Image source, PA MediaThe first meeting of the new UK East-West Council is taking place in London.
The UK government agreed to set up the council as part of its deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) that saw it return to Stormont.
Stormont's first and deputy first ministers are attending the summit, along with ministers from the UK government.
Its purpose is to look at ways of deepening links between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Another body, Intertrade UK, was also formed as part of the deal to promote two-way trade between Northern Ireland and GB.
What will the new council do?
The government said the council will have four initial missions including:
- Sharing "best practice" between GB and NI on economic inactivity and offering advisory support to implement "major projects"
- Recommending interventions on east-west investment and assessing existing funding and investment strategies
- Improving international investment to Northern Ireland
- Bolstering east-west connectivity
Who is there?
Ministers from the Stormont Executive are taking part alongside politicians from the UK government.
The first and deputy first ministers are attending with Economy Minister Conor Murphy and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not expected to take part.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is representing the Westminster government, along with Chris Heaton-Harris and Steve Baker from the Northern Ireland Office.
Speaking ahead of the first meeting, Mr Gove said he was pleased to be able to hold the inaugural meeting of the council and said it was an important part of the agreement that helped restore devolution.
He added: "The government is committed to working with our partners in the Northern Ireland Executive and across the UK to address shared challenges and opportunities including with an East-West dimension."
Ahead of the council, the DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she wanted to see "much more sharing of knowledge", not just between Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales but across English regions as well.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill, of Sinn Féin, said she was up for participating in "all forums to get the best" for people in Northern Ireland.
What do the different bodies do?
The East-West Council
- Remit to examine "enhancing connections" between the different parts of the UK on areas such as trade, education and culture
Intertrade UK
- Also formed as part of the UK government's deal with the DUP
- Aims to promote two-way trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, providing advice and facilitating businesses across the UK in "boosting internal trade"
There are other bodies already established under the Good Friday Agreement that deal with east-west links.
The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC)
- Involves ministers from Dublin and Stormont on "matters of mutual interest"
- Covers six areas of co-operation: Agriculture, education, environment, health, tourism and transport
- Common policies and approaches are agreed but implemented separately in each jurisdiction
- Last met in July 2021 in plenary form and was then suspended when power-sharing at Stormont collapsed in 2022
- Due to reconvene on 8 April in Armagh and will likely see the new taoiseach (Irish prime minister) taking part alongside Stormont's first and deputy first ministers
The British-Irish Council (BIC)
- Involves representatives from the UK and Irish governments, the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the governments of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey
- Covers a range of social, economic and environmental topics
- Provides a forum where members can exchange views and agree common policies or actions
- Aims to "promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relations among the peoples of these islands"
- In 2022, Rishi Sunak was the first prime minister to attend a BIC summit since 2007.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68630994