Cooperation key says Nicholson

Jim Nicholson: "I will work with people who put NI first"

The Ulster Unionist Euro candidate Jim Nicholson has said he will cooperate with Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun if she is elected and puts Northern Ireland first.

And he warned that the DUP's refusal to do so will do "substantial" damage to Northern Ireland's interests and ability to attract funding in Europe.

In his party's manifesto for the 10 June European Parliament election on Monday, Mr Nicholson said the European Commission had looked favourably on cooperation between all three MEPs in the past.

He pointed to the latest funding round which will see almost £600m coming to Northern Ireland. He said this was achieved by all three MEPs working together.

"Now if there had been two of us going in (to argue) it certainly wouldn't have been as effective... as the three of us working together. Now that is the bottom line as far as I'm concerned," said Mr Nicholson.

He added: "I will work with people who put Northern Ireland first."

But he questioned whether Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun, who stresses her all-Ireland approach, would do so.

Manifesto

He pointed out that the Irish government sought a 30% share of border funding but that it ended up at 25% because that was a fairer figure in terms of population.

In his party's manifesto, Mr Nicholson, who is defending a seat, warned the government the Ulster Unionists would oppose any move to take away powers from the UK unnecessarily.

While welcoming the prime minister's commitment to a referendum on the constitution, Mr Nicholson said the UUP would oppose over-regulation and harmonisation measures in key areas where Westminster would be the best judge.

Mr Nicholson's manifesto, which was launched at Belfast's Ormeau Baths Galley on Monday, also opposed any move to adopt the euro in the United Kingdom, arguing it had had a negative impact on those countries that had already joined.

The UUP candidate said the surrender of control over interest rates, exchange rates and tax policy to Europe struck against the basic concept of democracy.

The UUP manifesto also:

Resisted the idea of a European Police Force and European arrest warrants but called for sensible co-operation in the fight against terrorism and international crime

Supported controlled immigration but insisted the abuse of asylum laws should not be tolerated

Demanded more financial support for small to medium enterprises

Called for the creation of a Single Market Ombudsman to tackle barriers to free trade and enable Northern Ireland businesses to compete on a level playing field

Backed the creation of a Trans-Atlantic Market by 2015, embracing the European Union and United States

Insisted the Department of Agriculture should be more questioning of Brussels regulations and called for the development of a Regional Food Policy

Demanded more national and regional control over fisheries policy, warning that EU policies were endangering the future of the province's fishing fleet in Kilkeel, Portavogie and Ardglass

Called for tougher border controls to prevent illegal and unsafe products entering the food chain in the UK

Proposed the end of state aid to airlines and a greater liberalisation of the industry

Demanded an improvement in road and rail services, with shorter travel times within Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland.