Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

The purpose of this report is to share an updated version of the draft approach to council’s engagement in international activity for the coming three-year period following discussion at the August, October and November committee meetings, and to propose a new framework for engagement, taking account of the comments received. 

2.0       Recommendations

            Members are asked to:

·       Note the amendments to the previous version, set out in section 3.5 of the report

·       Approve the proposed approach to council activity in international engagement work for the coming three years, as well as the annual action plan for the current financial year.

3.0       Main report

3.1       At the August and October 2025 meetings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, members received draft versions of the proposed International Relations Framework 2025 – 2028 along with an action plan for 2025/26 activity.  At both meetings, there was discussion that led to specific proposals for amendments to the draft document.  It was agreed that officers would incorporate those amendments into a revised version of both the framework and action plan and that these would be shared at a future meeting. 

3.2 At the October 2025 meeting of the Committee, the specific decisions included:

·       Agreement to continue Belfast City Council participation in the Eurocities network

·       Agreement to explore opportunities for collaboration with Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels and other relevant partners, in relation to the potential for an annual event to be held as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities

·       Agreement to establish an EU stakeholder group

·       Agreement to extend invitations to attend international engagement stakeholder groups to Members of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee.

3.3       Members also asked that the framework was updated to specifically identify how ethical and environmental considerations were taken into account in international relations activity.  Finally, they noted that they wished to defer consideration of the proposed approach to Council international engagement work activity for 2025-28 and the Annual Action plan for 2025/26, to enable an updated draft International Relations Framework 2025-2028 to be submitted.

3.4       In November, Members again agreed to defer as although the framework had been updated in relation to ethical and environmental considerations and the action plan had been amended to reflect the above decisions in relation to the EU, the framework had not been updated to reflect the decisions on EU matters.

3.5       Taking account of the points raised above, the revised draft approach to council-led international engagement activity for the coming three-year period is set out in Appendix 1 and the supporting delivery plan for year one (2025-26) is set out in Appendix 2.  The three-year “framework” document is intended to be a supporting document to other key strategies and plans such as the Belfast Agenda, the Corporate Plan and Local Development Plan – setting out how priority objectives and ambitions in those documents can be supported through international connections, networks and opportunities.  Its purpose is to identify areas of collaborative advantage and help focus resources on opportunities that can maximise return on investment, in keeping with city priorities.

Specific changes to the content of the documents now include:

·       Updating the framework to identify specifically how ethical and environmental considerations will be take into account in the planned activity.  This includes references to “environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth” as part of the vision; additional references to sustainable growth under the key work pillars and commitment to support mission-driven innovation actions focused on addressing social and environmental challenges faced by communities and individuals across the city

·       Updating the framework on trade and investment, innovation and knowledge exchange and funding and partnership to reflect the decisions on the EU as outlined at para 3.2.

·       Updating the action plan to include agreed deliverables as identified in 3.2 including network participation and work to develop additional engagement opportunities, including the EU Cities and Regions Work.

4.0       Financial and Resource Implications

4.1       The EU and International Relations budget was approved as part of the 2025-26 estimates setting process. Budgets for individual activities are the responsibility of the respective teams. 

5.0 Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

No specific equality or good relations implications. Activities will focus on support for Belfast-based organisations and companies. 

6.0       Appendices

            Appendix 1: Draft International Relations Framework 2025-28

            Appendix 2: International Relations Delivery Plan 2025/26”

            During discussion, the Members stated that they were content with the updated draft International Relations Framework for 2025-2028, as set out in Appendix one of the report, however, a Member raised an issue in respect of the draft Delivery Plan for 2025/26.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor Bunting,

Seconded by Councillor I. McLaughlin (Chairperson),

      That the Committee approves the International Engagement Activity Delivery Plan for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix two of the report.

            On a vote, eleven Members voted for the proposal and two against and it was declared carried.

            Accordingly, the Committee:

i.       noted the amendments to the previous version of the draft approach to the Council’s engagement in international activity for the coming three-year period, as set out in section 3.5 of the report; and

ii.      approved the International Relations Framework 2025-2028; and

iii.     approved the International Engagement Activity Delivery Plan 2025/26.