A British Irish organisation called Irish4Europe has released a video saying a vote to leave the European Union would risk Northern Ireland’s progress.
It warns voters that, 18 years after the Good Friday Agreement, Brexit would lead to a hardening of the Border between the North and the Republic.
“The Irish border would become the EU’s only land frontier with the UK. If the Leave campaign is successful in its objectives a hardening of the border is an inevitability both in terms of customs and migration checks,” the group said.
“Last week prime minister David Cameron told MPs Brexit could mean border restrictions between Northern Ireland and the Republic and warned of the possibility that people travelling from Belfast to other parts of the UK would have to provide paperwork.
“Irish4Europe believes an open border is vital to continued economic prosperity across the island of Ireland. Customs and migration checks would risk the progress and harmony initiated by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and supported by British and Irish membership of the EU.”
Irish4Europe campaign director Claire Tighe added: “This debate has made us realise the strength of the economic and social ties we share, and appreciate them for all they have become.
“The EU has helped relations to transform and a Brexit in all its uncertainty would create an unwelcome distance between us. The best way to safeguard the progress we’ve made is through a vote to Remain on Thursday.”
Irish4Europe communications director David D’Arcy said: “Brexit would not take us back to the dark days of the Troubles but it would affect the open border. The Good Friday agreement which is strongly underpinned by the EU has created peace and unity where there was hatred and division. We have released this video to highlight this progress and consider the barriers a Brexit would create.”