This year’s Europe Day marks a significant investment by the European Union within Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland, under the European Regional Development Fund.
Occurring annually on the 9th May, the day is a celebration of peace and unity across all 27 member states and commemorates the beginning of official European co-operation.
In total, approximately €402m (£365m) worth of European support has been allocated to hundreds of different projects and initiatives under the EU’s PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Programmes, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Launched in 2007 the programmes, which will close in 2013, have been designed to reinforce peace and stability across the region as well as promote greater levels of cross-border co-operation between Northern Ireland, the border region of Ireland and Western Scotland.
To date approximately €243m (£221m) worth of assistance has been awarded to projects that are helping to create social and economic stability across the region, under the EU’s PEACE III Programme.
These include a number of capital build projects such as the construction of the new Peace bridge in Derry-Londonderry; various Council led anti-sectarian and anti-racism initiatives as well as counselling support programmes to help those affected by the legacy of the conflict.
Over the next 12 months an additional €90m (£82m) will be made available from PEACE III to new projects and initiatives across the region.
Approximately €159m (£144.3m) has also been made available, under the EU’s INTERREG IVA Programme, to projects that will support greater cross-border co-operation to create a more prosperous and sustainable region.
Running parallel to the PEACE Programme INTERREG IVA focuses on specific cross-border priority areas including enterprise, tourism and infrastructure development.
Initiatives include the Tradelinks 2 programme which provides support to micro-business and the I.C.E. (Innovation for Competitive Enterprises) project which offers advice and guidance to local companies on new product and service development.
Over the next 12 months an additional €90m (€82m) of support will also be made available from INTERREG IVA to similar projects and initiatives.
Commenting on the significance of Europe Day Shaun Henry, Director of the Managing Authority within the SEUPB said:
“Over the past 16 years a substantial level of investment has been provided to the region from the European Union. This support has been allocated to thousands of different projects which have collectively helped to reinforce peace and stability across the region as well as enhance economic cross-border co-operation and development.
“Within the SEUPB it is our role to maximise the amount of money available from Europe, under the programmes that we manage, and ensure that it is made available to viable projects that represent value for money and will provide long-term benefits to the region”.
For further information on the PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Programmes as well as the work of the SEUPB please visit www.seupb.eu
-ENDS.
source: http://www.seupb.eu