MacManus appointed to EU Delegation for Relations with Britain

The Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands Northwestwill be one of 35 representatives from the European Parliament side of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, established under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between Britain and the EU. The London parliament will also appoint 35 to complete the partnership’s assembly membership. Speaking after his appointment MacManus spoke of the importance of Irish voices in improving the relationship between Britain and the EU.

The Sinn Féin MEP said “It’s been a rocky road at times, but keeping the lines of communication open is always the way forward. Dialogue at a joint parliamentary level will be essential in guaranteeing a smooth transition in terms of keeping trade channels as hassle free as possible and in building a friendly relationship between the EU and Britain. This joint assembly can ensure that is the case.”

“As with all of the Brexit fallout it is of course Ireland who will be the most affected of all the EU member states, so I take this role very seriously and I look forward to getting to work. I think it is vital that we have strong Irish representation on the EU side and so I‘m glad to see other Irish MEPs have been either been appointed or have made the substitutes list.”

 “This will complement my role as the sole representative of the Left Group in the “Contact Group”, which is the strategic body of the European Parliament for relations with Britain and which is regularly consulted by Vice President Šefčovič on the developments and challenges in the various implementation structures established under the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.”

“What is still missing is a mechanism for dialogue between the European Parliament and the Belfast Assembly. If is important that MLAs, as well as civic society and other key stakeholders in the North of Ireland, have a means to directly discuss with MEPs issues that come up in the implementation of the Protocol as well as the wider peace process and political process. This has been agreed by the European Parliament in April as a result of my proposal. I am now pursuing this within the EP Contact Group and am hopeful of positive developments in the near future.” ENDS