Paper Titles & Abstracts

The EU has played a subtle, yet important role in supporting the Northern Ireland peace process. This has, in part, involved nurturing a more effective relationship between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In parallel with the Belfast Agreement (1998), the EU has promoted closer and stronger cross-border relationships between North and South. Relations between both administrations are stronger, broader and deeper than ever before, and critically, the sharing of information and development of alliances is mutually beneficial and increasingly less politically sensitive. The significance of these developments is not neutral, rather their evolution has entailed unintended consequences. The character of EU discourse and practice is taking on an increasingly all-island tenor - one which is set to become more obvious as debates about CAP reform and the EU budget intensify. In tandem and in contrast, the UK perspective on the EU has become increasingly hostile. Northern Ireland's EU interests and preferences are deviating from those of London and converging with Dublin. The creation of new Northern Ireland institutions has produced effects which have been mediated by the members of those institutions. Incremental and small shifts have produced pervasive and often unintended effects and stimulated new relationships. In terms of path dependence, the manner of the creation of these institutions; the early influences to which they were subject; and, the outlook and perspectives of their (administrative and political) leaders suggest that they have developed - somewhat surprisingly - in ways which privilege certain relationships (North-South) and unleash certain processes (North-South co-operation and collaboration). The strength of these forces may have practical policy and political benefits for both parts of the island, and may too have profound political and constitutional effects which further complicate the UK's troubled relationship with the EU.