WEXFORD, IRELAND – 24 March 2025 – The Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) successfully hosted its second regional stakeholder meeting in Wexford, Ireland, as part of its participation in the Interreg Europe FutureECOS project. The meeting served as a crucial platform to advance the strategic development and planned extension of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) into the South-East region.
The core objective of the meeting was to address the SRA’s policy instrument, the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), and ensure that regional planning actively supports the extension of the established Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC) southwards, linking Dublin to strategic regional hubs like Rosslare Europort and the Port of Waterford.
FutureECOS and the Regional Strategy
Rhiannon Carey Bates, EU Projects Officer with the SRA, provided context on the FutureECOS project, which focuses on developing integrated and resilient urban development strategies for new growth corridor regions. This work underpins the Southern Regional Assembly’s commitment to future-proofing the South-East against economic shifts and evolving societal needs.
Mary Molloy, Executive Planner with the Southern Regional Assembly, detailed the ambition enshrined within the RSES. She highlighted the objective to “support the development of an economic corridor in the south-east… with strategic alignment through the TEN-T network.” The SRA is focused on promoting a collective strategy with key stakeholders to strengthen regional coordination around this major infrastructural and economic development.
Key Outcomes and Regional Focus
Discussions throughout the day, involving leading experts and regional planners, crystallised the path forward for the corridor extension.
Professor Vincent Goodstadt (University of Manchester and UK2070 Commission) provided an international perspective, emphasising the need for a common analytical basis for strategic visioning. He identified “Transformational Components” for the corridor, including establishing Rosslare Europort as the region’s primary EU Gateway and leveraging the South-East as a major Renewable Energy Hub.
Diarmuid Houston (Wexford County Council) detailed how local planning is strategically oriented towards exploiting the growth potential in Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE).
Elaine McAlinden (DBEC Partnership) and Professor William Hynes (KPMG) shared critical lessons learned from the highly successful Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor. These insights provided a valuable, replicable model for collaborative governance, talent creation, and green growth initiatives to be applied in the South-East.
Looking ahead
The SRA will continue to use the knowledge exchange facilitated by the FutureECOS project, including the upcoming Interregional Study Visit to Cork, Ireland (06-07 May 2025), to refine the policy actions within the RSES. This collaborative approach will ensure the development of the Eastern Corridor extension is integrated, sustainable, and delivers maximum economic benefit to the Southern Region.
