Derry MEP launches expert report calling for special status within the EU

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson said a new independent report from a senior EU law expert shows that special status for the north post-Brexit is necessary to protect the Good Friday Agreement and avoid a hard border. Martina Anderson said: "Today I launched an independent report on special status for the north post-Brexit, commissioned by GUE/NGL and authored by Dr Nikos Skoutaris, a senior EU law lecturer at the University of East Anglia at the Ulster University at Magee. "This is an important report dealing with all aspects of how the north could secure special status and I welcome it. "This report from a senior EU law expert is explicit in its call for the north to have special status within the EU post-Brexit. "It clearly states that remaining in the EU is not only legally possible but that it is also necessary in order to protect the Good Friday Agreement and the peace and political processes in the north. "It also recognises the absolute necessity for the north to remain in the single market and customs union in order to protect trade and is the only way to avoid a hard border. "This report also highlights the importance of ensuring the democratic right of the people of the north to direct representation in the European Parliament is retained and clarifies that there is no legal obstacle to that. "This is the latest of a series of reports showing that special status is possible, achievable and necessary and that is what I am working to secure and I would call on the Irish government to get behind that too."