The SDLP are set to launch a new set of policy proposals on Northern Ireland's future relationship with Europe ahead of a vote on the Protocol at Stormont next week. The vote, which is scheduled to take place next Tuesday, will pass by a simple majority meaning that it will return to the Assembly in four years.
This will also mean that the UK Government will commission an independent review of how the Protocol and Windsor Framework are working and the implications of either how choosing to continue or terminate alignment will impact on the social, economic and political life in Northern Ireland. This review will be tasked with making recommendations on any new arrangements it believes could command cross-community support and will involve consultation with political parties, businesses, civic society groups, representative organisations and trade unions, which must be completed by the end of July 2025.
The SDLP’s ‘Our European Future’ paper calls on the UK and EU to use the review of the Protocol to focus not just on East-West trade, but on Brexit impacts on the all-Ireland economy, as well as on opportunities from Northern Ireland’s unique position.
Party leader Claire Hanna and their Leader of the Opposition at Stormont, Matthew O'Toole have travelled to Brussels where they will brief the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament on their proposals, along with a range of other meetings with EU institutions and diplomatic representatives.
Included in the policy paper are a range of practical proposals which the SDLP will be sharing with the UK, EU and Irish Government ahead of the independent review.
These proposals include representation for Northern Ireland in the European Parliament which could be achieved via observer status. This status is usually granted to accession states prior to joining the EU. While Northern Ireland wouldn't be considered an "accession state" and observer MEPs do not have speaking or voting rights, the SDLP have argued that the European Parliament could make an exception to allow Observer MEPs from NI to sit on committees which impact Northern Ireland. This proposal would effectively give representatives from Northern Ireland to have their say on the development of EU directives which will impact the region throughout the process.
Other proposals in the document include the reopening of an EU Commission office in Belfast, which the party argue could serve as a "bridge between Northern Ireland and the EU institutions" to foster cooperation and ensure that local concerns and realities are effectively communicated in Brussels.
The SDLP is also arguing for enhanced youth mobility opportunities for all of Northern Ireland's young people, including full participation in Erasmus; additional support to help Northern Ireland take advantage of dual market access to create investment and jobs; a refreshed mapping exercise on the impacts of Brexit on cross-border economic, social and cultural life, including for frontier workers and a focus on the impacts of post-Brexit mobility challenges to the all-island economy, including as a result of the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation.
Speaking to Belfast Live ahead of the visit, Matthew O'Toole said that it is about realising the opportunities and not " just about sausages and the movement of goods"
"Everything so far has been about East-West trade.How do you move goods and there's nothing wrong with that.We have to make sure that's as good as possible, but there's loads of opportunities we're missing out on," he said.
"I think we need to be maximising our position in relation to the EU. The practical opportunities are in relation to everything from youth mobility.So we want to get Northern Ireland back in youth mobility programmes, including, but not limited to Erasmus,and by the way, that's not just young people with an Irish passport.
"We want every young person from Northern Ireland, whether they have a British or an Irish passport, to be able to benefit.
"We also want practical participation in as many EU schemes as we can possibly get into. So for example, we've lost European Social Fund funding.That's been a huge detriment to lots of community groups and social enterprises.We would like to see some form of participation in that restored."
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