EU to invest up to £60 million in Ireland-Wales cooperation

The European Commission adopted in February 2015 the new interregional cooperation programme for Ireland and Wales, worth almost £60m. When combined with national co-financing, the programme will be worth nearly £74m and runs to 2020.

This new 'Interreg' programme will complement the Irish and Welsh regional development plans, known as 'smart specialisation strategies'. One way the money will be used is to create jobs by linking Welsh and Irish research organisations with business. Coastal communities will also benefit from support for measures to combat climate change, for example by supporting the exchange of knowledge about its impact on the Irish sea and on how coastal communities can adapt to this. Tourism to the regions will be boosted by promoting shared Welsh and Irish natural and cultural heritage in an environmentally friendly way.