NIIRTA Launches Economic Five Point Plan For Europe
The EU needs to establish a Town Centre Taskforce for Northern Ireland-that was one of the key points in theEU Five Point Plan launched today by the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA).
Local European Parliament candidates Jim Nicholson, Anna Lo, Alex Attwood, Diane Dodds, Tina McKenzie and Ross Brown attended the launch in Ballyhackamore.
NIIRTA Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “We are publishing our EU 5 Point Plan because Retail makes a huge contribution to the economy of the EU employing over 33 million people and over 11% of GDP. In Northern Ireland it is the largest part of our local private sector, employing 1 in 10 local jobs”
“Given that Northern Ireland has twice the UK shop vacancy rate, one of the main points in our Plan is for the establishment of an EU Town Centre Taskforce. This taskforce would examine new ways of harnessing funding local Town Centre Regeneration and identifyinggood policy practice in other EU towns and cities which have successfully addressed dereliction and returned to vibrancy.”
“The new URBACT III is one funding stream which promotes sustainable urban development which should be a top priority for our 3 MEPs”
“We also want a reduction in the numbers of European Commissioners and the appointment of a Commissioner for Small Business and Better Regulation, capable of strong resolute action in addressing red tape and the EUs’ 23 mullion SMEs”
“Action is also needed to ensure that the Waste Framework Directive and the Packaging Directive are reformed to reduce the burden on independent retailers”
“Small Traders need to be taking advantage of Horizon 2020 and NIIRTA wants to see a one stop shop for information aimed at small retail firms where relevant information on innovation initiatives can be shared”
“We strongly welcome Peace IV funding, but for it to be much more focused on supporting local economic development projects in areas that suffered from the conflict”.
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Ross Brown (Green Party), Alex Attwood (SDLP), Tina McKenzie (NI21) Glyn Roberts (NIIRTA CEO), Anna Lo (Alliance), Diane Dodds (DUP) and Jim Nicholson (UUP) launching the NIIRTA 5 Point Plan for Europe in Ballyhackamore.[/caption]
