The future of EU funding

An opportunity for the public to have its say on how EU funds will be used after 2013.

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is responsible for the management of the EU’s programme for peace and reconciliation (PEACE III) and its cross-border programme for territorial cooperation (INTERREG IVA). Both programmes will come to an end in 2013. What happens next will be the subject of intense debate and consultation over the coming months.

The SEUPB has been tasked by the two member states (UK and Ireland) to start a consultation process with the general public on the content of any future programmes for 2014-2020. The size and total value of these programmes is still to be determined.

 
The consultation process, however, is an opportunity for people living within Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland to have their say as to what these programmes will look like and what types of project or initiatives they will support. 

 
This support will happen in the context of the European Commission’s 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth which sets out its development targets for employment, education, energy and innovation. The ultimate goal of this strategy is to help the European Union recover from the current financial crisis and help stimulate sustainable economic growth.

The SEUPB’s consultation started on Tuesday 28 August and will last until Tuesday 20 November 2012. During this period the SEUPB will co-ordinate a number of consultation events across the eligible area, as outlined:

• Tuesday 4 September, Templeton Hotel, Templepatrick, 10am to 1pm;
• Tuesday 11 September, City Hotel, Londonderry-Derry, 10am to 1pm;
• Tuesday 18 September, Europa Hotel, Belfast, 10am to 1pm;
• Thursday 4 October, University of Highlands and Islands, Inverness, 10am to 1pm;
• Friday 5 October, Radisson Blu, Glasgow, 10am to 1pm;
• Wednesday 10 October, Cavan Crystal Hotel, Cavan, 10am to 1pm;
• Tuesday 23 October, Mill Park Hotel, Donegal Town, 2pm to 5pm;
• Thursday 25 October, Armagh City Hotel, Armagh, 2pm to 5pm.

If you would like to attend one of these events, please register via email: consultation@seupb.eu with details of your preferred venue. Alternatively, you can contact us directly on 028 9026 6724. Written submissions on the consultation will also be accepted up to Tuesday 20 November 2012.

More information on the consultation process can be found at: http://www.seupb.eu/2014-2020consultation /overview.aspx

The SEUPB is also planning two major conferences in September and November of this year to help showcase the work of projects in receipt of assistance from both the PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Programmes.

The first conference will take place in the Crown Plaza Hotel, Dundalk, on 20 September. It will form part of a large network of events across Europe, and in neighbouring countries, to help celebrate European Co-operation Day, on 21 September.

The conference under the title ‘Sharing borders, growing closer’ is being organised by the SEUPB in partnership with the Border Midland and Western Regional Assembly and the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly. It will include different project testimonials based on the EU’s ‘2020 Strategy’ and feature an interactive exhibition of projects supported under the INTERREG IVA, IVB and IVC programmes.

The second conference will take place on  13 November at Belfast City Hall. It will highlight the work that has been achieved to date by 14 separate PEACE Partnerships, made up of local authorities across Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland. This event will also include an interactive exhibition and a series of workshops outlining the various leadership development, anti-racism and anti-sectarian focused projects supported by the PEACE III programme.

More information on both conferences and the New Programmes Consultation can be found at www.seupb.eu