Republican News · Thursday 11 September 2003

EU's mispent millions

GERRY ADAMS addressing a meeting of the Sinn Féin border-area elected representatives who gathered together last Friday in Dundalk.

The meeting was called to discuss the scandal of EU money which was allocated to address the extreme disadvantage and neglect of the border regions, and which, in some cases, has been sent back unspent.

Some of the funding has also been allocated to projects that, in effect, only replace existing government expenditure.

Some of the funds have gone to fund private businesses in projects that have little benefit and are far distinct from the purpose for which the funds were to be allocated.

The EU funding - which is sourced through multi-million Euro programmes, such as Peace and Reconciliation, and

INTERREG - is specifically aimed at towards addressing poverty in these disdvantaged areas, building social capital in poorer communities and promoting reconciliation and integration.