NICVA calls for third european peace fund

news release

7 July 2003

In responding to the UK Treasury’s consultation document A Modern Regional Policy for the United Kingdom, NICVA (the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) has called for the UK and Irish governments to seek agreement for a third peace programme with the European Union.

NICVA Chief Executive Seamus McAleavey said: “The European Union has been a strong and impartial supporter of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Europe’s own history of division and distrust was the very catalyst for the European Community — and other Europeans understand our problems. Peace and reconciliation is a long-term project in Northern Ireland and clearly while we make progress we will still have a long way to go by 2005" .

“Northern Ireland and the border counties need a third programme focused specifically on equality, reconciliation and building a shared society, especially in areas most affected by the conflict. A Peace III programme should be targeted at local communities, simplified in terms of its bureaucracy and it should concentrate on social actions which regenerate communities. The Programme should not have an economic focus but if successful it would contribute immeasurably to economic development by promoting and underpinning political stabil ity .”

Mr McAleavey added: “The involvement of the European Union in Northern Ireland has been wholly positive and progressive. The EU has provided millions of euro through structural funds as well as help, expertise and assistance with policy development. Northern Ireland has gained invaluable experience and knowledge from the EU. Through Peace I and II an extra €1bn has been added over a ten year period — this is a tangible expression of European solidarity, helping us to relegate our divisions to the Europe of the past" .

“NICVA’s submission also rejected the Treasury view that Regional Policy should become the sole responsibility of existing individual member states with the European Commission focusing exclusively on the ten new accession countries from Central and Eastern Europe. Regional Policy would be two-speed and inward-looking if that were to be the case. In NICVA’s view the British Government should place itself at the heart of Europe rather than seeking to ‘renationalise’ Regional Policy. Given Northern Ireland’s peripheral position on the edge of Europe we cannot afford that type of social, economic and political isolation. On the positive side NICVA strongly supports the call for simplification in funding applications, monitoring and accountability called for by the UK. ”

END

NOTE TO EDITORS

NICVA is the representative body for voluntary and community groups in Northern Ireland. It has over 1,000 member organisations.

The consultation document A Modern Regional Policy for the United Kingdom was issued jointly by the Treasury, DTI and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to consult on the UK’s negotiating position to prepare for dialogue on the Council of Ministers in the autumn/winter on the next priorities for structural funds and EU development after 2006.

A copy of the document is available here.

For further information please contact:

Lise Mc Greevy, Communications Officer at NICVA

028 9087 7777 (work)

0772 1746805 (mobile)