Northern Ireland Local Government Association supporting local councils in Europe
Now is the right time to look at the achievements of the EU funds and to discuss new efforts on the enhanced usage of the resources available. in order to secure social cohesion, as well as regional development. Increasingly, Councils are being asked to do more with less resources, while the EU has started its preparations for the next funding period 2014 - 2020. What will this entail in light of the current economic slowdown? Councils need to be at the core of the regional negotiations on the further shape of Northern Ireland EU Programmes post 2013. Initial discussions have started between NILGA and the Department of Finance and Personal to ensure local government involvement. Local government priorities for 2011 must focus on securing EU funding and limiting the negative impact of EU policy on Council service delivery.
NILGA currently offers European support services to elected members sitting on committees of EU funded programmes funded under the Technical Assistance Measure within the EU Competitiveness & Employment Programme and managed by Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP). NILGA supports Members on EU PEACE III, INTERREG IV and Competiveness & Employment Programmes.
The European services to date have supported all local government members on the Monitoring Committees, Working Groups and Steering Committees of EU funded programmes so as to ensure that the local government sector is fully engaged and actively participating in the process.
NILGA also provides services for members sitting on the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR), Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (Congress), Council of European Municipalities and Regions of Europe (CEMR), and LGIB Director support.
Sevices Delivered
European support services are delivered by:
(a) Continued and enhanced participation of Members on EU Committees;
(b) Member policy capacity building around EU Monitoring Committees (including liaising with Councils); and
(c) Implementing a communications strategy improving the capacity of elected members and raise awareness of key European issues (focusing on work of EU Monitoring Committees).
Contact
Dr Ken Bishop
European Officer
NILGA
Unit 5B Castlereagh Business Park
478 Castlereagh Road
Belfast, BT5 6BQ
Tel: +44 (0) 2890 798972
Fax: +44 (0) 2890 791248
Mob:+44 (0) 7976920556
Email: k.bishop@nilga.org