21-03-2018 09:00
REGI mission to NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast, Derry/Londonderry
REGI MEPs visiting Science Park in Derry, Northern Ireland
REGI mission to Northern Ireland © European Parliament

The fact-finding mission of the Committee on Regional Development of the European Parliament to Northern Ireland took place from 21 to 23 March 2018.

The purpose of the fact-finding mission was twofold: firstly, to gather information for the committee's implementation report on the impact of cohesion policy in Northern Ireland; and secondly, to gain a general overview of the operation of cohesion policy in a relatively disadvantaged region of the EU as a way of preparing for the new, post-2020 cohesion policy. During the mission, the Members visited a series of EU-funded projects across Northern Ireland.

These included urban projects funded as 'shared spaces' in Belfast under the Peace Programme and cross-border projects in the Derry/Londonderry area under the Interreg Programmes. MEPs also visited the EU-funded Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre, where they heard about some local projects funded under the ERDF, ESF and EARDF. Meetings were also held with the government departments responsible for cohesion policy, and with the Special EU Programmes Body.