Belfast in Europe QeC-ERAN

In June 2008, we took over the responsibility of ‘Belfast in Europe’, formerly known as Quartiers en Crise - European Regeneration Network.

Members of this group include:

Belfast Health Trust
Housing Executive
Belfast Area Partnership Boards
Belfast Regeneration Office
Department of Employment and Learning
Belfast Metropolitan College.

What does the group do?

Belfast in Europe QeC-ERAN represents the interests of disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods in the Belfast Metropolitan Area. This local group is a founding member of the wider European network QeC-ERAN which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2009.

The network operates on the principle that greater benefits can be achieved by urban areas when they work together to share common problems and solutions.

A strength of our local and European network has always been its three pillared approach involving elected members, officials and local residents in influencing policy and project delivery on the ground.

The network has been extremely successful in lobbying the European Commission on urban policy and as a result the URBAN funding programme was launched, benefitting residents of both north and west Belfast.

Objectives

The overall objectives of the Belfast in Europe QeC-ERAN group are:

to promote Belfast in Europe and demonstrate local good practice in a European context
to facilitate exchanges between local people, professionals and politicians in the European cities involved in the QeC-ERAN network
to consider and promote integrated strategies for the improvement of conditions in inner city areas
to promote research into best practice from other European cities so that a co-ordinated and targeted approach to housing, employment, health and social services, education and economic regeneration achieves maximum effect within the Belfast Metropolitan Area.

20th anniversary

In 2009, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of QeC-ERAN as a European network and will be looking at its achievements at a local level.

Events were held in Brussels in June and more events will be held in Belfast in September to mark the occasion. The Belfast event will celebrate the positive achievements and benefits experienced by local communities and it will provide a platform for the re-launch of the local group as Belfast in Europe QeC-ERAN.