EU PEACE funding: The policy implementation deficit

Abstract

This article explores the intersection of policy implementation, conflict/peacebuilding, and the role of the EU PEACE program in Northern Ireland (NI). Conflict societies see a great investment of external funds, attempting to promote conflict resolution. Specifically, this article analyses the fourth wave of such funding in NI to examine why the EU PEACE program has not fully brought about its intended policy outcomes. Using Matland's conflict‐ambiguity model of policy implementation, we identify how EU funds can be skewed to support local political interests. Simultaneously, the EU PEACE program continues to adhere to strict implementation criteria that makes little sense given the local context. Therefore, contrary to its objectives, the implementation of EU funding can compound rather than ameliorate divisions in postconflict NI. Instead of prescribing strict implementation criteria, EU policy could focus on improving the administrative capacity and discretion of local administration in devising locally relevant implementation strategies.

Energy efficiency, housing, and economic policy

“…The EU PEACE program is one of the central policy programs that is intended to help reduce conflict, but implementation is a core element of every policy's impact. It is this program that Knox et al (2023) investigate with regard to a successful implementation and which they find to be inappropriately designed because of strict implementation criteria and a lacking fit to the local context. Thereby, and using Matland's ambiguity-conflict model (Matland, 1995), they conclude an implementation deficit because funding does not address the different communities that exist on-site.…”

“…El programa EU PEACE es uno de los programas de políticas centrales que pretende ayudar a reducir los conflictos, pero la implementación es un elemento central del impacto de cada política. Es este programa que Knox et al (2023) investigan con respecto a una implementación exitosa y que encuentran que están mal diseñados debido a criterios estrictos de implementación y falta de ajuste al contexto local. Por lo tanto, y utilizando el modelo de ambigüedad‐conflicto de Matland (Matland, 1995), concluyen un déficit de implementación porque el financiamiento no se dirige a las diferentes comunidades que existen en el sitio.…”