Peace III by the Autumn?

Update as of 31 August 2007

SEUPB are currently in the late stages of negotiations with the European Commission to finalise the Operational Plans for Peace III and Interegg.

At this stage in the proceedings it looks things are on track for agreement of the Plans in October.

Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive will be discussing the programmes at their meeting in late September and the outcome of that meeting may have an affect on the timescales.

Either way the coming weeks should shed some more light on when the Programme will be finally agreed.

THE PEACE III PROGRAMME

The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Regions for 2007-2013 (Peace III) is established :

The programme has been forwarded to the European Commission with approval from the Ministers and the Commission but due to legislative processes it is unlikely that this funding will be available until autumn 2007 at the earliest.

Peace III will specifically focus on two priorities which have two themes each as represented below:

The two priorities and four themes identified by SEUPB after consultation are further detailed below and given a weighting and indicative budget:

Priority One - Reconciling Communities (€190 million)

Theme 1 - Building positive relations at the Local Level

Strand 1

• Challenge attitudes towards sectarianism and racism
• Support conflict resolution and mediation at the local level
• Focus on reconciliation, cultural diversity and equality
• Cross Community, cross border initiatives that improve trust and tolerance
• Removal of physical markers of segregation
• Currently working with local authorities to produce local action plans

Strand 2

• Promote certain activities on a regional or cross border basis where some dimensions of building positive relations may be best addressed i.e. Women, Youth, and Sport etc.

Theme 2 - Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past

Strand 1

• Providing support to those most affected by the conflict i.e. victims and survivors
• Improve accessibility to counselling, befriending and other community based services
• Build capacity so that victims and survivors are able to deal with the past on their own terms

Strand 2

• Facilitate the exchange of different views of history, culture and identity
• To change the awareness of the past and different roles and experiences
• Explore Legacy, memory and experiences of the conflict.

Priority Two - Contributing to a Shared Society (€120 million)

Theme 1 - Creating Shared Public Spaces

• Regenerate, urban, rural and border areas
• Target areas that are derelict, segregated, underused, threatening, unwelcoming
• Transform and regenerate these spaces
• Tackle issue of segregation of communities
• Develop new and innovative approaches to the physical environment
• Maximise the potential for reconciliation and economic development
• Ultimately lead to changes in behaviour patterns - shopping, working, socialising
• SEUPB to implement this theme
• Recently called for expressions of interest
• Over 120 projects identified over €1 billion requested
• Propose to select 12-15 iconic projects that will:
  - Leave a lasting legacy
  - Transform Communities

Theme 2 - Key Institutional Capacities are Developed for a Shared Society

Strand 1

• Facilitate the move away from the provision of parallel services along sectarian lines.
• Develop the capacity and skills within the public sector to contribute to a shared society
• Promote innovative models/pilot projects in areas such as health, education or transport

Strand 2

• Support for organisations that Promote European and International Networking
• Facilitate the exchange of best practice in peace and reconciliation trans-nationally.
• Support research that focuses on promoting innovative best practice and
  transnational learning in relation to peace, conflict resolution and reconciliation

For more information please visit the Special EU Programmes Body website : www.seupb.org