Lessons from Ireland-Northern Ireland (Ireland-UK)

Transcription

1 Lessons from Ireland-Northern Ireland (Ireland-UK) Scotland and the North of England: International Lessons for Cross-Border Cooperation 5 December 2014 Ruth Taillon Director Centre for Cross Border Studies 39 Abbey Street, Armagh BT61 7EB r.taillon@qub.ac.uk

2 (Lack of) POLITICAL WILL (Lack of) LEADERSHIP (Lack of) POLICY (Weak) INSTITUTIONALISATION (Inadequate) RESOURCES 2

3 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement EU Cohesion Policy 3

4 The 1998 Agreement Strand One: The Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly powers devolved from the British parliament to ensure that power is shared between unionist and nationalist parties. Strand Two: North/South Bodies to formalise cooperation between the government of the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as between civil servants in certain key areas. Strand Three: regular meetings between the two governments and between representatives from the governments and Executives of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands 4

5 The NSMC comprises Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government, working together to take forward co-operation between both parts of the island to mutual benefit. established under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (1998): to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland - including through implementation on an allisland and cross-border basis - on matters of mutual interest and within the competence of the Administrations, North and South. 5

6 Agriculture: Common Agricultural Policy issues, Animal and Plant Health Policy and Research and Rural Development. Education: Education for children with special needs, educational under-achievement, teacher qualifications and school, youth and teacher exchanges. Environment: Environmental protection, pollution, water quality management and waste management in a cross-border context Health: Accident and emergency planning, co-operation on high technology equipment, cancer research and health promotion. Tourism, including Tourism Ireland: The promotion of the island of Ireland overseas as a tourist destination via the establishment of a new company, known as Tourism Ireland. Transport: Co-operation on strategic transport planning including road and rail infrastructure and public transport services and road and rail safety. 6

7 Six North South Bodies, operate on an all-island basis under the overall policy direction of the North South Ministerial Council, Waterways Ireland Food Safety Promotion Board Trade and Business Development Body (InterTradeIreland) Special EU Programmes Body The Language Body / An Foras Teanga / North-South Body o Leid (consisting of two -- Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch) Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (consisting of two Agencies --The Loughs Agency and Lights Agency) 7

8 To further promote positive, practical relationships among the people of the islands; and to provide a forum for consultation and co-operation. Membership of the Council comprises representatives of the Irish and British governments and of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, together with representatives of the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. 8

9 brings together the British and Irish Governments to promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments. regular and frequent meetings of the Conference concerned with non-devolved Northern Ireland matters, on which the Irish Government may put forward views and proposals in particular, the areas of rights, prisons and in Northern Ireland (unless and until responsibility is devolved to a Northern Ireland administration) and will intensify co-operation between the two Governments on the all-island or cross-border aspects of these matters. 9

10 Little visible progress on the review of the case for additional bodies and areas of cooperation Cross-border cooperation among other public bodies and between public bodies and civic society is still fragmented and weakly institutionalised. Since the demise of the Common Chapter, the limited but nevertheless important references to cross-border cooperation have dwindled and all but disappeared from major policy documents. The economic crisis since 2008 has to some extent provided a rationale for a de-prioritisation of cross-border cooperation 10

11 Three major types of cross-border co-operation: Co-operation along the Border Corridor; Co-operation North/South within the island of Ireland; and Co-operation East/West between the island of Ireland and Great Britain, Europe and internationally. 11

12 North South Ministerial Council Departments 6 areas of co-operation 6 North South Implementation Bodies Local Authorities Peace & Interreg funded projects Cross Border Networks (ICBAN, EBR, NW) Local Authority Forum Health & Social Care Cooperation and Working Together (mainly EU funded) Social Partners Churches, Trade Unions, Business, Community/Voluntary Centre for Cross Border Studies & Co-operation Ireland 12

13 Many core problems of the Irish border region whether directly attributable or exacerbated by the conflict, or simply those that are related to geography or economic underdevelopment, do not respect jurisdictional boundaries. Therefore many problems associated with the border or issues of a cross-border nature could not or would not be effectively addressed within one or both jurisdictions separately 13

14 Cross-border cooperation tackles a range of problems that are a direct legacy of the conflict, including: the breakdown in cross-border relationships, isolation of border communities and overall social and economic decline. Added value to peacebuilding and reconciliation as cross-border cooperation addresses core conflict issues. 14

15 New ways of thinking about local problems perhaps because they are now being considered in the wider territorial context. Cross-border cooperation could contribute to greater creativity and innovation. New ways of working or more intensive collaboration than would otherwise be the case -- Improved practice -- joined up solutions and innovative service development Improved evidence bases and quality of information -- Improved policy Joint plans co-ordination, harmonisation or integration of policies, the formulation of joint recommendations, more systematic use of project results. People or organisations have relationships with each other that would not have developed otherwise Greater cross-border mobility of people for a wide variety of social, cultural or economic reasons 15

16 Improved or additional impacts Cooperation and partnership based on mutual exchange of experiences should produce real interaction which promotes the achievement of shared objectives and lead to a final result that differs qualitatively from the sum of the several activities undertaken at the level of the two jurisdictions. 16

