Spring 2010 Edition
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S P R I N G 2 0 1 0 Linking trade for business success Cross-border regeneration project Gender gap Peace Bridge in Londonderry Tradelinks project helps micro- Termon Project to revitalise two Project helps women acquire skills Minister announces construction of businesses pursue cross-border trade villages in Donegal and Fermanagh for active participation in public life new foot and cycle bridge Welcome Project News The Special EU Programmes Body is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored Page 4 Tradelinks Project Helps Micro-Businesses Pursue by the Department of Finance and Personnel Cross-Border Trade in Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland. The Body was established Page 5 Termon Project Launch – A New Approach to Regeneration in on 2 December 1999, under the Agreement Donegal and Fermanagh between the Government of the United Page 6 EU Supports Major Tourism Initiative Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Page 7 Women into Public Life and the Government of Ireland (8 March 1999), which created the implementing bodies. Real life Interviews The Special EU Programmes Body’s principal function is to provide the Managing Authority Pages 8–9 Fun, Play and Serious Debate – the RAPP and Joint Technical Secretariat functions for the PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Territorial News & Info Co-operation Programmes (2007–2013). It also has a signposting and supporting role Page 10 Minister Commends Work of Old Warren Community Association for projects wanting to engage with the Page 11 SEUPB Moves to New Office in Belfast. PEACE III Conference INTERREG IVB Transnational and INTERREG IVC Inter-regional Programmes. Page 12 SEUPB Lead Partner Seminar Page 13 Inclusive Neighbourhood Project Launch Your EU! ISSN:1750-6700 Published by the Special EU Programmes Body www.seupb.eu To submit ideas, material and photographs for Project News the next issue, please e-mail Page 14 Northern Creative Youth Incubating Ideas [email protected] or [email protected] by 14 May 2010. Page 15 Funding Opportunities Available to Work with European Partners For additional copies of Your EU! or to be Page 16 New Urban Sports Park in Belfast City Centre added to the database to receive an electronic Page 17 Ministers Announce Start of Peace Bridge Construction copy contact us by e-mail at Page 18 Raising Voices for Cultural Diversity [email protected] Page 19 Building Positive Relations at the Local Level in Co Monaghan Editorial and Production Management: John McCandless Copy Writing: John McCandless and Emília Ferreira Photography: www.michaelcooper.com Design: www.navigatorblue.com This magazine is printed by Commercial Graphics using environmentally friendly paper. 2 YourEU! SPRING 2010 Foreword “Welcome to the first edition of Your EU for 2010. This year marks the start of a new decade as well as the half-way point of the current programming period allowing us to reflect upon what has been achieved to date and look forward to what can be accomplished in the future. As we move into Spring there is a lot to celebrate, with many new and diverse projects receiving EU assistance. January and February have already seen a number of high-profile” launches including the ‘Termon’ Project on the border of Donegal and Fermanagh, and the enterprise focused ‘Tradelinks 2’ initiative. Projects supported soon after the launch of the programmes are also progressing well, with large-scale construction initiatives such as the Peace bridge on target for completion towards the end of the year. The SEUPB has also been helping more projects access the Transnational (INTERREG IVB) and Inter-regional (INTERREG IVC) Programmes. Designed to stimulate new ideas and the exchange of best practice across Europe, these programmes and the projects that they support are making a real and tangible impact. The dedication shown by members of both the monitoring and steering committees continues to prove invaluable as we move forward. Their continued support plays an integral part in the effective management of PEACE III and INTERREG IVA, ensuring that the programmes are implemented with the appropriate degree of transparency and accountability. We have also been working closely with the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland to keep them updated as to the programmes’ progress and the creation of greater efficiencies in how they are implemented. To help mark the mid-way point of the PEACE III Programme we are currently planning a major conference on the 20th May at the Waterfront Hall. It will feature a number of high-profile speakers and an interactive exhibition of project beneficiaries drawn from across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. A separate conference focusing on the INTERREG IVA Programme will also be organised for October. More details on both events will feature in this and future editions of Your EU. Pat Colgan Chief Executive Special EU Programmes Body SPRING 2010 YourEU! 