Opinion on the Draft Notice to 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

(95/C 155/09)

On 21 February 1995 the Commission decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee on the Draft Notice to 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.

In view of the importance of the subject, the Section for Regional Development and Town and Country Planning, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, sent a Study Group to Northern Ireland. The visit took place on 20-22 April 1995, and it was decided to submit a preliminary Opinion containing the Study Group's main recommendations, to be presented by the Rapporteur, Mr Frerichs. The final, detailed Opinion cannot be adopted until the May Plenary Session.

At its 325th Plenary Session (meeting of 27 April 1995) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion unanimously in accordance with Articles 20 and 50 of its Rules of Procedure.

1. The Committee's main recommendations

1.1. The Economic and Social Committee in principle welcomes the Community Initiative for Northern Ireland and the Border counties of the Republic with initial funding of 300 MECU.

1.2. The Committee considers that this Initiative will make a major contribution to the economic and social underpinning of the peace process, promote reconciliation and tolerance between the communities, and have a positive impact on the European Union as a whole.

1.3. It is important that the programme implementing the Community Initiative be balanced. It should not consist exclusively of high-profile, short-term actions, but should also comprise measures aimed at longer-term structural improvements. Activities should not be spread too thinly.

1.4. It is very important that the right priorities be established. Productive investment and industrial development should be encouraged in order to generate employment and thus open up new opportunities for the population. Particular emphasis should be placed on social inclusion; the vital need for this in Northern Ireland and the Border counties is not adequately catered for.

1.5. In the field of social inclusion, priority should be given to measures enabling the long-term unemployed to readjust to work; these should include local socially-orientated job creation schemes aimed at reintegration of the unemployed, vocational retraining and further training programmes, and measures aimed at young people, who in many areas make up more than half the population. It is important to give the younger generation a better start in life and to boost their confidence in the future. This should begin with schemes for pre-school-age children and their parents.

1.6. Past experience has highlighted the important and valued role of local economic and social interest groups in alleviating political tension and sectarian pressures. The trade unions in particular have been to the fore in this regard. Accordingly, the Committee is of the opinion that all these economic and social interest groups should be fully consulted and involved, on the basis of partnership and cooperation, in drawing up and putting into effect the concrete aspects of the Initiative. In implementing the Community Initiative, absolute impartiality should be maintained between the various population groups.

1.7. The Committee considers flexibility in the allocation of funds to be important with regard to: the various priority areas, the choice of the most suitable level of implementation for measures and the various scenarios for cross-Border measures. The laying down of excessively detailed rules for specific measures should in particular be avoided; rules should, rather, be indicative.

1.8. Measures for urban and rural regeneration should be dealt with under separate action programmes, as these are quite distinct problems. A strong agricultural sector - specially dairy and meat - is vital to the rural economy and employment in these areas: CAP measures must therefore accommodate to relevant development needs.

1.9. Particularly after having interviewed the project leaders concerned, the Committee considers it highly important that during the implementation of this Initiative, the Commission ensure that the principle of additionality (matching funds) is being strictly applied by both Governments and that the full amounts intended are thus actually being spent.

1.10. The Committee is impressed by the quality and vitality of various non-government organizations from the voluntary, statutory and private sectors who all wish to make a contribution to the implementation of the Community Initiative. The Committee hopes that the measures agreed under this Initiative will provide opportunities for these organizations to submit ideas, develop partnerships, and work within groups (possibly initiated and coordinated by local government authorities) to draw funds within a global grants procedure.

Done at Brussels, 27 April 1995.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER