SEUPB JC 30 October 2001

1. The fifth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in the Special EU Programmes Sector was held in Dublin on Tuesday 30 October 2001. The Northern Ireland Administration was represented by Mr Mark Durkan, MLA, Minister of Finance and Personnel, who chaired the meeting and Mr Dermot Nesbitt, MLA, Minister in the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. The Minister for Finance, Mr Charlie McCreevy TD, represented the Irish Government.

2. The Chief Executive of the SEUPB, Mr John McKinney, gave an overview of developments since the last meeting of the Council on 20 June 2001. This progress report covered a range of topics including: the Development of the Managing Authority role of the SEUPB; the central co-ordination role of the SEUPB in relation to EU Funding on the island of Ireland; building relationships between the delivery mechanisms for PEACE II on the basis of confidence and trust; and the specific role and remit of the SEUPB in relation to the Common Chapter of the Northern Ireland Structural Funds Plan and the National Development Plan for Ireland.

3. The Council welcomed the report from Mr McKinney on the progress made since its last meeting. The Council stressed the importance of the Body, and the EU Programmes for which it is responsible, in the development of peace and reconciliation and in maximising social and economic benefits on the island and, particularly, the border areas.

Progress On Closure of the PEACE I (1995-1999) and INTERREG II (1994-1999) Programmes

4. The Council received a report outlining progress in drawing to a close the PEACE I and INTERREG II programmes. The Council was pleased to learn that the level of expenditure at end of September was estimated at 93% for the PEACE I Programme and 95% for INTERREG II, and that on this basis it is expected to achieve almost full expenditure on these Programmes by the end of the year.

5. The negotiations on PEACE II Programme which is worth a total of 536 Meuros (split 80%/20% North and South respectively) over the period 2000-2004, were concluded earlier in the year. Since the signing of the programme, there has been significant progress made in implementing the programme. The appointment of the Intermediary Funding Bodies was formally announced on 11 October and the Local Strategy Partnerships and County Council led Task Forces would soon be operational. The Council commended this progress and looked forward to PEACE II building on the achievements of PEACE I in promoting peace and reconciliation on the island.

6. Negotiations on the content of the INTERREG III operational programme are ongoing with the European Commission. The Council heard a report on the progress of these negotiations including the intention for the Border Corridor Groups ie North West Regional Cross Border Group, the East Border Region Committee and the Irish Central Border Area Network to develop into INTERREG III Partnerships which would be responsible for implementing part of the Programme. The Council welcomed this and urged a speedy conclusion to the negotiations with a view to the early implementation of the programme.

7. The Council also heard a report on the progress to date of the other Community Initiatives viz. EQUAL, LEADER + and URBAN II. The Council again expressed its desire to see the rapid implementation of these very important programmes on the ground. (The total value of Structural Funds Programmes is recorded at Appendix 1.) Report of Working Group on the Common Chapter.

8. The Structural Funds Plan for Northern Ireland and the National Development Plan for the South, 2000 - 2006, contained a Chapter of agreed text, North and South, common to both Plans. This "Common Chapter" set out a strategic framework for building on and developing North/South and wider co-operation across a broad range of sectors and activities, in the context of these Plans.

9. At its meeting in June, the Council approved the establishment of a Working Group, co-chaired by officials from the two Finance Departments, North and South, to bring forward recommendations on the most appropriate way to expedite the implementation of the Common Chapter. A report by the Working Group was considered today by the Council which endorsed its recommendations. A Joint Steering Group will now be established to oversee the work of implementing the Common Chapter in both parts of the island. This new Steering Group will provide greater effectiveness in terms of the delivery of practical benefits North and South from the implementation of the Common Chapter.

10. In November 2000, the NSMC approved a Corporate Plan for the SEUPB. At today's meeting, it received a progress report on implementation by the Body of the Key Activities identified in its Corporate Plan. The Council was pleased to note the progress made towards the implementation of the Corporate Plan. The Council urged the Body to continue progress towards the achievement of its goals and agreed that the Body would bring forward a revised and updated Corporate and Business Plan for approval at the next meeting of NSMC in this sectoral format.

SEUPB Budget

11. The Council approved an increase in the 2001 budget for the Body to enable it to meet its current commitments. The increase in funding requirements resulted from costs associated with staff recruitment and salaries and refurbishment of the Body's offices in Belfast, Omagh and Monaghan.

12. The Council noted, with satisfaction, the progress to date on the recruitment of staff to the Body. The Council also considered and approved a senior staffing structure for the Body. The Body will now move to recruit a senior management team to work with the Chief Executive in the fulfilment of the very important role envisaged for it under the establishing legislation.

13. The Council agreed that its next meeting in this sectoral format will take place in the North in January/February 2002.

Joint Secretariat

30 October 2001

The total value of Structural Fund Programmes is stg £685m/Ir£870m/1.1bn Euros