EU regional funding should be maintained at an adequate level post-2020, says a resolution which was approved by 565 votes in favour, 51 against and 65 abstentions. EU programmes like PEACE are indispensable for the successful peace-building work to continue, they outline.

“Since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Northern Ireland has been on a path of peace and we should remember that along that path they have been helped by the European Union. Northern Ireland has benefited from various cohesion policy programmes: ERDF, ESF, the rural development plan, and also fisheries funding. Unfortunately, these are likely to go, post‑2020. But there are also Interreg, and the PEACE Programme and these can – and should – remain, whatever happens post‑2020, said EP rapporteur Derek Vaughan (S&D, UK) during the debate.

“EU funds are seen as neutral (...) and are accepted by all communities and put to good use because they don’t come from the UK, they don’t come from the Irish Government, they come from the European Union”, he added.

Furthermore, MEPs want the EU to allow young people from Northern Ireland to benefit from Erasmus+ programmes even after Brexit, to enable them to study abroad.

MEPs support the Commission’s intention to propose continuing the PEACE and Interreg VA programmes in its draft long-term EU budget 2021-2027.

A model for other post-war areas

The good practices established through EU cohesion funding and the PEACE programme should serve as an EU model and promoted in order to overcome mistrust among communities in conflict and to achieve lasting peace in other parts of Europe such as the Balkans, they suggest.

Background

Northern Ireland has benefited in particular from special cross-border and inter- and cross-community programmes, such as the PEACE Programme. Since 1995, more than €1.5 billion has been spent with the dual aim of promoting cohesion between communities involved in the conflict in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, as well as economic and social stability, especially in disadvantaged, rural and border areas.

Procedure: non-legislative resolution