The EU and Conflict Settlement in Comparative Perspective: Northern Ireland and Cyprus

1
The EU and Conflict Settlement in Comparative
Perspective Northern Ireland and Cyprus

• Etain Tannam
• Trinity College Dublin
• Ireland

2
Why Examine Northern Ireland and EU?

• Test case of EU political development and
  IR/integration theory
• EU emphasis on its role in conflict resolution
  since 2001 Conflict Prevention Unit in
  Commission
• Northern Ireland regarded as model for other
  conflict cases by Commission

3
Northern Ireland and European Commission 1988-94

• Regional policy to encourage cross-border
  co-operation and inter-community cooperation
  conditionality
• Upsurge of business interest in cross-border
  cooperation
• Very limited Commission role an Anglo-Irish
  problem

4
Northern Ireland and Commission 1995-2001

• Creation of EU Peace packages led by Commission
  targeting conflict resolution
• Commission pro-activity and influence in Northern
  Irish/Irish decision-making process

5
Northern Ireland and Commission 1995-2001

• Increased Commission knowledge
• 1998 Good Friday Agreement joint institutions
  NSMC resembles Council, the cross-border SEUPB
  to deal with all EU funding matters
• Role of international law Council of Europe,
  NGOs

6
Northern Ireland and Commission 2002-2008

• Peace 11 and 111 more centralised British-Irish
  policy-making
• Increased Commission awareness of lessons for
  other cases- Cyprus, Kosovo

7
Northern Ireland and Commission - Conclusions

• Targeted Commission policy
• Greater Commission awareness of ethnic conflict
• Similarities between GFA and EU framework
• Role of human rights international law

8
Northern Ireland and EU Conclusion

• Perceived role of bilateral cooperation as key to
  resolution internal matters
• Relatively passive, but supportive Commission
• EU has provided a model of power-sharing and a
  human rights framework

9
Northern Ireland and Commission Conclusions

• BUT
• British-Irish cooperation preceded Commission
  dynamism Northern Ireland model implies
  bilateral cooperation is key to conflict
  resolution followed by Commission support