Fledgling social partnership in the Irish Border Region: European Union 'Community Initiatives' and the voluntary sector

The Irish Border Region is synonymous with social and economic stagnation. Through multi-level social partnership, involving the voluntary and communi ty sector, the European Union (EU) has attempted to initiate a concerted ef fort aimed at rescuing the Irish Border Region from its socioeconomic pligh t. The main conduits for this particular multi-level social partnership are the EU 'Community Initiatives' INTERREG (the initiative dealing with cross -border, transnational and interregional cooperation) and the Special Suppo rt Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (SSPPR). Thus far, SSPPR has prov ed to be more successful than INTERREG in the delivery of a social partners hip.