A group of councillors from all over Ireland are attending a four-day event in Brussels aimed at highlighting the impact of the Peace Fund and Interreg programme in promoting socio-economic improvements and reconciliation on both sides of the Border.
The start of the open day programme coincided with the announcement yesterday that the Government is to seek continued funding for the Peace II Programme from the Regional Affairs Directorate of the European Commission.
Fianna Fáil MEP Mr Seán Ó Neachtain said yesterday there was strong support from all political persuasions to ensure the continuation of the peace initiative which had helped to rebuild trust between communities living in the cross-Border region.
The Brussels-based Irish Committee of the Regions Office and the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive yesterday opened the special joint project involving councillors from the EU Committee of the Regions. The event will continue in Brussels until Thursday, highlighting the success of the peace funds in bringing communities together on both sides of the Border.
Mr Robert Collins, head of the Irish region's office in Brussels, said it is the first time the office has worked with the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive on this type of project.