The Minister for Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform has responsibility for Ireland's Cohesion policy and the remit for Council of the European Union Meetings relating to Cohesion policy.
Cohesion policy is the European Union's strategy set out in Article 174 of the Treaty to promote and support the ‘overall harmonious development’ of its Member States and regions by strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion through measures aimed at reducing disparities in the level of development between regions. The Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) and a series of fund specific regulations (including one for the European Regional Development Fund) provide the regulatory basis for the period of the current Multiannual Financial Framework(MFF), 2021-2027.
For the 2021-2027 period the overall MFF totals €1,134, 583 million. Slightly less than a third of the sum (€330,642 million) has been ring-fenced under a sub-ceiling ‘Economic, social and territorial cohesion’ – i.e. Cohesion Policy.
Ireland will receive a total of €1,282.5 million in Cohesion Policy Funds for the 2021– 2027 period, comprising of:
• €396 million for the European Regional Development Fund;
• €508 million for the European Social Fund+;
• €294 million for European Territorial Cooperation (including PEACE PLUS); and
• €84.5 million under the EU Just Transition Fund.
When the requirement for national match funding is included the full value of the programmes supported by these allocations amounts to almost €3.5 billion. In addition, the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) will receive €142 million with smaller amounts available for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF).
Noting the above, the tables below set out details of attendance since June 2020.
Council of the European Union meetings
|
Year
|
Date
|
Location
|
Formal/Informal
|
In person / Virtual
|
Attendees
|
|
2021
|
18 Nov
|
Brussels
|
Formal
|
In person
|
Minister -Michael McGrath
|
|
2022
|
02 June
|
Lux
|
Formal
|
In Person
|
Ambassador – Tom Hanney
|
|
2022
|
22 Nov
|
Brussels
|
Formal
|
In Person
|
Ambassador – Tom Hanney
|
|
2023
|
30 Nov
|
Brussels
|
Formal
|
In Person
|
Ambassador – Aingeal O’Donoghue
|
Informal Ministerial meetings
|
Year
|
Date
|
Location
|
Formal/Informal
|
In person / Virtual
|
Attendees
|
|
2021
|
18 May
|
On-line
|
Informal
|
Virtual
|
Director - Ms Patricia Coleman
|
|
2022
|
01 Mar
|
Rouen
|
Informal
|
In Person
|
Principal Officer - Andrew Condon
|
|
2022
|
02 Sept
|
Prague
|
Informal
|
In Person
|
Principal Officer - Andrew Condon
|
|
2023
|
29 Sept
|
Murcia
|
Informal
|
In Person
|
Principal Officer - Andrew Condon
|
|
2024
|
06 Feb
|
Mons
|
Informal
|
In Person
|
Principal Officer - Andrew Condon
|
