Martin McGuinness meets European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator in Brussels

MARTIN McGUINNESS in Brussels has urged European leaders across the political spectrum not to abandon the people of the North of Ireland who voted to Remain in the Westminster EU ‘Brexit’ referendum.

The Sinn Féin deputy First Minister in the North’s Executive government is at the European Parliament for two days with MEPs Martina Anderson and Matt Carthy.

He is conducting an extensive series of high-level briefings, including with the European Parliament’s chief negotiator in the Brexit talks, Guy Verhofstadt MEP.

The Sinn Féin MLA met with senior MEPs and leaders of the European Parliament’s political groupings, including a number who will form the Parliament's negotiating team in the Brexit negotiations when the British Government triggers Article 50.

Speaking in Brussels, Martin McGuinness said:

“I had a series of constructive meetings with EU leaders and senior MEPs from across Europe at the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss the potential impact of Brexit on the island of Ireland.

“I urged them to support the people of the North, the majority of whom voted to remain in the EU, and to recognise the unique circumstances of the North and of the entire island of Ireland.

“We also met with EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and impressed on him the onus on the Irish Government to represent the best interests of Irish citizens throughout the island, North and South,” he said.

The Sinn Féin MLA said he was impressed by the level of support he received from MEPs.

“The EU has played a key role in supporting the Irish Peace Process over several decades,” he said. “We don’t want to see the British Government’s determination to drag us out of the EU, undermining that good work or providing cover for those who wish to attack the Peace Process.

“I was encouraged by the level of knowledge and understanding of our situation in the North and by the willingness of the EU leaders I met to consider options which would see the remain vote of the majority of the North being respected.”

The Sinn Féin team also met with the Irish Government's Permanent Representative to the EU, Declan Kelleher, and the Irish Ambassador to Brussels, Éamon Mac Aodha.