The three Northern Ireland MEPs this month gave their unanimous support to the EU-funded Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. In a report they sent to Commission president Jacques Santer, Jim Nicholson (I-EN), John Hume (PES) and Ian Paisley (Ind) were giving their views on the programme that has been running since 1995 in Northern Ireland and the Border counties, and has now reached its half way point. It has provided assistance of ECU 300 million between 1995 and 1997, and was prepared jointly by the British and Irish governments.
In their report, the MEPs speak warmly of the contribution made by the programme to the general situation in Northern Ireland. Its unique achievement is to bring together elected representatives across the entire political spectrum, who are "participating in it and unanimously and unequivocally wish to see it continued". They consider that the programme has gained the strongest EU identification of any European initiative hitherto carried out in Northern Ireland. "It has had an impact on those marginalised in society in a completely new and distinctive way," they say, "particularly through its emphasis on social inclusion."
They welcome especially the concept of "partnerships" which aim to provide a focus and forum for reconciliation through broadbased community participation. Partnerships are the most novel element of the programme and have attracted over 12,000 applications.
A particularly successful example has been in Armagh city and district where the population is characterised by extreme polarisation between the communities, with pockets of severe deprivation. The Armagh partnership is made up of one-third elected representatives from the district council, onethird from the voluntary/community sector, and one-third from the business, trade union and statutory sector. It has sought to contribute to peace and reconciliation through integrated social and economic actions.
The three MEPs want the programme to continue to receive the same funding in 1998 and 1999.