The first meeting of the new East-West Council discussed the main priorities for the Council's work programme. The Council will focus on trade promotion, connectivity, and culture and skills. The Council was established as part of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper published by the UK Government in January this year ahead of the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Today's Council meeting took place in Dover House, London and was chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (Michael Gove). The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chris Heaton-Harris) and Minister of State for Northern Ireland and the Cabinet Office (Steve Baker), the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up (Jacob Young), Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, the Minister for the Economy, Conor Murphy and Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons also attended.
As well as the work programme, the Council today also endorsed the following measures: - The publication of the prospectus for the new Enhanced Investment Zone in Northern Ireland. The EIZ will make available £150m for Northern Ireland to capitalise on its unique opportunities, and the funding could be able to be used flexibly across spending and tax levers. The UK Government will work collaboratively with the NI Executive and its departments to co-develop proposals. - An award of £5.9 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to improve adult numeracy in Northern Ireland. The Department for the Economy will work in partnership with councils, colleges, and universities to deliver the funding. An award of £11.2 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to Invest Northern Ireland to increase the number of innovation active businesses, accelerate the diffusion and take up of new technologies and innovations, and support businesses in important sectors such as manufacturing, health and life sciences and agri-food to develop and grow.
The purpose of the Council is to strengthen cooperation between Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK by advising on shared challenges and opportunities with an East-West dimension. The East-West Council will bring together key representatives from government, business, education, trade, transport, and culture sectors, encouraging collaboration between ministers and industry experts. The membership of the Council will have a strong East-West dimension and attendance will reflect the issues being addressed.
Speaking after the meeting, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Michael Gove said:
"The restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland allows us to harness our combined energies and expertise to confront the challenges and opportunities facing Northern Ireland.
"The establishment of the East-West Council provides the platform for the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to work together on crucial issues such as trade, connectivity, culture, and skills.
"I am delighted that the East-West Council has met today and that we are publishing plans for £150 m Enhanced Investment Zone and announcing more than £17m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support adult numeracy and business innovation in Northern Ireland. These two projects are examples of the UK Government and NI Executive cooperating to address the needs of people and businesses in Northern Ireland."
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris said:
"Today's inaugural East-West Council has enabled the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to agree this new body's direction and our shared priorities.
"I am confident that this new forum will provide an effective mechanism for our continuing work with Northern Ireland Executive colleagues to progress prosperity and cultural initiatives.
"In addition, the publication of plans for the £150m Enhanced Investment Zone and announcement of more than £17m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund reflect the UK Government's continuing commitment to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.
"As the Command Paper made clear, economic and cultural opportunities are a strength of the Union. We want to support and reinvigorate social and cultural networks across the United Kingdom, creating links between communities to enable sharing of skills, experience and cultural ties."
First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill said:
"Today's meeting was a useful engagement where a range of matters were discussed between Executive Ministers and the British Government, including funding streams. It's important that any funding aligns with our priorities to support workers, families and communities. We also discussed the legacy impact for grassroots communities which the legacy of the Euros must leave, and that will remain a continuing conversation."
Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma Little-Pengelly said:
"I welcome the progress made at today's inaugural meeting of the East-West Council. I am particularly pleased with the publication of the prospectus for the £150m Enhanced Investment Zone and the announcement of awards totalling £17m through the Shared Prosperity Fund.
"The council will play a vital role, enhancing the links between the NI Executive and the UK Government and providing a forum for us to work together on a wide range of issues across trade, transport, education and culture to deliver real benefits for everyone in Northern Ireland."
Notes
The East-West Council is expected to meet regularly. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations will Sponsor the Council and chair when in attendance, supported by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland acting as co-sponsor and deputy Chair.
The Safeguarding the Union Command Paper stated that the objectives of the Council are:
- To provide regular, sustained engagement between UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive representatives, businesses, and university representatives in areas such as trade, transport, education, and culture.
- To establish Intertrade UK to promote trade within the UK.
- To take forward the Council's missions below, addressing risks and opportunities, to find solutions to shared challenges.
- To raise the profile of the opportunities Northern Ireland offers by supporting connectivity between business, skills, trade, and innovation within the UK, and connections across other parts of the UK to Northern Ireland.
- To drive UK-wide engagement on the development and sharing of existing clusters of excellence.
- To ensure the profile of Northern Ireland is appropriately considered in business and government decision-making.
The UK East-West Council's focus will be on matters with an East-West dimension, taking forward the following missions outlined in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper:
- Economic inactivity
- Bolstering East-West institutional connectivity
- Identifying opportunities for deepening connections between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in areas such as trade, transport, education, sport, and culture
- East-West investment and trade flows
- Improving international investment to Northern Ireland
