SEUPB JC 15 November 2000

1. The second meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in the Special European Union Programmes Sector was held in Omagh on Wednesday 15 November 2000. The Northern Ireland Executive 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 Deputy First Minister. The Irish Government was represented by Mr Charlie McCreevy, T.D., Minister for Finance.

2. The NSMC has responsibility for the Special EU Programmes Body, one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies. The Council agreed that the various EU Programmes coming within the remit of the Body had a major role to play in the development of peace and reconciliation and in terms of economic and social progress on the island as a whole and particularly in the border areas. The Council looked forward to working closely with the Body in implementing its important tasks in this regard.

3. The NSMC received a report on progress towards recruiting a permanent Chief Executive for the Special EU Programmes Body. The post has been advertised and interviews are to be held shortly. The Council hoped that the Chief Executive would be appointed as soon as possible to drive forward the very important work of the Body.

4. The Council received a report on actions taken to further the development of the SEUPB. The Council was pleased that the second Regional Office of the SEUPB had been opened in temporary premises in Omagh and that permanent premises have been identified for the Body in Omagh. The Omagh office will complement the work of the Headquarters of the Body in Belfast and the other Regional Office in Monaghan. It will have lead responsibility for monitoring and promoting implementation of the Common Chapter and particular responsibility for managing the crossborder priority of the PEACE II Programme.

5. The NSMC noted that negotiations with the European Commission on the PEACE II Operational Programme are nearing conclusion. The Council expressed satisfaction that the SEUPB had begun work on the Programme Complement and hoped that the Operational Programme could be finalised and operating as soon as possible.

6. The membership of the Monitoring Committee for PEACE II was announced at the meeting. The members, who are listed in the attached annex, represent a wide range of community interests from both North and South.

7. In line with its establishing legislation, the SEUPB is required to submit draft proposals for Community Initiatives to the NSMC for approval prior to their submission to the European Commission. The NSMC agreed that the draft proposals for INTERREG III (Ireland/Northern Ireland) LEADER + and EQUAL North and South and the URBAN II proposals for the South should be submitted as a basis for negotiations with the European Commission noting that the Northern Ireland Executive would be giving further consideration to some aspects of the proposals The NSMC requested that regular reports on the progress of these negotiations be made to it, before final agreement is reached on the agreement for each Initiative. The proposals for Urban II for the North will be considered at another NSMC meeting.

8. A report was made to the NSMC on the progress to date made by the SEUPB in developing its responsibilities for monitoring and promoting the implementation of the Common Chapter contained in the Northern Ireland Structural Funds Plan and the National Development Plan for Ireland. This Chapter, which is common to both plans, sets out a strategic framework for building and developing co-operation in all its forms between the two Administrations. The NSMC was pleased to note the extent of the progress that had been made in this regard and stressed the importance of the role of the SEUPB in monitoring and proactively promoting implementation of the Common Chapter.

9. The NSMC approved the draft Corporate Plan for 2000-2003 and the draft Business Plan for 2000 for the SEUPB. The Council also approved a Code of Conduct for the staff of the SEUPB.

10. The NSMC received a report on expenditure to date on PEACE I and INTERREG II. The Council urged a sustained effort to ensure that full expenditure is achieved under the programmes by 31 December 2001. The Council requested that further progress reports on this expenditure be made at its next meeting in this sectoral format.

11. The Council agreed that its next meeting in this sectoral format will take place in the South in February 2001.

Joint Secretariat

15 November 2000