Cross border co-operation, building peace and reconciliation are at the core of the work of the Special EU Programmes Body.

What We Do

We are 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.

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

We have three offices throughout Northern Ireland and the Border Region. Our headquarters are in Belfast, our office in Omagh is primarily concerned with the PEACE Programme and our office in Monaghan oversees the work of the INTERREG Programme and Other Community Initiatives.

Mission StatementThe Special EU Programmes Body’s Mission is:
To develop co-operation, understanding and action between people and organisations in Ireland and Northern Ireland through consultation and the implementation of EU social, economic, reconciliation and cultural programmes.