This memoclip shows the period of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and the reconciliation period between Dublin and Belfast which has ended up with the peace signed in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The memoclip also includes extracts of speeches by relevant political figures (such as John HUME, David TRIMBLE, Mo MOWLAM, David ANDREWS) who contributed, with the members of the European Parliament, to reach the peace.

Brussels

Strasbourg

EU - United Kingdom (T)

EU - Ireland (T)

peace process in Northern Ireland (T)

HUME, John (PSE, UK)

COOK, Robin (UK, Robert Finlayson)

TRIMBLE, David

Belfast

ANDREWS, David (IE)

Infoclips (T)

MOWLAM, Mo (UK, Marjorie)

Memoclip: The European Parliament and the Good Friday Agreement

Title:  Memoclip: The European Parliament and the Good Friday Agreement (EBS) 

Military patrolling the streets of Belfast 1994 (2 shots)

Irish flag with graffiti "Time to go, time for peace" (1994)

Stormont palace - Northem Ireland Parliament (1994) (2 shots)

John HUME, Former MEP, and David TRIMBLE, Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, sitting together (4 shots)

John HUME, Former MEP, and David TRIMBLE, Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, family photo (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), John COOK, Former MEP, The European Union has over a number of years, given practical support and financial support to creating the conditions for a peace agreement in Northern Ireland. And there was broad agreement today that that support should continue and should underwrite efforts for reconciliation and economic development.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mo MOWLAM, Former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, In the agreement, which I don't want to go into a lot of detail. Let me just say that nobody, any of the parties get 100% of what they want, but there are gains there for everyone. It both respects everyone's cultural and political identity and I believe paves the way for a fair, workable and lasting accommodation. It's been reached, because everybody was willing to compromise. Everybody has moved a little. And as a result, everyone and I mean everyone can be a winner as a result of this agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), David ANDREWS, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Throughout the negotiations, the Irish government has been inspired both by the European ideal and of course by the real and concrete achievements of the Union. We are deeply appreciative of the crucial role that the union has played in preparing the groundwork for the agreement. Europe has in particular shown how all age old rivalries and bloody conflicts can be transcended through new partnership structures.

SOUNDBITE (English), John HUME, Former MEP, And let us not forget that European Union is the best example, as we have learned, in the history of the world of conflict resolution. And the philosophy that created the European Union and the peace of Europe is a philosophy, if you study it. That is at the heart of our agreement. Respect for difference and for diversity. The creation of institutions which respect that diversity, but which allow all sections to work together in their common interests. And what we all have to learn is what the peoples of Europe learned. And we are learning in Northern Ireland. Difference whether it's your race or your religion or your nationality is an accident of birth. And it's not something we should be engaged in conflict about. It's something we should respect. Thank you very much for your expression today.

SOUNDBITE (English), David TRIMBLE, Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Europe has enjoyed unprecedented peace and prosperity over the last 50 years or so. Now, we could have a very good debate about the various factors which contributed to that. But I think that on this anniversary, what we should do is to look forward to the future and to look further from our own boundaries at the rest of the world. Europe should not be inward looking or selfish. And Europe must not define itself against others. We must not build a world of competing blocs.

Arrival of the Roberta METSOLA, President of the EP, and Leo VARADKAR, Prime Minister of Ireland

SOUNDBITE (English), Leo VARADKAR, Prime Minister of Ireland, The Parliament was a place where representatives from unionist nations backgrounds could find space to work together on issues of common interest and common concern to their electors. Indeed, John HUME, when he was an MEP, was inspired by the European Parliament and wondered that if a French and German people could come together and work the way they did, white people in Northern Ireland couldn't do the same. The Parliament, through its weight, fully behind the significant contribution the EU made to economic development and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and its role is deeply appreciate it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, And I will now jointly unveil the sculpture of a great man who forever does this European House of Democracy proud.

Unveiling John HUME's, Former MEP, bust. Family photo and violin music on the background (4shots)