A ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement is organised during the plenary session in the European Parliament, in Brussels. The GFA, also known as the Belfast Agreement, was signed on 10 April 1998 by the British and Irish governments, and confirmed by referendums in Ireland and Northern Ireland in May the same year. The agreement established devolved political power-sharing structures for the nationalist and unionist communities in Northern Ireland, and brought the 30-year period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles, to an end. Statement by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

plenary session

ceremony

MICHEL, Charles (BE)

EU - Ireland (T)

peace process in Northern Ireland (T)

Ceremony on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: statement by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Madam President of the Parliament. Madam President of the Commission. Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends. Alexandra Park sits in the heart of North Belfast during the Troubles. This park was sliced into by all lighter dogs car riding through the green landscape. A peace wall, it was called, because, like the dozens of other peace walls erected over four decades, it was built to stop the fighting. This was divided to two communities that shared the same language, but it wouldn't use that language to talk to each other.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, For decades, they fought. For decades, they kept the children apart. Ladies and gentlemen. 25 years ago, the Good Friday Agreement was signed. A remarkable achievement. This two wheeled political leadership, visionary leaders that did not fear compromise, and it broke the cycle of decades of violence and ushered in peace, stability and reconcilation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, This agreement took 700 days of negotations by men and women of courage. A launch with the determination of our American friends, the UK and Ireland's membership in the EU and later industrial market provided common ground on which to build a lasting peace by bringing people together and by removing the physical, economic and psychological barriers between people. The EU was crucial to reach the Good Friday Agreement and has been essential to ensure its survival throughout all these years.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, In fact, the Good Friday Agreement also it was back another major moment in history. 41 years earlier, the Treaty of Rome the Founding Treaty of our European Union, that despite after the tragedy of World War Two, to build up a spirit that unites and to draw down borders that divide. Peace in Ireland and European integration are staged in the same ideal, exploiting the richness of diversity rather than stirring division.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The Good Friday Agreement is also an important reminder that we are all capable of feelings to emotion and connection to more than one nation. This is not something to feel. Multiple identities are part of human nature, and we should keep this in mind across the regions that are on their own journeys of peace, reconciliation and cooperation within a big European family.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ladies and gentlemen, the Peace wall in Alexandra Park still stands today. But this symbol of division, now has a gate with families crossing between the two sides. What was once a symbol of fear and separation is snow today, a sign of peace, progress and common future. This an open door to greater tolerance, respect and diversity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, This was the spirit and energy that forged the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago. And this is the spirit and energy we still need to do to protect this hard won gaines and to build a lasting peace for the children on the island of Ireland and everywhere in Europe. I thank you.