Sinn Féin announces major one day conference on how the EU can assist Irish reunification

16 October, 2006

Sinn Féin has today announced details of a major one day conference this coming Wednesday (18th October) at the European Parliament, Brussels, on how the EU can assist the process of Irish reunification.

The one day conference will bring together academics and MEPs to discuss the issue of partition within EU Member States, focusing on how partition can be ended and what practical role the EU can play. It will focus particularly on the EUs role in German reunification, and to open up debate about how both Ireland and Cyprus can be reunified and what role the EU should play.

A fully bi-lingual document will also be launched by Bairbre de Brún MEP on Wednesday as part of the day’s events entitled “EU Support for Irish Reunification”.

Journalists are welcome to attend Wednesday’s launch in Brussels. See details below.

“The European Union and the end of Partition”

Room 1 G 3

European Parliament Brussels

Wednesday 18th October 2006

09.00 The Economics of reunification

Chair: Adamos Adamou MEP

The economic potential of Irish reunification

- Denis O’Hearn,

Queens University Belfast

A sustainable reunited Cyprus

- Yiannakis Kolokasides,

Member of Political Bureau and Secretariat of the Central Committee of AKEL

The economic consequences of German unification

- Dr Ulrich B. Busch,

Technische Universität Berlin

Discussion

11.30 EU role in reunification

Chair: Barry McElduff MLA:

Speakers:

- Bairbre de Brún MEP, Sinn Féin

- Yiannakis Kolokasides, Member of Political Bureau and Secretariat of the Central Committee of AKEL

- Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann MEP, Left Party.PDS

Discussion

Concluding remarks by Chairperson

12.30 Close