Following Theresa May’s announcement on the 29 March this year, the UK government has set in motion the formal process for leaving the EU. This is expected to last two years and takes place in a context of political uncertainty within the UK and the EU.

QPOL Policy Engagement at Queen’s will bring together academic experts and stakeholders from across Belfast at a special “Brexit Clinic” to discuss the issues facing the UK as it negotiates its withdrawal from the EU. This event provides the opportunity to consider the particular challenges Brexit poses for the city of Belfast and to provide informed insights into the process, in light of the City Council’s aspirations for a City Deal.

Chaired by Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, the Brexit Clinic will take place in Belfast City Hall on Tuesday 30 May with a panel consisting of:

• Dr. Lee McGowan
• Dr. Katy Hayward
• Dr. Viviane Gravey

Dr Lee McGowan

Dr Lee McGowan holds a Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and is Senior Lecturer in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen’s. Lee has led a number of EU and Brexit-related research projects at Queen’s and his areas of expertise fall under three headings: the impact of EU membership on Northern Ireland under devolution, EU competition policy, and political populism. Lee will address attitudes towards Brexit from the European perspective with specific reference to Northern Ireland.
Dr Katy Hayward

Katy Hayward is a Senior Lecturer and a Senior Research Fellow in the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and her areas of interest include cross-border conflict and cooperation and EU integration including Brexit.

Katy’s current research aims to enhance knowledge and capacity for effective, creative and flexible solutions to UK/Ireland border management after Brexit and her presentation will outline the main areas of change for Northern Ireland arising from Brexit, most specifically as it relates to the movement of people and goods, while highlighting some of the direct implications it may have for the city of Belfast.
Dr Viviane Gravey

Viviane Gravey is a Lecturer in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen’s and her research interests include EU environmental and agricultural policy.  Her presentation will look at how the EU has shaped UK and NI environmental and agricultural policy and governance, as well as the potential policy and governance changes following the repatriation of EU law to the UK and the devolved regions and cities such as Belfast post-Brexit.
Format

Each member of the panel will provide introductory remarks on their own areas of expertise with specific reference to the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland and Belfast. This will be followed by a Q+A session and discussion addressing issues raised by participants.

Any preregistered participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing qpol@qub.ac.uk