Moving ahead. Special EU Programmes Body. Annual report and accounts 2003

Cross border co-operation, building peace and reconciliation between Ireland and Northern Ireland are at the core of the work of the Special EU Programmes Body. SEUPB is one of the six cross border Bodies set up under the 'Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland establishing implementing bodies' signed on 8 March 1999 (the British-Irish Agreement of 8 March 1999). The Agreement was given domestic effect, North and South, by means of the North/South Co-operation(Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 respectively.

SEUPB manages the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE II), worth over €707 million, and the €182 million INTERREG IIIA Programme. It is also involved in the cross border elements of other Community Initiatives (LEADER +, URBAN II and EQUAL) and are responsible for implementing the Common Chapter.