Rules of engagement

Sinn Féin’s ultimate goal is the reunification of the island of Ireland, admits Bairbre de Brún, who remains enthusiastic about engaging with the EU

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Good Fridayagreement signed in Belfaston 10 April 1998. This marks an historic and defining point of change in thehistory and future development on the island, emerging out of decades ofintolerance and injustice. We are also approaching the first anniversary of therestoration of the power-sharing institutions in Belfast. These operate in conjunction with anall-Ireland network which makes and implements policy in a range of areas, withministers from the assembly in Belfast workingalongside ministers from the Irish government in Dublin.

Establishing the Irish peace process and persuading othersto engage in dialogue and negotiation was very difficult, but we have nowreached a point in conflict resolution that few would have dreamed possible.The EU has played a positive role in these developments. My party, Sinn Féin,is enthusiastic about engaging with the EU. We are pro-Europe. We are alsopro-democracy and pro-equality. The EU is a more dominant force than ever inthe political, economic and social life of Ireland, and the Sinn Féindelegation, with MEPs from both north and south of the Irish border, has apolicy of critical but constructive engagement with the EU and itsinstitutions. We have strong reservations about the Lisbontreaty but this should not be confused with having reservations about our placein Europe.

Our vision of Europe isabout rights and entitlements, and is a position reflecting the exceptionalpolitical environment in which we live. The PEACE programme, which provided EUsupport for the peace process that led to the Good Friday agreement,kick-started a bottom-up approach to decision-making, and will help towardsongoing work directed at the twin goals of reconciliation and inclusion and hasallowed some of the most marginalised sections of society to be part of thedecisions that affect their area. In its most recent expression of support, theEuropean commission set up a task force to ensure that our region can make themost of other EU programmes and Commissioner Hübner recently launched the taskforce report in Belfast.I am encouraged that after many months of hard work the task force report laysthe foundation for further partnership, working within Europeto consolidate peace, equality and prosperity.

Sinn Féin’s ultimate goal for Ireland remains the reunificationof the country, and we work at local, national and international level topromote this aim. Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, and I act asambassadors for the message of a united Ireland within the EU, engaging in anongoing dialogue with other MEPs and others on practical steps relating toIrish reunification, including possible EU support. As an Irish speaker I amobviously delighted that the Irish language has been accorded the status of anofficial working language of the EU. We have made the recognition of the Irishlanguage at EU level a party priority and have campaigned long and hard withother Irish speakers and Irish-language organisations. Now, when I speak inIrish in the European parliament, my words are instantaneously translated intotwenty-two other European languages.

Other issues on which I campaign in the European parliamentare climate change and the environment. EU proposals on climate and energy arecertainly a beginning and I welcome the introduction of targets for reducinggreenhouse gas emissions and for increasing the use of renewable energy. Onwaste, the revision of the waste framework directive will have importantinvestment implications for Ireland,north and south. I am campaigning strongly for the revised EU legislation toinclude targets for prevention and recycling.