3 Project News Linking Trade Joint-chairs of the Tradelinks Joint Management Committee, Gordon for Business Gough, CEO Enterprise Enterprise NI, and Michael Tunney, CEO Donegal County Enterprise Board at the launch of the Tradelinks Success project in Cookstown on the 5th March. A new cross-border business development programme has The programme will place particular emphasis on developing received £2.98 million worth of support under the European Union’s mutually beneficial cross-border trade opportunities and enterprise INTERREG IVA Programme. linkages. Welcoming the initiative, Howard Keery, Director of the Special EU Programme Body’s Joint Technical Secretariat, said: Delivered by Enterprise NI alongside the network of Local Enterprise “The Tradelinks programme is an excellent example of cross-border Agencies and the Border County Enterprise Boards, it has been co-operation which will benefit the economic and social well-being designed to support the growth of the micro-enterprise sector of communities on both sides of the border. In focusing on the across Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland. promotion of cross-border partnership, networking and economic development, we are confident that it will deliver real and tangible Called ‘Tradelinks 2’, the programme’s principal aim is to directly benefits on the ground.” assist approximately 550 micro-businesses and address barriers to cross-border trade and development. Using a combination of Building upon the success of the initial Tradelinks project, which business mentoring, research and networking, the programme will provided support to over 680 businesses, creating over 800 jobs help small businesses become more sustainable and competitive. and in excess of ?50m in additional sales, the new programme is Speaking at the launch of the programme, Ken Nelson, Chairman of anticipated to have an even greater impact. Enterprise NI said: The ‘Tradelinks 2’ Programme will run until June 2012 and will “This is the second Tradelinks programme and we hope that it be available to any micro-enterprise in Northern Ireland or the mirrors the success of the first initiative. The quality and variety of Border Counties of Ireland. Anyone interested in getting involved support which we believe Tradelinks offers the micro-enterprise should contact either their Local Enterprise Agency or County sector is testament to the time, commitment and consideration that Enterprise Board. has gone into providing a programme which will benefit all those companies participating in it.” For more information visit www.tradelinks2.com 4 YourEU! SPRING 2010 Termon Project Launch Project News PEACE III NEW APPROACH TO REGENERATION IN DONEGAL AND FERMANAGH. Pictured at the launch are (l-r) Tánaiste, Minister Mary Coughlan, Mayor Bendan Byrne, Donegal County Council, Francie Coyle, Donegal County Council, Cllr Alex Baird, Fermanagh District Council, Cllr Robert Irvine, Chair of Fermanagh District Council, Martin Eves, Chair of ADoPT and Pat Colgan, Chief Executive of the SEUPB. Picture: Michael Cooper Termon Project Launch – A New Approach to County Council, said: “The extensive redevelopment of the Regeneration in Donegal and Fermanagh physical environment and community infrastructure as proposed by this project will regenerate and transform the twin villages The twin villages of Pettigo in County Donegal and Tullyhommon and promote a vibrant, active and integrated community.” in County Fermanagh will benefit from a recently launched project to promote cross-community interaction through Upon completion the project will create the Termon Centre, physical regeneration of community infrastructures in the area. a multi-purpose facility providing shared space for local and regional events as well as activities such as sport and drama. As part of the ?8.3 million PEACE III-funded ‘Termon project’, It will also include a new playschool, a public playground and the community centre in Pettigo, the Methodist Hall in a community garden. In addition to the centre, the initiative will Tullyhommon and part of the surrounding area will be facilitate the refurbishment of the Methodist Hall in re-developed and designed to promote interaction between Tullyhommon, which will be converted into a local youth cafe. the communities. The aim is to turn these facilities into modern hubs providing neutral shared spaces where citizens from both communities Located on the border of Donegal and Fermanagh, the area has can interact with each other. experienced some of the worst deprivations of the conflict over the years leading to intense social segregation. To complement the work that is being undertaken in the villages the Termon riverbank will also be revitalised to include the Spearheaded by Donegal County Council, alongside Fermanagh development of a new riverside park stretching from a new District Council and the Association for the Development of village gateway at Tullyhommon to a riverfront picnic area on Pettigo and Tullyhommon (ADoPT), the project will help to the Pettigo side, joined by a newly constructed footbridge. transform the local area and potentially open up new employment opportunities.