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Minister Hayes addresses Peace Building conference in Belfast

Today in Belfast Minister of State Brian Hayes addressed a conference on the subject of Peace Building across Northern Ireland and the Border Region. Addressing the gathered delegates he noted that today’s conference was "

about raising awareness about the projects and the people who make them happen.

"

This conference, organised by the Special EU Programmes Body, showcased various projects and initiatives funded through the European Union’s PEACE III Programme. This Programme, running from 2007 to 2013, has awarded €100 million of assistance to 14 local authority led partnerships across the region, collectively known as ‘Peace Partnerships’.

Addressing the conference, together with Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister Sammy Wilson and Belfast Lord Mayor, Alderman Gavin Robinson, Minister Hayes welcomed the progress made by the Peace Partnerships in supporting many hundreds of cross-community and cross-border initiatives at local community level. During his address the Minister emphasised that,

"The Irish Government very much aspires to a successor to the current PEACE programme. We hope that a future Programme will further enhance the cross-border approach to peace building and strengthen the relationships that have been built on both sides of the border."

Ongoing Government support for the PEACE Programme reflects the wider Programme for Government commitment to support the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Special EU Programmes’ Body, at the request of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland, is currently undertaking a public consultation to develop the themes and content to inform a new round of European Territorial Co-operation programmes starting in 2014. Further information on this and today’s conference can be found at

www.seupb.ie.

 

13th November, 2012

 

ENDS

 

[Note to Editor]

Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

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The Special EU Programmes Body is one of the six cross-border Bodies set up under the "Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland establishing implementing bodies" signed on 8 March 1999 (the British-Irish Agreement of 8 March 1999). The Agreement was given domestic effect, North and South, by means of the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 respectively.

·

The SEUPB is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland. It is responsible for managing two EU structural funds Programmes PEACE III and INTERREG IVA designed to enhance cross-border co-operation, promote reconciliation and create a more peaceful and prosperous society.

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The programmes operate within a clearly defined area including Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and in the case of INTERREG IVA, Western Scotland. The PEACE III Programme – funded though the European Regional Development Fund – is worth €333 million and is aimed primarily at reinforcing progress towards a peaceful and stable society and promoting reconciliation. It focuses on helping Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland to reconcile communities and contribute towards a shared society.

·

For more information on the SEUPB please visitwww.seupb.eu