2018 marks the 45th anniversary of the UK joining the European Economic Community (after 2 previous applications had been blocked). However, the relationship between the UK and European Union and its predecessors has been complex. In Northern Ireland, this relationship has been complicated by the border and national identity.

In a referendum in 1975, voters in Northern Ireland were less supportive of EEC membership than across the UK as a whole. Conversely, in the 2016 referendum, the reverse was true. Surveys since 1989 show general pro-European attitudes in Northern Ireland. In 2002, only 6% respondents to the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) Survey thought that the UK should leave the EU, and Unionist supporters were less in favour. This pattern is evident in the referendum and Northern Ireland Life and survey of 2016.

The implications of Brexit for the devolved regions of the UK has attracted much attention, although there has been limited input from the Northern Ireland government. Specific concerns for Northern Ireland relate to the movement of people and goods across the border, and the impact on the peace process. Given this uncertainty, public attitude surveys provide an important barometer of opinion as the UK exits the European Union.

The longer version of this article - European Union? by Paula Devine and Ann Marie Gray - can be found on the Marking Anniversaries section of the ARK website.

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A further 930 documents, covering events in Northern Ireland over the period 1981-85, have been added to Conflict Archive on the INternet (CAIN) as part of its ongoing partnership with the National Archives, Ireland. This material was officially launched by Mr Niall Burgess, currently Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 1 February 2018. Dr Brendan Lynn (Deputy Director of CAIN) gave a presentation (photograph on left).

Amongst other topics, the newly released material charts: 1981 Republican Hunger Strike; the fallout from the Falkland Island crisis of 1982; the New Ireland Forum 1983-84; as well as developments which culminated with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in November 1985. The items selected have been drawn from material which has been released under the 30-year rule but, until now, has not been available online.

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On 31 January, Prof Gillian Robinson (photograph on left), Prof Helen Dolk and Dr Joanne Given gave a presentation at the Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS). This event focused on public attitudes to data sharing and privacy, based on data from the 2015 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey.

A video and slides from the seminar, as well as a Policy Brief, are available from the KESS website.

A Research Update and Research Report based on this topic are also available on the publications section of the ARK website.

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As part of the Imagine Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics, ARK and Film Studies at Queen's University Belfast will be holding the event 'The invisible woman: a screening of All about my mother. The screening of this filme will be used to stimulate a discussion of sexuality and in particular to discuss 'what is a woman?'.

This event is free of charge but places are limited, and must be booked on the Imagine Belfast website.

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ARK produces a range of publications, including Research Updates and fact sheets, most of which are available on our website. The most recent publications are:

• Public attitudes to data sharing in Northern Ireland: Findings from the 2015 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey, by Gillian Robinson, Helen Dolk, Lizanne Dowds, Joanne Given, Frances Kane and Elizabeth Nelson. This Research Report focuses on findings from the 2015 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey.
• European Union? (ARK Feature 4), by Paula Devine and Ann Marie Gray, explores policy and attitudes to the European Union. This publication is part of our Marking Anniversaries activities.

For a full list of ARK publications, as well as links, visit our Publications page

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ARK is a joint initiative between Queen's University and Ulster University, and began in 2000. Our mission is to make social science knowledge on Northern Ireland easily accessible to the widest possible audience. Most of our dissemination is via our website at www.ark.ac.uk, which is divided into four main areas:

• Surveys
• Conflict, Politics and Elections
• Policy, Research and Resources
• Outreach, Dissemination and Training - including publications and events

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