Peace II Action Team meets for first time

An 'Action Team' set up to work alongside the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) to look at ways of simplifying and developing the Body’s Peace II Programme has met for the first time.

Reporting directly to Finance Minister, Ian Pearson, the Team's membership, which is drawn from SEUPB, Implementing Bodies, such as the community and voluntary sector and Local Strategy Partnerships, will put forward and adopt workable proposals to the working of Peace II.

Welcoming the formation of the Action Team, Shaun Henry, Peace II Director, SEUPB said: “As the organisation responsible for managing the Peace Programme we are always looking for ways of simplifying the processes and making it easier for groups to receive and administer Peace monies.

“We began this process last October when we introduced a shorter, more user friendly application form as well as a much simpler small grants form. As part of this process we have also significantly reduced audit and monitoring requirements. We see the work of the Action Team as building on the considerable progress that we have made to date."

Chaired by Nuala Kerr, Acting Chief Executive of the SEUPB, the Team will provide a platform for interested parties to discuss key features of the Programme.

It will also focus on further simplifying the application process, streamlining assessment, agreeing a more flexible approach to audit and verification, and clarifying monitoring procedures. Discussions will finish by the end of October when recommendations will be put into practice.

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