Brussels diplomats denied that a seven-year (£1.3bn) European Union aid package for Northern Ireland was in jeopardy because of the deadlock over the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.
The deadlock has prevented the establishment of a Northern Ireland executive. But EU diplomats said the aid was not contingent on there being a government in the Province.
Northern Ireland has so far received about S1bn in regional aid which includes £250m under the peace and reconciliation programme following the 1995 IRA ceasefire.
Financial Times 12/03/99 page 7
