Over £80 million in European Union Structural Funds is to be spent on cross-Border co-operation under a development programme contained in the plan. A separate operational programme is to be developed to draw down this money between 2000 and 2005.
The EU funds will be provided for the PEACE Programme that was established to exploit the opportunities for closer cross-Border co-operation arising from the peace process. The money will be targeted at the counties on both sides of the Border.
The PEACE Programme will target initiatives that promote equality, equity and non-discrimination. The money will be available to projects in different sectors including business, public sector and community development.
Other EU funds will be provided for up to 2005 under other schemes including Interreg which specifically promotes cross-Border co-operation.
The National Development Plan sets out several areas for closer future co-operation between the Republic and the North. These areas include communications and electronic commerce, agriculture and education.
The plan notes that cross-Border co-operation also has to be considered on a new basis under the provisions contained in the Good Friday Agreement. The main areas for co-operation will include trade and business development; inland waterways; aquaculture and marine matters; special EU programmes; food safety and the promotion of the Irish and Ulster Scots languages.