Huge impact of EU funding for Northern peace acknowledged
The Government has acknowledged what it calls the "huge impact" of funding by the EU in helping to consolidate the peace process in the North.
Over the last decade, the union has provided over €1bn to target cross border co-operation, economic development and reconciliation in the North and border counties.
Speaking in Dublin today, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen also said that the Treaty of Nice would broaden that constructive process in candidate EU countries who are emerging from conflict.
Minister Cowen indicated that a rejection of the Nice Treaty would do serious damage to our reputation as a pro-European member state.
