The Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels

As a dynamic European region, Northern Ireland has an interest in developments at Union level. Many laws and policies of the European Union have a direct effect on the lives of people in Northern Ireland. The European Union has contributed significantly to economic development in Northern Ireland and, through the PEACE Programme, to the process of reconciliation.

Many regions of Europe have established official representations in Brussels. This process has been accelerated by the development of EU regional policy and by the trend to devolution in countries like Spain and the United Kingdom. The Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government have opened offices since devolution. Like the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive, they operate under the umbrella of the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union.