Nicholson accuses future First and Deputy First Ministers of keeping MEPs in the dark over Barroso Visit
Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has accused the Office of First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) of keeping him in the dark over the visit of European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso to Belfast.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“I am absolutely amazed that the First and Deputy First Ministers designate have not invited MEPs along to their meeting with the President of the European Commission today. This is an unwise and misguided decision that smacks of political expediency on the First and Deputy First Ministers part.
“This is the first time that a President of the European Commission has came to Northern Ireland and not met with MEPs. Indeed, in the past, the European Commission have usually went out of their way to ensure that MEPs are involved in all meetings but unfortunately that is not what has happened on this occasion. Instead MEPs have been sidelined.
“Their actions do not bode well for the future and could well be a sign of things to come. If we were kept in the dark about this visit, what else will we be kept in the dark about? As MEPs we are Northern Ireland’s only directly elected representatives in Europe and if the future First and Deputy First Minister are in discussions with Brussels about an additional financial package, then they must keep MEPs fully informed of ongoing developments.”
“Northern Ireland has benefited from EU funding in the past and I would welcome warmly any additional money that could be used to address our chronic infrastructure deficit.”