Northern Ireland will be particularly affected by the Agenda 2000 proposals. The economy of the province will be affected by the proposals radically to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, and its status as a priority region for EU Structural Funds is also under threat.
At present Northern Ireland is designated as an Objective One region for EU regional and social funds. Last time round the province retained top priority for aid, even though its GDP was above 75 per cent of the EU average, the cut-off point for eligibility. Then the EU recognised the particular combination of economic and political problems facing the region, with the result that Objective One status has secured an average of £200 million a year in funding for Northern Ireland since 1994.
There is no doubt that the province has benefited greatly from these funds. Road and rail links have been transformed; many job training programmes have been supported; and towns and cities have undergone redevelopment.
Now it seems that Northern Ireland might lose its privileged access to the Funds since its GDP has risen to 78 per cent of the EU average, which is above the 75 per cent threshold.
While the details of the transitional aid arrangements are not yet known, Northern Ireland's chance of securing the best possible deal would seem to rely on the argument that it remains a special case because of the political situation, and the significant economic, social and rural development problems that remain. Much has been achieved with the help of EU funds but much remains to be done.