The European Union and the Irish peace process

Northern Ireland is caught between war and peace. On the one hand, there is a widespread desire for a permanent end to violence, but on the other hand big political divisions continue to keep unionism and nationalism apart. One issue that divides the two blocs is the role of the EU in Northern Ireland's economic and political affairs. This article assesses the various arguments made on this issue and suggests that it would be inappropriate for the EU to have a permanent role in the internal governance of the region. The article goes on to show that the debates about neofunctionalism and intergovernmentalism long associated with European integration are now emerging in Ireland with regard to cross-border economic co-operation. It is argued that the EU could play an important role in creating a form of symbiotic co-operation on the island whereby cross-border economic links and political stability in a new Northern Ireland go hand-in-hand.