Interreg

The Interreg Programme was introduced in 1991 to provide support for cross-border economic development in the less developed border regions of the EU.

Interreg IVA

The current phase of the programme, which runs from 2007-2013, is called the Interreg IVA Programme. This covers Northern Ireland, the border region (of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) and western Scotland. It has a total budget of €258 million.

Its objective is to ‘support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.’

The COMET Interreg Partnership

We are involved in Interreg IVA jointly with other councils in the Belfast Metropolitan Area through a partnership known as COMET

This includes: COMET has drawn up an action plan to meet Interreg IVA objectives which include:
  • partners from both sides of the border working together
  • developing the skills needed for employment
  • helping small-to-medium sized enterprise start-ups and growth
  • environmental actions to help combat the effects of climate change
  • ensuring that sustainability is built into the planning and implementation of all activities so that they continue to succeed after project funding ends.

Projects funded by Interreg IVA

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) decides which projects in the region receive funds.

Our role is to promote the fact that funds are available and apply to SEUPB for funding on behalf of all the interested projects.

In 2008-09 we submitted a plan to SEUPB that included 18 individual projects that hoped to receive funds. From these 18 projects, seven projects received funding of £5.5 million.

Projects funded by Interreg IVA
Project name Lead partner Other partners Project description Cost
NITC Competitiveness Transfer Northern Ireland Technology Centre Sligo Regional Technical College To improve innovation within small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing internationally recognised expertise and facilities within the Higher and Further Education sectors.

The programme will improve skills and encourage innovation in new product and process development. 		£459,000
3 Centred Incubation Belfast City Council North Down Borough Council and Sligo County Council. To deliver support for business incubation at three locations (Belfast, North Down and Sligo) and establish an incubation delivery advisory board to oversee and support an incubation network. £3,861,400
Chamber Capacity Building Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce Chambers of Commerce in Newry, Dundalk, Derry and Letterkenny. To develop an effective Chamber of Commerce network, particularly in the border areas of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and the West of Scotland. £299,000
Local Authority Executive Leadership University Of Ulster Louth County Council This includes the recruitment of 60 managers onto a bespoke MSc course in Executive Leadership at University of Ulster Jordanstown.

Its aim is to encourage cross border cooperation and exchange of expertise and best practice between managers in public bodies and other relevant stakeholder organisations. 		£904,000
Cultural Tourism Network An Droichead Oideas Gael Forbairt Feirste Ulster Scots Agency Killbegs Tourism College Sabhal Mor Ostaig and its multiple-media company, Canan (Isle of Skye). To improve cultural resources by developing an integrative cultural tourism infrastructure in Donegal Gaeltacht and Greater Belfast.

Expertise on cultural product development and marketing will be gained from Canan in Skye and Sabhal Mor Ostaig in Skye. 		£601,190
Bio-Recorders Network British Trust for Ornithology RSPB Bird Watch Ireland, The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, National Biodiversity Data Centre and Ulster Wildlife Trust. To recruit volunteer field surveyors to enable the organised recording of biological data to help identify and monitor designated sites (SACs, SPAs, and ASSIs). £592,918
Carbon Footprint Analysis Belfast City Council Louth County Council To allow local authorities to undertake a carbon footprint study for their respective areas.

This will enable these local authorities to develop and implement targeted carbon reduction action plans in order to meet national and European objectives, such as those detailed within the Kyoto Protocol. 		£345,000

Future Interreg funding

The COMET Interreg Partnership will support future project development in 2009-10 under future calls for projects that involve enterprise, the environment and creative industries.

Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

Interreg funds are administered in Northern Ireland by SEUPB. It was one of six North/South Implementation Bodies established in 1998 under the Good Friday Agreement. You can find information about the Interreg IVA programme and previous Interreg programmes at www.seupb.org

Further information

For further information please contact our Interreg Team on 028 9050 0505 or email europe@belfastcity.gov.uk


Contact us

European Unit
Development Department
Belfast City Council
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP

Tel: 028 9032 0202
Email: europe@belfastcity.gov.uk