The Progressive Unionist Party has published its manifesto for the European election in Northern Ireland. Mr David Ervine, the first candidate fielded by the party for Europe, said he believed he had a realistic chance of success in Thursday's poll.
The party recognised that Northern Ireland had a definite role to play within the EU, Mr Ervine said yesterday. "In a true European context there is nothing better than talking to and having dialogue with those people who formerly you never spoke to. And that's the whole essence of Europe.
"There are genuine opportunities for us, and I think we should embrace Europe. It's going to happen anyway, and if you want society to look anything like you want it, then you have got to influence it," he added.
The Ulster Unionist candidate, Mr Jim Nicholson, an incumbent MEP, yesterday highlighted official EU figures on the participation levels of members in the European Parliament and said they proved he has provided the best representation for Northern Ireland in Europe.
Mr Nicholson claimed he had spoken 150 times for the North in the European Parliament since the 1994 elections, a figure five times higher than for the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, and 15 times higher than for Mr John Hume, the leader of the SDLP.
"You simply cannot be in three places at the one time if you want to honour your pledge to the people who put you there," he said.
Mr Hume spent the day canvassing in Belfast, where he visited St George's Market and the City Hospital.
Dr Paisley opened the new constituency office of the DUP Assembly member, Mrs Iris Robinson, in Strangford, Co. Down.
The Sinn Fein candidate, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, has called for the prioritising of environmental issues within the EU. Speaking in Derry yesterday, the party chairman said Sinn Fein was committed to the principles of sustainable development.
"The aim of environmental policy both within Ireland and the EU must be to create less pollution, use energy wisely and to reduce, reuse and recycle waste."
The anti-agreement UK Unionist candidate, Mr Robert McCartney, said unionists were seeking decisive political leadership and would make a "positive choice" on polling day. Mr Nicholson's campaign had "shuddered to a complete halt," he added.
Meanwhile, the Grand Lodge of Ireland has called on Orangemen and their families to support the three mainstream unionist candidates, Dr Paisley, Mr Nicholson and Mr McCartney, in order of personal preference. Mr Nicholson is the only Orangeman running in the election.