Opinion on the draft Notice to the Member States laying down guidelines for an initiative in the framework of the special support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland (96/C 100/02)

On 22 February 1995, the European Commission decided, under Article 198c of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Committee of the Regions on the above-mentioned draft Notice.

The Commission for Economic and Social Cohesion, Social Policy and Public Health, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 19 April 1995. The Rapporteurs were Mrs Deirdre Bolger and Mr Seán O'Neachtain.

At its 7th Plenary Session (meeting of 21 April 1995), the Committee of the Regions adopted the following Opinion.

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS:

1. Welcomes this special Community initiative which aims to support the process for peace and reconciliation initiated in Northern Ireland, and which also includes positive consequences for the border counties of the Republic.

2. Congratulates the wide-ranging consultation established by the Task Force for the preparation of the initiative, which included members of the Committee of the Regions from both countries.

3. Underlines the positive role that this initiative can play in the regeneration of deprived areas and in the reconciliation of communities, and emphasizes that local authorities will have a pivotal role to play during the implementation of the programme.

4. Agrees with the five priority actions identified by the Task Force to be addressed in the context of the consolidation of the peace process.

5. Welcomes the Community contribution to the financing of the initiative and would stress that the funding availability should be flexible so as to meet the demand for support of activities on either side of the Border. In this context, the Committee of the Regions appreciates that at least 15 % of the overall amount will be devoted to cross-border activities.

6. Wishes to have a consultative role in the evaluation process during and at the end of the planning period, and to be kept informed on any further developments under the initiative.

7. Is very pleased with the opportunity given to regional and local authorities to acquire direct funding from the European Union.

8. Considers it very important to ensure that this initiative concentrates on a specific purpose, but also believes that it must be complementary to existing support mechanisms, and that this will be carried out by the Monitoring Committee which will have a wide representation including regional and local authority members.

9. Insists on the necessity of assuring the truly additional value of this aid package at a regional level and of verifying this additionality.

10. Believes that the technical assistance is extremely important as a catalyst for the whole initiative. Further to the activities foreseen, it would be appropriate to consider the possibility of funding tripartite twinning activities in order to incorporate the local authorities of both countries in the existing European network.

11. Emphasizes the importance of disseminating information and making publicity in the interest of the full transparency and specificity of the initiative.

12. Finally expresses again its complete support of this initiative and its contribution to the peace and reconciliation process initiated in Northern Ireland. In fact, this initiative localizes the subsidiarity principle and should be taken as an example and used as a model for future programmes.

Done at Brussels, 21 April 1995.

The Chairman of the Committee of the Regions

Jacques BLANC