According to the Irish Times, Joe Higgins, the Socialist Party MEP, will be joining the European United Left (UEL) grouping in the European Parliament. The UEL is composed of various radical left and Communist Parties from around Europe and sits in a joint grouping with the Nordic Green Left.

Sinn Fein, slightly incongruously, sits with the UEL grouping already. There had been some discussion about whether or not Joe Higgins would be welcome, or would want, to sit with the UEL-NGL. There have also been some rumours about Sinn Fein leaving the UEL to join the EFA, a centre-left group of nationalist parties, but I think it's unlikely that anything will come of it.

The same article covers a debate, at The Centre think tank in Brussels, between Higgins and Elmar Brok, a pro-Lisbon MEP from the German CDU. At the debate, Joe described the EU summit discussions over "guarantees" requested by the Irish government as "an elaborate charade".

Ministers' meeting a charade, says new MEP Higgins - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 19, 2009

Ah great stuff from Joe. He'd have been useless as an independent and laughed at in the PES.

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Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them.

- Niccolò Machiavelli

why would it be incongruous its only ff/fg who have to carry the civil war over to europe

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Is Enda our Barack?
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-EUL Website

Bolshevism! Sheer Bolshevism!

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“we will permanently end waiting lists in our hospitals within two years": Fianna Fail 2002 Manefesto

"41,000 patients on hospital waiting lists": RTE News (2007)

It seems like a good move to me. Although I freely admit that I don't know enough to be sure, UEL membership will give him much more of a platform given the way that the European Parliament treats independents. My understanding is that the UEL doesn't have a whip, so he won't be bound to votes he disagrees with which is just as well given the political differences between the Socialist Party and the Communist or former Communist Parties which make up the bulk of the UEL.

From the UEL's point of view, they get an extra seat and they also count as having representation in another country, with another language, which matter from a funding point of view.

On a semi-related note, I suspect that the Irish language lobby will be taking up residence on Joe Higgins phone line over the next while. I doubt if they're at all displeased to have a Gaeltacht-born native speaker in the European Parliament.

It makes sense for him to sit there.

The PES would not be a good home for Joe.

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'A defeatist attitude now would surely lead to defeat, it primarly a question of whether we have confidence in ourselves and the dilligence and determination of our people,We can't opt out of the future.' Sean Lemass (1965)

Great to see the SP and SF from Ireland in the same Green/Left group. Hope they can work together for Irish and other European workers and against the out-dated neo-liberalism inherent in Lisbon

Can't see much wrong with what you've quoted from the group's site:

For us, Europe can, and must be, about something other than cutbacks and unemployment. In an increasingly interdependent world, Europe, with the right political will, has the capacity to change the circumstances of ordinary people for the better.
Quote:
The GUE/NGL opposes the neoliberal orientation of EU trade policy that focuses on the acquisition of market access for corporations, instead of building fair trade rules guaranteeing the well being of all citizens.
Quote:
The fight for quality jobs, social rights and training is one of the GUE/NGL’s main priorities. No jobs strategy can possibly succeed unless it is based on an employment fostering economic and monetary policy within a framework of sustainable development
Quote:
The GUE/NGL Group champions the concept of a foreign policy based on peace and cooperation. It is committed to peace as a fundamental value of the EU and the refusal to resort to war as a means of settling international disagreements.

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FF & FG: Tweedledumb & Tweedledumber. 1 privatises TE, other will privatise ESB

I can't work out are you saying that thats a good thing or r u taking the p.?

Their manifesto doesn't sound that radical to me! Who is economic activity for if not for the people?

Doens't anyone here watch the Simpsons?

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“we will permanently end waiting lists in our hospitals within two years": Fianna Fail 2002 Manefesto

"41,000 patients on hospital waiting lists": RTE News (2007)

The only place I've seen or heard that is on this site. We'vre very happy in GUE/NGL.