Leaders bid for EU funding

David Trimble and Seamus Mallon are in Brussels

The leaders of Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive are in Brussels to secure £940m worth of structural funding from the European Commission.

First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon will be negotiating with senior European Commission officials for funding for the period up to 2006.

The aim of the meetings is to obtain money for economic and social development projects in the province under the EU Structural Funds scheme.

David Trimble: Having meeting with EU officials

The ministers, who will be joined by Stormont Finance Minister Mark Durkan, will meet Commission President Romano Prodi and the former Labour leader, Neil Kinnock, who is one of the UK's commissioners.

The £940m of funding will be divided between a number of European Union schemes operating in Northern Ireland.

These include the Peace II package which will receive around £280m, the Interreg project encouraging cross-border and inter-regional development and the Leader programme for rural development.

Mr Trimble, Mr Mallon and Mr Durkan are hoping to conclude structural funds arrangements for the province for the next six years during their visit to Brussels where they will also meet MEPs and visit the European Parliament.

In advance of their visit, Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon said they would be listening to and taking account of the views of the British and Irish commissioners in Europe while they were in Brussels.

The SDLP deputy leader said: "We have the opportunity to agree on how over £940m of European funding can be used to make a difference.

"Our informed knowledge of local needs will enable us to stimulate economic growth, enhance education and training provision, support local communities and partnerships, develop closer North-South links and, importantly, target marginalised groups.

"But above all, we need to use the money wisely. We need to foster creativity, innovation and dynamism. Those three words should be at the heart of what this new administration sets out to do."