An academic report exploring the legal mechanisms outlined in the Good Friday Agreement for uniting Ireland within the European Union will be launched in Dublin later this week.
First published in November last year, the report is authored by Queen's University's Colin Harvey and Mark Bassett, barrister-at-law in the European Parliament Dublin liaison office.
The inclusion of Queen's branding on the report's cover previously prompted complaints from DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who accused the university of "partisan politics".
Commissioned by The Left in the European Parliament Group, the report outlines the steps the EU can take in preparation for Irish unity.
Professor Harvey told The Irish News that the report is "intended to be a constructive contribution to the evolving conversation about the role of the EU".
"As is well known, the Good Friday Agreement gives people a choice about the constitutional future," he said.
"This right of self-determination must now be viewed in the novel circumstances of Brexit. N. Ireland has an automatic EU re-entry option, and everything else remains an inadequate substitute.
"It is essential to discuss the impact of this new context as we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Agreement."
The report will be launched on Friday April 21 at the European Parliament liaison office in Dublin.
