), for "Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework".

(11) In Schedule 7, in the italic heading before paragraph 8F, for "Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework".

3.—(1) The Northern Ireland Act 1998 is amended as follows.

(2) In sections 6(2), 24(1), 69(10A) and 74(7), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland", in each place those words occur, substitute "Windsor Framework".

(3) In sections 78A and 78B—

(a) in subsection (1), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (b) in subsection (9), for "Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework".

(4) In section 78C(1) and 78D(1), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland", in each place those words occur, substitute "Windsor Framework".

(5) In section 98(1) after the definition of "transferred matter" insert—

"“Windsor Framework” means the part of the withdrawal agreement known as the Windsor Framework by virtue of Joint Declaration No. 1/2023 of 24 March 2023 made between the EU and the United Kingdom in the Joint Committee established by the withdrawal agreement."

(6) In Schedule 6A (Democratic consent process)—

(a) in paragraph 1— (i) for "Protocol", in each place it occurs, substitute "Windsor Framework"; (ii) omit the definition of "Protocol"; (b) in paragraph 2(1), for "Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (c) in paragraph 4(4)(b), for "Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (d) in the italic heading before paragraph 21, for "Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework"; (e) in paragraph 21(2), for "Protocol" substitute "Windsor Framework".

(7) In Schedule 6B (Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny)—

(a) in paragraph 1(6), omit— (i) the definition of "Framework"; (ii) the definition of "Windsor Framework". (b) in paragraph 3(1), insert "Windsor" before "Framework"; (c) in paragraph 8(3), for "five working days", substitute "ten working days"; (d) after paragraph 9(3), insert—

"(3A) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), a request for information is not to be regarded as unreasonable solely on the ground that the Minister or Northern Ireland department does not have primary responsibility for the implementation or enforcement of the new EU act or replacement EU act.";

(e) in paragraph 10(1), for "fifteen working days", substitute "twelve working days"; (f) in paragraph 10(3), for "fifteen working days", substitute "twelve working days"; (g) in paragraphs 11(1), 14(1)(b), 15, 18(1), and 19(2), in each place that it occurs, insert "Windsor" before "Framework".