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Ministers meet with EC president EC president confirms NI funding
(about 1 hour later)
The first and deputy first ministers in waiting have had a working lunch with the European Union's top diplomat, Jose Manuel Barroso, at Stormont. A new taskforce to examine how Northern Ireland can maximise its share of European funding is to be established, EC President Manuel Barroso has said.
It was Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness's first joint public engagement. Mr Barroso made the announcement after meeting Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers.
Mr Barroso also met Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern. He said a new study would be held into NI's economy to examine how entrepreneurship could be encouraged.
He said: "We are following with great admiration and respect the important political transformations (in NI)." He also confirmed that about £600m of European funds would be devoted to NI and the Republic's border counties.
On Monday night, Mr Paisley said he would not shake hands with Mr McGuinness when they were sworn into their jobs. The money will be given over the next six years.
The pair will take up their new roles on 8 May when the new power-sharing executive is formed. Mr Barroso said: "We will set up a taskforce in the commission to help finalise the programming of European Union funds so Northern Ireland can benefit from the experience across the EU in creating growth, jobs, innovation and opportunity."
Mr Barroso, the president of the European Commission, is visiting Northern Ireland on his way back from an EU-US summit in the United States. The meeting with the European Commission president was Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness's first joint public engagement.
Earlier, Mr Barroso also met Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern.
Mr Barroso visited Northern Ireland on his way back from an EU-US summit in the United States.
This visit is being seen as the European Union's way of signalling its backing for the new executive.This visit is being seen as the European Union's way of signalling its backing for the new executive.
Political development
Speaking after he met with Mr Hain and Mr Ahern, Mr Barroso said the EU would continue to be supportive of political development in Northern Ireland.Speaking after he met with Mr Hain and Mr Ahern, Mr Barroso said the EU would continue to be supportive of political development in Northern Ireland.
"I think there is a lot of symbolism in this because the message I want to bring to the citizens of Northern Ireland is that precisely we are following with great admiration, great respect very important political transformations here."I think there is a lot of symbolism in this because the message I want to bring to the citizens of Northern Ireland is that precisely we are following with great admiration, great respect very important political transformations here.
"This message I bring on behalf of the European Commission and I can say on behalf of the European Union," he said."This message I bring on behalf of the European Commission and I can say on behalf of the European Union," he said.
Ian Paisley won't shake hands with Martin McGuinness at ceremony On Monday night, Mr Paisley said he would not shake hands with Mr McGuinness when they were sworn into their jobs.
The EU commission is on the verge of approving a further £600m in financial support for Northern Ireland and the Republic's border counties. The pair will take up their new roles on 8 May when the new power-sharing executive is formed.
However, the Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson and the independent unionist MEP Jim Allister have both protested about being left out of the arrangements for this visit, which they believe is a breach of the usual protocol.
Handshake
Speaking about the handshake, Mr Paisley told BBC NI's Spotlight programme: "It's not handshaking we want, it's decision-making we want.Speaking about the handshake, Mr Paisley told BBC NI's Spotlight programme: "It's not handshaking we want, it's decision-making we want.
"It's not acting like two actors to impress people, the people are looking for results."It's not acting like two actors to impress people, the people are looking for results.
"We could shake hands 24 hours a day, but if we don't get this province of ours into a ship-shape economic condition what good's the handshaking?""We could shake hands 24 hours a day, but if we don't get this province of ours into a ship-shape economic condition what good's the handshaking?"