Socialist MEPs to tour Belfast

A delegation of 33 socialist and communist MEPs was due to tour Belfast today and discuss problems in the peace process with Sinn Féin.

Members of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left have been invited to Belfast by Sinn Féin and have arranged talks with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and the party’s European Parliament candidate in Northern Ireland, Bairbre de Brun.

The European Parliament group was also planning a tour of the peaceline in Ardoyne in north Belfast and a visit to a cultural centre in the heart of Mr Adams and Miss de Brun’s constituency of West Belfast.

Bairbre de Brun said: “This meeting represents one of a series of meetings between representatives from political alliances within the EU and Sinn Féin.

“Over the last number of years Sinn Féin has met with MEPs from all groups within the European Parliament in relation to the peace process.

“We welcome the opportunity to meet with the GUE/NGL group on their visit to Ireland this week to discuss the difficulties in the peace process and other matters including the draft EU Constitution, neutrality and the equality agenda.”

The European United Left/Nordic Green Left grouping is made up of MEPs from communist parties in Italy, France and Portugal, socialists from the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Spain and Nordic left wing parties in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

It is one of a number of blocs Sinn Féin could join should it win European Parliament seats on both sides of the Irish border in June’s election.

However Sinn Féin strategists have not yet reached a decision on which group they will align themselves to.

Sinn Féin has high hopes of capturing at least seats in Northern Ireland and Dublin.

Republicans believe Miss de Brun could capture a seat in Northern Ireland now that the party has stretched its lead over the SDLP as the North’s largest nationalist party.

However the party argues the SDLP may not necessarily lose its European Parliament seats, claiming it could come at the expense of Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson.

Sinn Féin believes its rising star Mary Lou McDonald could capture a European Parliament seat in Dublin.

The European United Left/Nordic Green Left group’s president Francis Wurtz and vice president Pernille Frahm met Sinn Féin TDs Caoimhghin O Caolain and Aengus O Snodaigh in Dublin yesterday on the first day of their visit as well as Ms McDonald.

The MEPs also met representatives from Trócaire, Amnesty International, Dóchas and the European Anti-Poverty Network.

Ms de Brun said today the European delegation would meet community representatives during their trip to Belfast.

“We are looking forward to a productive engagement with the GUE/NGL delegation in the coming days,” the former Stormont Health Minister said.