CROSS-BORDER PROJECTS ALREADY NEED MORE SUPPORT
BY ALLEN MEAGHER
Is the threat Brexit poses to communities being taken seriously?
Brexit poses a threat to the peace process on these islands. Support and funding for many community groups is at risk, despite the impact this could have.
Anthony Soares (pictured right) told‘Changing Ireland’ in late 2016 that because of Brexit’s impact to date, cross-border projects already need more funding. And this was before political power-sharing collapsed at Stormont.
In December, the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee deliberated on Brexit, saying an agreement should be drafted to “guarantee
open land borders and sea boundaries, support cross-border trade and preserve EU funding for cross-border projects”. The issue also received attention in December from the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, while An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has addressed the matter as being of the utmost concern.
The UK’s Brexit minister late last year visited Belfast and Dublin, meeting with political representatives and business leaders. He did not meet Community and Voluntary Sector representatives.
This sent out a strong signal to those in the Sector that the priority is trade, commerce and business.
