A delegation of members of the EP's Women's Rights committee visited Belfast from September 23rd to 25th, to see the impact of EU funding, and to meet women's organisations. They also met women members of the NI Assembly and of the NI Women's Political Forum. The group was led by Portuguese MEP Helena Torres Marques, vice-chairman of the committee, and included Astrid Lulling (Luxembourg), Jessica Larive (Netherlands), Marianne Eriksson (Sweden), and two Irish MEPs, Mary Banotti and Patricia McKenna.
Northern Ireland Assembly members are to visit the European Parliament in Brussels in early November. The visit is part of a policy of demonstrating to Assembly members different ways in which the politics of confrontation can be successfully handled.