Developing Irish Sea Cooperation

Developing Irish Sea
Cooperation

Developing Irish Sea Cooperation (DISC) was a two-year project that was supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Led by Southern Regional Assembly in partnership with The Executive Office Northern Ireland, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government,DISC explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. DISC was awarded €499,612 under the PEACEPLUS investment theme 6.1 Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration.

Budget: Funding of €499,612 has been awarded under the PEACEPLUS investment theme ‘Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration’, which is aimed at capitalising on working relationships between Northern Ireland and Ireland, as well as growing East-West links.

Objectives:

The project will:

DISC Strategy and Action Plan to guide future North-South and East-West cooperation.
Commissioned research into international best practice, opportunities and barriers to cooperation across the Irish Sea space..
Delivered four cross-border symposiums across the partner jurisdictions to inform future cooperation priorities. Event recordings are available on the DISC YouTube page:.http://www.youtube.com/@DevelopingIrishSeaCooperation
Convened a Project Steering Committee of policy and subject matter experts to support project delivery and future cooperation..
Explored cooperation opportunities in Sustainable Blue Economy, Innovation in Health and Life Sciences, and Communities and Culture.

Project Legacy

DISC successfully concluded on 31 August 2026, delivering a shared evidence base, strategic framework and practical actions to support future cooperation across the Irish Sea region. The research and stakeholder engagement undertaken through DISC informed the development of the DISC Strategy and Action Plan, which sets out a shared vision, principles and practical actions for future cooperation between the jurisdictions.

The research underpinning the Strategy identifies territorial cooperation as a means of building critical mass around shared issues, enhancing organisational capability and capacity, promoting innovation and generating new ideas. It also recognises that a strong culture of cooperation can support peace, prosperity and positive relationships between jurisdictions across the Irish Sea region.

Building on the relationships, knowledge and momentum created through DISC, the project partners have expressed their commitment to continuing dialogue, knowledge exchange and cooperation across areas of shared interest in the years ahead.

Horizontal Principles

EU-supported projects must adhere to horizontal principles, ensuring compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and EU environmental laws. These principles include gender equality, non-discrimination, accessibility, sustainability, and the ‘do no significant harm’ standard, guiding both project activities and outcomes.

DISC and Horizontal Principles

DISC integrates horizontal principles into its operations through codes of practice that promote equitable, inclusive, and sustainable approaches. These codes will guide daily project activities and inform its long-term strategy for cross-border cooperation, embedding these principles into collaboration between Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland for lasting impact.