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MAGINNESS MEETS WITH EURO PRESIDENT POTTERING
SDLP European Election candidate Alban Maginness MLA and Party Leader Mark Durkan MP MLA today met with the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering MEP, in Parliament Buildings Stormont. During the meeting Mr Maginness raised a number of issues including the effect of the current economic crisis on families and businesses not only in the North, but across Europe. The SDLP also reflected popular concerns about the isolated nature of our current representation in Europe and promised to engage fully in any negotiations to alleviate the effects of the current economic downturn. Speaking after the meeting Mr Maginness stated: “Today’s meeting was a positive opportunity to exchange views and discuss the current world economic crisis. It is clear from these meetings that Europe can play a key role in taking coordinated action to ensure that people in all corners of the European Union are protected from the worst fall out of the credit crunch. The SDLP also raised a number of initiatives with Mr Pöttering which can directly benefit the community in the North. Strong, coordinated action must be taken on a trans governmental level to ensure that peoples incomes, savings, and homes are protected. We also need to ensure that stronger financial regulation is put in place for institutions across the European Union to ensure that the worst excesses of the current situation do not occur again. People across Europe are being affected by the current crisis in strikingly familiar ways. This was made clear to me in our meeting with the President. Fresh thinking and the exchange of ideas are crucial to formulating policy on this matter. As members of the party of European Socialists, the SDLP alone in the North is in a position of influence to convey the wishes, fears, hopes and aspirations of people here on the European stage. Standing still in isolation while these negotiations take place is not proper leadership or responsible representation. Unfortunately that is all our current three MEPs are capable of providing. The challenges are clear; the need for change is striking. The SDLP is the only party in a position to provide the meaningful change that we all deserve. We made it clear to the President that the SDLP will continue to engage, not withdraw, on behalf of the people of the North. We will use our mandate positively. We recognise the need for change and have the agenda and contacts to ensure that it happens. As part of my continuing schedule of meetings with European counterparts I hope to meet again with the President and his colleagues on an ongoing basis. This is a fluid situation. It demands cross party and cross governmental input. For our part, we will ensure that the community here is represented at all levels in these meetings.”
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