ECR Group Vice-President Adam Banaszak attended the fact-finding mission of the CoR's political leadership in Ireland and Northern Ireland on 23 May led by the President of the CoR. During the visit, the CoR delegation met Ireland's Minister for European Affairs Helen McEntee TD, members of the Irish Parliament's Committee on European Union Affairs, representatives of the regional assemblies of Ireland and Northern Irish local Councillors. The meetings showed that on the ground, citizens are deeply concerned by the possible negative consequences of the UK's withdrawal and what it might mean for the peace agreement.

The European Committee of the Regions has been providing input and evidence to the EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator on the local and regional impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. The leadership of the CoR, it's Confernce of Presidents, have been leading the work of the CoR in this area. In addition to travelling to different parts of the UK and meeting with representatives of UK's devolved administrations and local authorities, the CoP decided to look at the Irish border and visit both Ireland and Northern Ireland upon receiving an invitation from Ireland's national parliament and Northern Ireland Local Government Association.

The fact-finding mission focused on the implications of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on the peace process, business and cross-border cooperation. Representatives of the five political groups met Irish national and local politicians as well as Ireland's Europe Minister in Dublin, Ireland following which they met Northern Irish local government in Newry, Northern Ireland.

The fact -finding mission showed how citizens on both sides of the UK and Ireland border are keen to see the UK's withdrawal generate as minimal a change as possible to the current flow of goods and services taking place. “The meetings demonstrated importance of achieving an ambitious agreement" that enables a genuine and continuous partnership after the UK ceases to be a member of the EU", said ECR Member Adam Banaszak  (Deputy Chairman of Kujawsko-Pomorskie region in Poland and ECR Group Vice-President).

Underlining the wider European context Adam Banaszak said “thousands of people migrated from my region to the island of Ireland. They settled down, established families, and contributed massively to the local economies. I would like to see a new form of ambitious cooperation agreed as soon as possible between the UK and the EU so that these people do not need to feel uncertain about their future".