The European Parliament: A Critical Space for the Development of Anglo-Irish Relations on Northern Ireland

The European Parliament (EP) serves as the legislative body where elected representatives from EU member states are organised into political groups, rather than by nationality. Initially established as a consultative assembly, the EP's influence in budgetary politics, legislation and oversight has expanded significantly since the first direct elections in 1979 and the passage of the Single European Act (SEA) in 1987. While it has often been argued that the EP's ability to influence national politics is limited, recent studies show that the active involvement of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in EU legislation and other EP activities can foster stronger ties between European representatives and their national parties. These representatives can leverage their involvement to demonstrate influence on supranational policy outcomes and build consensus both at the bilateral and EU levels. This article uses the developing British-Irish relationship on the Northern Ireland conflict to demonstrate this function. It focuses on the early 1980s and the Northern Ireland hunger strikes. Using a novel network approach, the article draws on a qualitative analysis of original archival sources, triangulated with semi-structured elite interviews, to demonstrate that the EP not only supported this relationship but also played a pivotal role in transforming it before the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA) negotiations. In light of Brexit, this analysis highlights how the departure of the UK from the EU may create a deficit in the British-Irish relationship. Furthermore, it provides a foundation for further study of the EP's dynamic role in fostering stronger relationships among EU member states.