Northern Ireland

New online archive launched of 22,500 EU peace-funded projects

Derry's Peace Bridge was awarded funding from the European Union's PEACE III Programme managed by the SEUPB. Picture by Michael Cooper
Derry's Peace Bridge was awarded funding from the European Union's PEACE III Programme managed by the SEUPB. Picture by Michael Cooper

An online archive telling the story of European Union PEACE funding over the past three decades is launched today.

The searchable `PEACE Programmes Learning Platform' holds thousands of different research reports, evaluations, testimonies and case studies of over 22,500 peace and reconciliation projects in Northern Ireland and the Republic's border counties.

Designed to support academics, researchers and those involved in peacebuilding, it is also publicly available.

SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said the construction of the platform "involved a very intensive archiving and cataloguing process which uncovered a wealth of information and research, that otherwise would have been lost to time".

European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said she was "very proud" of the "new and formidable" learning platform.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the launch saying the programmes "have provided much needed assistance and support since their inception in 1995 and will continue to do so through the PEACE PLUS Programme".

"(The platform) also provides a unique and easily accessible space where everyone, particularly those involved in peace building, can reflect and learn."

The Republic's Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath, TD said the platform "captures (the) rich story" of the programmes and offers "an invaluable resource for all those involved in peacebuilding in the future".

"I encourage anyone with an interest in the history and the future of these unique programmes to make use of the Platform and learn more."

The new PEACE Programmes Learning Platform is available at peaceplatform.seupb.eu.