Brussels, 14/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - The Northern Ireland task force will be maintained until the end of the European Commission mandate, according to an announcement made on Thursday 14 January by the Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu. The latter was attending a signing ceremony, together with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, for the IV Peace Programme between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The President of the Commission was pleased to point out “The peace process in Northern Ireland requires continuing efforts and the Commission has a special role to play in this (…) I therefore believe that the Northern Ireland Task Force, with its valuable expertise, should continue to play an important role in the future”. This enthusiasm was shared by Commissioner Cretu, who declared that this renewed partnership would help underpin growth and job creation in the region.
This task force was launched under the Barroso Commission in 2007. This workgroup became known through its report on implementation of European policies in the region, which it published in 2008 (see EUROPE 9638) and which received the strong backing of the previous Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner.
This workgroup brings together the services of 17 different directorates general from the European Commission. It seeks to help regions implement EU policies in agriculture, education and culture, employment, regional policy, enterprise and industry, industry, the environment, marine affairs and fisheries, research and development, transport and energy, in tandem with the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Directorate General Regional Policy services are expected to present an assessment report on the workgroup's progress by the end of 2018. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)