EU Official Praises Achievement of the Regional Assembly

The achievements of the BMW Regional Assembly were praised by Mr. Martin Territt, Director of the EU Commission representation in Dublin, at the launch of the Assembly’s Annual Report 2009 in Ballaghaderreen on Friday 16th July.

Mr Territt paid tribute to the Assembly, its members and its staff for the transformation that happened in the BMW Region over recent years thanks in part to a well-spent European Regional Development funds from the European Union. Mr Territt said that “the Regional Operational Programme for 2007 to 2013 will help to address many of the fundamental disadvantages that the BMW Region had faced historically and that the region is now much better placed to take advantage of the new opportunities than it was in the past”.

Mr. Territt stated that the Annual Report was a testament to the work of the Assembly, whose establishment had led to an empowerment of Ireland’s Regions.

Welcoming Mr Territt, Councillor Joe Flanagan, Chairperson of the Regional Assembly stated that the Annual Report 2009 details in a comprehensive manner the activities of the Assembly, the central function being to manage E.U. funded programmes and complemented the staff of the Assembly for the publication, which he said captures the tremendous work that the Assembly is engaged in. Cllr Flanagan also congratulated Mr Territt, who will be taking up new responsibilities in Brussels’, dealing with the management of the Commission’s Representation in all Member States and looked forward to working with his successor Ms. Barbara Nolan. Cllr Flanagan went on to say that the BMW Assembly was to the forefront in raising issues of importance for the Region and that the Assembly have lobbied Government on a wide range of economic and social development issues such as a stronger commitment to the provision of infrastructure, investment in strategic road corridors and extending broadband services.

Mr Gerry Finn, Director of the Regional Assembly outlined the activities that took place in 2009 such as the allocation of €17.15m for the Gateway and Hub Scheme, visit by Minister Gerry Kelly Northern Ireland Executive, completion of the Innovative Actions Programme, the BMW annual conference which dealt with a review of National Spatial Strategy, the Public Awareness Survey which assessed the knowledge of EU funds in the region, Opening of Athlone Galway Motorway and the Joint Assembly Meeting with an Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan T. D. Mr. Finn detailed the priorities for investment under the Regional Operational Programme 2007 – 2013 and also described the Assembly’s policy development activities and its role in relation to Interreg and Innovation programmes.

Download the 2009 Annual Report