COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Committee Office Room 402
Parliament Buildings
Belfast
BT4 3XX
Tel: 02890 521970
Fax: 02890 525927
Email committee.regionaldevelopment@niassembly.gov.uk

Danny Kennedy, MLA
Chairperson
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Northern Ireland Assembly
Parliament Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3XX

27 February 2009

Dear Danny,

The Committee for Regional Development considered the Executive’s Response to the Barroso Taskforce Report and draft Executive Action Plan at its meetings of 11 and 24 February 2009. Following discussion, Members asked that I make the following input to your Committee’s call for comments on the Executive’s Response to the Barroso Taskforce Report and draft Executive Action Plan.
Members noted the development of the Barroso Taskforce, and that its main role is to facilitate the change in relationship between Northern Ireland and the EU. Northern Ireland is entering a period of transition from being a major recipient of European regional aid, to a higher reliance on its own strategies.
The Committee noted the five themes and seven objectives of the Executive’s Action Plan.

Themes	Objectives
Promote our interests within the European Union	To engage in the EU policy making process to ensure that our needs are known to the policy makers and that we are prepared for forthcoming policy changes.
Access EU Funding	To increase the number and value of NI projects securing funding from competitive EU funding programmes. To maximise benefits from mainstream EU Funding Programmes through innovative approaches and participation in best practices initiatives.
Raise our positive profile throughout Europe	To project a dynamic forward-looking approach as a peaceful region “Open for Business”, participating actively in strategic alliance with other regions, sub-regions and cities. To equip our people to operate effectively in Europe and demonstrate engagement through the relationships we build.
Raise awareness and encourage participation in European matters	Encouraging civil society participation in European matters.
Share our experience with Europe and beyond	Record and share the experience of peace building and conflict resolution in Northern Ireland.

The Committee notes that, in the draft Action Plan, to take forward these objectives, the Department for Regional Development has lead responsibility for actions under theme 1, objective 1, and theme 2, objective 2. These actions are set out in more detail in Table 1 below, and includes transport, territorial cohesion, TENS (Trans-European Networks), and CIVITAS (City Vitality Sustainability ).
Members have decided to write to the Department requesting more detailed briefing on the Department’s lead activities, and 6-monthly updates on progress against its identified lead actions. Members will also expect to see the objectives and actions on which DRD has lead responsibility reflected in the Department’s Corporate and Business Plan for 2009-10.
The Committee for Regional Development thanks you for the opportunity to comment on this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Fred Cobain
Chairperson
Committee for Regional Development

Table 1: Extracts from the Executive’s Response to the Barroso Taskforce Report – DRD lead actions

Theme 1:	Promote our interests within the European Union

Objective 1:	To engage in the EU policy making process to ensure that our needs are known to the policy makers and that we are prepared for forthcoming policy changes.

Policy Area

Action

Lead Department

Key Stages / Milestones

Timeline

Transport

To coordinate NI input to the development of EU Maritime proposals

To prepare NI input to the development of the 3 rd Railway Package

To prepare NI input to the open consultation of the Green Paper on the future of the Trans-European Networks – Transport (TEN-T)

DRD

Input to UK responses to Commission Consultations and papers in this area to ensure that high level consideration of issues at the policy level recognises the NI interest.
Agree UK approach to the transposition of EU requirements.
Lead on the development of appropriate NI regulations.
Input to UK responses to ensure that the peripheral and island situations are taken into consideration.

Ongoing

Regulations due to be in place by May/June 2010 for 3 rd Railway Package, local transposition will meet these targets.

The publication of the Green Paper is due to be in place by end 2008/beginning 2009. Open consultation will take place in the first half of 2009.

Territorial Cohesion

To ensure that the principles of Territorial Cohesion inform the Review of the Regional Development Strategy

DRD

Public Consultation on Draft Spatial Development Strategy.

Summer 2009

Theme 2:	Access EU Funding

Objective 2:	To increase the number and value of NI projects securing funding from competitive EU funding programmes.

TENS (Trans-European Networks)

To explore the possibility of extending the use of TENS funding on infrastructure and public transport projects.

DRD

Identify potential projects that could benefit from TENs funding and liaise with DFT on the next call for TENS applications.
Public Transport Performance Division (PTPD) submitted an application to DfT in June 08 for aid on a track life extension project on the railway line between Ballymena and Coleraine. The application was submitted to EU in July 2008.
Liaise with DG Tren on potential NI Tens Projects.
Submit a paper requesting the inclusion of the A5/A6 in PP13.

October 2008

November 2008

December 2008

CIVITAS (City Vitality Sustainability)

To explore the possible use of CIVITAS to assist with the development of urban public transport initiatives.

DRD

DRD will investigate the possibilities for exchanging knowledge on urban transport through CIVITAS.
Relevant policy holders will attend one of the events organised, and raise awareness of the initiative with cities such as Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.

Autumn 2008