SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP and Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA will visit Brussels on Wednesday to launch proposals around Northern Ireland’s future relationship with Europe ahead of next week’s consent vote on the Protocol.

The party’s ‘Our European Future’ paper calls on the UK and EU to use the widely anticipated post-consent vote review of the Protocol to focus not just on East-West trade, but on Brexit impacts on the all-Ireland economy, as well as on opportunities from Northern Ireland’s unique position.

In Brussels the SDLP delegation will brief the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament on their proposals, along with a range of other meetings with EU institutions and diplomatic representatives.

Included in the policy paper are a range of practical proposals which the SDLP will be sharing with the UK, EU and Irish Government ahead of the aforementioned independent review. They include:

• Representation for Northern Ireland in the European Parliament, eg via observer MEPs
• The opening of an EU Commission office in Belfast
• Enhanced youth mobility opportunities for all NI young people, including full participation in Erasmus
• Additional support to help Northern Ireland take advantage of dual market access to create investment and jobs
• A refreshed mapping exercise on the impacts of Brexit on cross-border economic, social and cultural life, including for frontier workers
• A focus on the impacts of post-Brexit mobility challenges to the all-island economy, including as a result of the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Ahead of the publication of the paper, Matthew O’Toole MLA said:

“The upcoming democratic consent mechanism vote in the Assembly provides us with the chance to examine our relationship with Europe after all the upheaval of the past few years. The independent review that will take place after the vote should encompass every challenge and opportunity that exists and must be markedly different than the previous clandestine, bilateral process between the DUP and the UK Government that focused exclusively on east-west trade and pandered solely to the interests of one party. This new review must be about protecting the interests of everyone who lives on this island, that’s the argument we’ll be making in Brussels and across these islands in the weeks and months ahead.

“This review needs to look at everything from the all island economy to the opportunities of dual market access and obstacles facing tourists and cross-border workers. We must also explore representation for the North at the EU Parliament, potential funding for organisations and groups here and enhanced mobility for our young people across Europe.

“The SDLP is proudly the most European party in Northern Ireland and we are in a unique position to make these arguments. The people of Northern Ireland have a unique position in relation to Europe, now and in the future. Unique in the UK and Europe, our people have EU citizenship by birthright and Northern Ireland has a guaranteed right to rejoin the EU via a new Ireland.

“Our visit to Brussels is an important step and we look forward to engaging with a range of stakeholders on our positive proposals that have the potential to build a stronger relationship with Europe and improve the lives of all people in Northern Ireland.”

You can read our full document here: https://www.sdlp.ie/our_european_future