‘We will not rest in our defence of the will of people’: Eastwood to travel to Paris to advance Bremain campaign

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood is to travel to Paris this week to attend a meeting of the Party of European Socialists Presidency to advance the Bremain campaign.

Yesterday, the Foyle MLA spoke directly to European Parliament President Marin Schulz.

Mr Eastwood (pictured) described their discussion as “very productive.”

He added: “I impressed on him the need to respect the democratically taken decision of the people of Northern Ireland to remain in the European Union and reaffirmed the SDLP commitment to pursue every legal and parliamentary device at our disposal to defend the will of our people.

“Mr Schulz has visited Belfast and understands that our constitutional position finds its foundation in a legally binding referendum, endorsed by the people in 1998, and undiminished by the decision of an English and Welsh electorate. We will seek to enhance our relationship with Europe and strengthen the ties that bind us across national boundaries.

“As a man who grew up in the Rhineland, experiencing the constant division of his homeland, Martin Schulz uniquely understands the urgent imperative to resist the imposition of new borders and instead to focus on building bridges.

“The SDLP will continue to explore all the options available for Northern Ireland to retain our place in Europe.

“I will attend a meeting of the PES presidency in Paris later this week to meet with the leaders of other European parties and European states to further our dialogue.”

Mr Eastwood concluded: “We will not rest in our defence of the will of people here."