17 FORMAL/ INFORMAL ACTORS, COMPETENCIES, RESOURCES PERMANENT/ TEMPORARY DEGREE OF INSTITUTIONALISATION LEVELS OF COOPERATION

18 Levels of Cooperation (1= least developed) Project-level cooperation Exchanges of information and experience Networks Joint development and management Integrated management Joint operations (development, financing, implementation, staffing) Fully-integrated transnational programme management systems Single regulatory bodies Legislation and regulation Single data monitoring and recording systems 6. Implementation: Joint implementation of actions, efficient joint management, fulfilment of requirements by each partner. 5. Decision: Binding commitment of partners, partnership agreements 4. Strategy/Planning: Defining joint objectives and developing concrete actions. 3. Coordination/Representation: Creating a joint partnership structure, first allocation of functions and roles. 2. Information: Developing (targeted) exchange of information, building basic cooperation structures and trust, shaping cooperation ideas. 1. Meeting: Getting to know each other, learning about motivation, interests, needs, skills, expectations, cultural and structural aspects. Joachim Beck, Technical Project Management Handbook, INTERACT 2004

19 Administrative and legal barriers might prevent or constrain the effectiveness of the intervention Administrative, legislative or regulatory changes on one or both sides of the border may be needed; New structures may be required -- these might be temporary or permanent; formal or informal. Few cross-border policy mechanisms projects may struggle to influence public policy and practice in both jurisdictions. Projects have limited resources -- Benefits of cross-border cooperation should reflect the expected investment of time, material and human resources 19

20 The EU-level anticipates impacts of future EU-initiatives on the cross-border territories The member states support CBC actively and allow for flexible solutions to be developed on the borders ( horizontal subsidiarity : setting the horiziontal frame via a coordination between neighboring states in relevant policy fields) Local and regional actors develop shared cross-border services and transfer real competencies to joint cross-border bodies

21 Cohesion policy is the EU s main instrument for pursuing harmonious development across the Union. It is based on a broad vision, which encompasses not just the economic development of lagging regions and support for vulnerable social groups, but also environmental sustainability and respect for territorial and cultural features of different parts of the EU. This breadth of vision is reflected in the variety of programmes, projects and partners that are supported under the policy. Investing in Europe s Future: Fifth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, November

22 EU funding to Northern Ireland (Includes CAP, structural funds, peace funds and fisheries) bn bn bn m Source: European Commission 22

23 EU Community Funding: PEACE and INTERREG Programmes Ireland/Northern Ireland PEACE PROGRAMME INTERREG A INTERREG IA 76 m ECU Peace I ( ) 500m ECU INTERREG IIA 165m ECU Peace II ( ) 995m INTERREG IIIA 137m Peace III ( ) 225m INTERREG IVA 192m Peace IV ( ) 229m INTERREG V 240m 23

24 How to find the functional equivalence between different politico-administrative systems? How to base future action on a sound knowledge of the cross-border territory and its specific needs? How to act without real substantial competences with most legal areas remaining with member states? How to turn cultural and linguistic differences into a strength and structure a productive interaction? How to find the right level of institutionalization, how to integrate new actors from the non-public sector? How to define and measure the added-value of the integrated cross-border action? How to overcome an additional project-approach and develop sustainable policy approaches for the cross-border territory? Cross-border Cooperation needs systemic capacitybuilding

25 Transfrontier Euro Institute Network: Exchange best practices Analyse the specificity of training and research on cross-border issues/in cross-border contexts Capitalize on and draw synergies from different territorial initiatives New products: transferable training modules methods tools Produce valuable research in this field and assure that newest research results are disseminated to actors involved in cross-border cooperation

26 UK Withdrawal from EU Withdrawal from European Convention on Human Rights Breach of Good Friday Agreement Withdrawal from Council of Europe CoE member states must be convention signatories Withdrawal from European Union EU member states must also be members of CoE 26

27 Mobility: EU anti-discrimination provisions benefit EU nationals who live in another Member State and those who are working in another Member State temporarily. (includes 1 million UK citizens) rules refer to migrant workers and their dependants, they do not create unlimited rights to claim benefits or other public services for those not in employment or self-employment. 27

28 Hundreds of people cross the border regularly for all types of reasons including visiting, living and working between the jurisdictions, studying etc. A one-stop shop detailing entitlements, rights etc. as well as acting as a general information resource on the jurisdiction into which they wish to move. 28

29 UK Withdrawal from EU The cross-border economic relationship has been facilitated by the development of the EU Single Market liberalisation of the airline sector has brought increased tourism access to the island regulation of mobile roaming charges strengthened and simplified police and criminal justice cooperation i.e. the European Arrest Warrant Removing or even shaking this foundation could be very damaging. Paschal Donohoe, Irish Minister of State for EU Affairs 29

30 Common membership of the EU has been a force for reconciliation and a framework for cooperation on this island. Even in the context of the positive state of North-South and East- West relations a British exit from the EU would have extremely serious consequences irrespective of mitigation strategies. Paschal Donohoe, Irish Minister of State for EU Affairs, June

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