Protecting Good Friday Agreement a priority, says European Parliament’s chief negotiator on Brexit

» Michael McMonagle

Onus on EU and Irish Government to protect Good Friday Agreement from Tory/DUP axis under cover of Brexit

A COMMITMENT by Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator on Brexit, that protecting the Good Friday Agreement is a priority for the EU has been welcomed by Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson.

The Ireland North MEP said the Tory Brexit agenda clearly threatens the Good Friday Agreement and the emerging axis between the Tories and the DUP highlights the need for it to be protected.

“Following reports of the deal,” Martina said, “I called on the European Union to ensure the Good Friday Agreement is protected in all its parts.

“Tuesday’s comments from the European Parliament’s chief negotiator on Brexit, Guy Verhofstadt, that protecting the Good Friday Agreement should be ‘more of a priority’ now since the election are welcome.”

She said that, as a result of pressure from the Sinn Féin team of MEPs in Europe, the European Parliament in its Brexit negotiating guidelines set it out that the Good Friday Agreement must be protected in all its parts.

● Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan, Liadh Ní Riada, Martina Anderson and Matt Carthy

“There is an onus now on the EU – and the Irish Government – to ensure that the Agreement is protected from DUP/Tory attempts to undermine it through Brexit,” Martina insisted.

“The best way to protect the Good Friday Agreement is for the North to achieve Designated Special Status Within the EU.”