The Confederation of European Councillors' Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland Councillor Cooperation project is funded by PEACE II under Measure 5.2. The Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) is the implementation body.

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EU Structural Funds;

The Structural funds work towards the goal of achieving economic and social cohesion in the European Union. Resources are targeted at actions which help bridge the gaps between the more and the less developed regions and which promote equal employment opportunities between different social groups.

Structural Funds contributions to a member state's region are organised through negotiated multi-annual programmes - for 2000-2006 in Northern Ireland these are:

There are four Structural Funds:
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
The European Social Fund (ESF)
The European Agricultural guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to reduce regional disparities in the Union while at the same time encouraging the development and conversion of regions.

The European Social Fund (ESF) aims to prevent and combat unemployment, as well as developing human resources and promoting integration into the labour market.

The European Agricultural guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) supports rural development and the improvement of agricultural structures, within the framework of European economic and social cohesion policy.

The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) aims to contribute to achieving a sustainable balance between fishery resources and their exploitation. It also seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of the sector and the development of areas dependent upon it.

EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation


The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland 2000-2004 (PEACE II) is a joint Northern Ireland/Ireland Programme. Proposals for the PEACE II Programme were set out in the Structural Funds Plan for Northern Ireland (2000-2006) and the National Development Plan for Ireland. The overall strategic aim of the Programme, as set out in the Northern Ireland CSF, is "to reinforce progress towards a more peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation".

Priority 5: Cross-border Co-operation
The delivery of this Priority will build on the initiatives for business, public bodies and voluntary and community sector co-operation for social inclusion and reconciliation that were started under the first Peace Programme. In common with all of the other Priorities under Peace it will contribute to the CSF sui generis Priority "Peace and Reconciliation" but in a specific cross-border context. In doing this it will make a significant contribution to the North South and Wider Co-operation Priority of the CSF. The overall aim of the Priority is to promote economic, social and cultural cross-border co-operation and to provide a strategic framework for support to cross-border strategies and projects across a variety of sectors and organisations. The Priority will be implemented through 7 Measures ie:-

The Priority will have an indicative allocation of 39.72 m euro in Northern Ireland and 39.72 m euro in the Border Region.

MEASURE 5.2: IMPROVING CROSS-BORDER PUBLIC SECTOR COOPERATION (ERDF):

Rationale and Background
Synergies developed between public bodies on both sides of the border in the approach to common concerns and the sharing of resources and 143 professional techniques will assist in providing effective and impacting solutions to the specific problems faced in the eligible area.

This Measure will provide ERDF support to cross-border co-operation initiatives and projects between public bodies. Implementation of this Measure will ensure that, where appropriate, public bodies on both sides of the border adopt coordinated approaches to common problems in the eligible areas thereby securing mutual economic, social, and environmental benefits on a cross border and all-island basis which will make a positive contribution to peace building and reconciliation.

Measure Aims and Objectives
To provide a strategic framework for supporting Public Sector initiatives and projects which have suffered from an absence of contacts and which will make a positive contribution in developing opportunities for increased cross-border activities.

Activities under this Priority will be similar to activities identified under ERDF Measures under: Priority 1, Priority 2, and Priority 3 but will be applied in a specific cross-border context.

Indicative Activities
This Measure will cover joint initiatives between public sector organisations which will benefit communities in Northern Ireland and the Border Region. These include:
- support for public bodies involved in the design and delivery of services to co-ordinate and develop impacting strategies addressing recognised need; and
- public bodies support for joint planning of services and the development of joint initiatives, policies and actions for service development in areas such as health and social services, equality, education and youth, transport, waste management, environment, roads.

Targeting
Within the framework of areas, groups and sectors most affected by the conflict as set out in Section 3.7, the beneficiaries of this Measure in this Priority will include Government Departments, Public Bodies and local authorities.

Indicative Financial Weighting
This Measure will account for €18.00 million (NI 9.00, BR 9.00) which represents:
- 40% of the ERDF resource committed to this Priority: and 144
- 6% of the ERDF resource committed to this Programme.

Implementing Bodies
This Measure will be implemented by the SEUPB.