Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency)

Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency)
source
Name	Northern Ireland
Population	1,810,862 (2019)
Turnout	45.1% (2019)

Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency) is a constituency of the European Parliament that covers the whole of Northern Ireland. It has been in use since the first direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979, and from 1979 to 2020 it elected three Members of the European Parliament (MEP) using the single transferable vote system. The constituency is one of the twelve constituencies in the United Kingdom and is governed by the European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003 and the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002. The Treaty of Lisbon and the Treaty of Rome also play a significant role in shaping the constituency's relationship with the European Union.

● History

The Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency) was formed in 1979, when the United Kingdom first participated in the European Parliament elections. The constituency was created by the European Assembly Elections Act 1978, which divided the United Kingdom into twelve constituencies. The first election was held on June 7, 1979, and was won by Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), John Hume of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and John Taylor of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). The constituency has been represented by notable MEPs such as Bairbre de Brún of Sinn Féin, Jim Nicholson of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Diane Dodds of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The Good Friday Agreement and the Belfast Agreement have also had a significant impact on the constituency's politics, with parties such as the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and the Green Party in Northern Ireland playing important roles.

● Boundaries

The Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency) covers the entire area of Northern Ireland, which includes the six counties of County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone. The constituency also includes the cities of Belfast and Derry, as well as the towns of Lisburn, Newry, and Bangor. The Border Campaign (1960-1962) and the Irish War of Independence have shaped the constituency's borders, with the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Partition of Ireland playing significant roles. The constituency is bordered by the Republic of Ireland to the south and west, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east. The European Union's Schengen Area and the Common Travel Area also have implications for the constituency's borders.

● Election results

The Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency) has held several elections since its formation in 1979. The most recent election was held on May 23, 2019, and was won by Alliance Party of Northern Ireland candidate Naomi Long, DUP candidate Diane Dodds, and Sinn Féin candidate Martina Anderson. The election was marked by a high turnout, with 45.1% of eligible voters participating. The European Parliament election, 2019 was also notable for the presence of Brexit Party candidates, including Nigel Farage and Ann Widdecombe. The Conservative Party (UK), the Labour Party (UK), and the Liberal Democrats also fielded candidates in the election. The Treaty of Maastricht and the Treaty of Amsterdam have also had significant impacts on the constituency's election results.

● MEPs

The Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency) has been represented by several notable MEPs since its formation in 1979. These include Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), John Hume of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and John Taylor of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). Other notable MEPs include Bairbre de Brún of Sinn Féin, Jim Nicholson of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Diane Dodds of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The MEPs have played important roles in shaping the constituency's relationship with the European Union, including the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development. The European People's Party and the Party of European Socialists have also had significant influences on the constituency's MEPs. The Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Lisbon have also had impacts on the constituency's representation in the European Parliament. Category:European Parliament constituencies in the United Kingdom