For decades SF have argued in vain for EU to change

Having read the Sinn Fein manifesto where it states: 'The European Union needs to change. Sinn Féin wants a social Europe, which promotes peace, demilitarisation, economic and social justice, international solidarity and greater democratic accountability.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jun 2017, 14:52 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:16 BST

“Today’s European Union has created widespread hardship as austerity, deregulation and privatisation have undermined the social function of states and the rights of citizens, including the rights of workers.”

I have to ask how long that change will take since Sinn Fein have been urging a renegotiated EU for more than 20 years now.

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Francie Molloy has previously said that Irish identity would be lost within a United States of Europe.

(Selection of quotes below)

“We oppose current attempts to turn the EU into a superstate or a military and economic superpower because we value Irish sovereignty and Irish neutrality. We know that the EU reflects the political agenda of the big States, the unelected Eurocracy, and big business. .” - Gerry Adams 2004

“We are setting out a vision in this manifesto. A vision for the future direction of the European Union. A vision of an Independent sovereign Ireland within a rights based EU. A changed EU. One which reflects the political agenda of the people of Europe rather than the big States, the unelected Eurocracy, and big business.” - Gerry Adams

“I am calling for a complete overhaul of the European institutions and their relationship to the people of the EU. Secret ballot and secret meetings will do nothing to enhance public confidence in the EU. Sinn Fein will accept nothing less than a truly democratic and accountable EU.” - Bairbre de Brun MEP 2004

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In the 2004 EU manifesto Sinn Fein promised to “work for a reformed EU that gives power back to the people” and “promote Irish sovereignty”

“on institutional reform we will press for real reform of both the Council and the Commission in order to make the EU more democratic.” - Gerry Adams TD 2014

“it shifts the balance of power further from member states and towards an EU super-state.” - Mary Lou McDonald MEP

“We wouldn`t be happy with that whole idea of a United States of Europe because Irish identity is lost within that” - Francie Molloy (currently MP for Mid-Ulster)

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“Euro federalists are pushing hard to change the nature of the European Union and the Eurozone. I don’t believe there is any appetite in Ireland for a federal EU state.” - Matt Carthy MEP 2014

“a few years ago no one could have imagined member states being prepared to cede this amount of sovereignty” (2014 Matt Carthy MEP criticises EU Commission Vice President Vivienne Reding for stating that the Eurozone will become a federal state).

Alan Day, Coagh

Related topics:Sinn FeinEurope