A new briefing note from the Centre for Cross Border Studies highlights how the recent "reset" in UK-Ireland relations, building on the Good Friday Agreement, could bring significant opportunities to the island of Ireland, aligning with Atlantic Futures' mission to drive sustainable growth.
The report, authored by Michael D'Arcy, Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Cross Border Studies, examines how UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Simon Harris, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have committed to enhance cross-border cooperation in four key areas: security, climate and energy, trade and investment, and cultural connections. Ahead of a formal Summit in March, Ministers are meeting bilaterally to progress these commitments.
For the west of Ireland, this collaboration could accelerate infrastructure development, investment and economic growth. Cross-border trade has grown from €3 billion in 2001 to €11 billion annually, though the briefing note emphasizes that this 'peace and prosperity dividend' is not evenly spread between North and South nor regionally.
The document highlights how universities in the west could leverage the Agreement's provisions for North/South and East/West cooperation to forge stronger partnerships with Northern Irish and UK institutions, creating research clusters focused on renewable energy, marine technology, and sustainable agriculture.
Of particular relevance to Atlantic Futures' work, the west of Ireland's abundant wind and marine resources could benefit from joint UK-Ireland policy planning and investment for energy infrastructure. This will be supported by the institutional frameworks established under the Agreement and its new interplay with the Windsor Framework and wider EU/UK interaction in areas being promoted by the Labour Government, such as energy.
The briefing also addresses the need for strategic planning to accommodate significant population growth, with Ireland already reaching over 7 million people and potentially hitting 8 million by 2030. This growth presents opportunities to expand existing cross-border projects like the A5 road improvement and Narrow Water Bridge, while addressing historical underinvestment in the west and northwest through new educational and research facilities.
Atlantic Futures, working closely with academic partners, is well positioned to support both governments and ensure education and research remain central to regional development, while adhering to the Agreement's principles of mutual benefit.
The briefing emphasises that this "reset" moment provides an opportunity to build on the Agreement's success in fostering peace and prosperity in the next chapter of UK-Ireland relations.
Learn more and download the briefing note in full at CrossBorder.ie