Allister responds to SEUPB launch of consultation on EU funding
01 June 2006
STATEMENT BY DUP MEP JIM ALLISTER ON SEUPB LAUNCH OF CONSULTATION ON EU FUNDING EXPENDITURE
"I welcome the fact that SEUPB has today launched a consultation on how future EU funding, which falls under their aegis, should be spent. I am on record as being critical of some wasteful and imbalanced expenditure in the past, but hope that the lessons from those mistakes are being learnt. In this regard I particularly welcome the recognition that an economic focus is central, which is found in Mr Colgan's statement today that:-
“The new operational programmes must complement and support the economic and social development priorities of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. These priorities highlight some cross-cutting themes which include competitiveness, employment, social protection and the environmental considerations. Furthermore, they must emphasise national and EU priorities and drive the EU and national agendas through interventions at a local and regional and/or sub-regional level.”
I would strongly urge interested parties to respond to this consultation, as I will do in considerable detail in due course, with a view to attaining support for durable projects with lasting economic benefit, which must include full recognition of the east-west dimension of funding programmes - something for which I and the DUP have long campaigned. I'm glad to note that SEUPB speaks specifically of "introducing a new Scottish dimension."
