SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood met the EU’s lead negotiator on Brexit Michel Barnier in Dublin yesterday.
Mr Eastwood has travelled across Europe to meet EU leaders and Heads of State following the referendum result in June last year.
The SDLP Leader spoke to Mr Barnier about the need for a special dispensation for Ireland in the Brexit negotiations and thanked the EU negotiator for making it an early priority.
He said:
“This island has strong allies in Europe.
“Where Theresa May has run a coach and horses through the delicate and complex circumstances in Northern Ireland, EU leaders have demonstrated an immense understanding of this place and a willingness to protect the progress we have made.
“Michel Barnier gets it.
“He understands that the Tory attempt to press for a hard Brexit and a hard border in Ireland will devastate not only border communities but our wider economy.
“I left Mr Barnier in no doubt that the SDLP will fight a hard Brexit tooth and nail. We’ll fight to protect the free movement of people across this island, for membership of the single market and ease of access for local businesses, for the rights of EU citizens living here and our own citizens across Europe.
“This is the fight of our lives and the SDLP is up for it,” added the Foyle MLA.
