Northern Ireland Protocol State Aid and the Northern Ireland Protocol
Article 10 of the Northern Ireland Protocol provides that EU State aid rules will apply in relation to trade in goods and electricity between Northern Ireland and the EU. Such EU State aid law will apply in domestic law via section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Section 48 provides that the Secretary of State must publish guidance on the practical application of Article 10. Public authorities will be required to have regard to the guidance, helping to ensure a consistent and uniform application of Article 10. Finally, section 49 stipulates that only the Secretary of State may give the European Commission a notification or information related to aid where Article 10 applies. EU State aid law requires notification or information relating to aid to be provided to the European Commission. At present, this function is performed by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs via the UK Mission in Brussels.