Members of Louth County Council and Mourne and Down District Council have reaffirmed their commitment to working together on key issues that have a cross-border impact and launched a refreshed Strategic Alliance agreement.
This will help guide the work of the two Councils who have developed an action plan of activities to be delivered. Key priorities for both are the regeneration of the economy, dealing with climate change and the environment, infrastructure and digital connectivity, and health, education and well-being.
Joint Chairs, Councillor Declan McAteer and Councillor Antóin Watters said they were working to consolidate long-established working relationships.
Councillor Watters said, “The Newry Mourne and Down and Louth Strategic Alliance is built on the strength of the long-standing Memorandum of Understanding between both Councils that sets out the partnerships we have developed. The aim of this alliance is to support and promote the economic development and competitiveness of our region.
“When the initial Strategic Alliance was launched in March 2011 it was acknowledged as a first in Europe. Following Brexit, there was an even greater need to refresh and showcase this alliance as an example of best practice on a cross-border basis.”
Councillor Declan McAteer said, “By working together, we are helping create connected, supported and sustainable communities. This strategic alliance enables us to deliver key objectives, such as to strengthen the social, cultural and economic links within and between the people of the region, to help promote the region more effectively for inward investment and to open up further opportunities for the sharing of services and coordinated management of key resources. It also helps consolidate the long-established working relationships between the parties on both sides of the border.
“Our Strategic Alliance allows us to present worthy projects that support economic development in both council areas and to represent the views of both councils in the region.”
