The British–Irish Council (BIC) is an international organisation[1] established under the Belfast Agreement in 1998, and formally established on 2 December 1999 on the entry into force of the consequent legislation. Its membership comprises representatives from the governments of Ireland; the United Kingdom; three of the four countries of the UK (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales); and three British Crown dependencies: Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Its stated aim is to "promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands". Because England does not have a devolved government, it is not represented on the Council as a separate entity.[2] It has been agreed that the BIC standing secretariat was to be located in Scotland.[3]
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Membership of the Council consists of the following governments (with current heads of government, as of June 2011):
The eight heads of government meet at twice yearly summits. Additionally, there are regular meetings that deal with specific sectors and are attended by the corresponding ministers. The work of the Council is financed by members through mutual agreement as required, and a secretariat is provided by the UK and Irish governments in co-ordination with officials of each of the other members.[5] Representatives of members operate in accordance with whatever procedures for democratic authority and accountability are in force in their respective elected legislatures.
At the ninth meeting of the Council, it was decided that with devolved government returned to Northern Ireland that an opportune time existed "to undertake a strategic review of the Council’s work programmes, working methods and support arrangements." This decision included the potential for a permanent standing secretariat.
The Council agrees to specific work areas for which individual members take responsibility. The Belfast Agreement suggested transport links, agriculture, environmental issues, culture, health, education and approaches to the European Union as suitable topics for early discussion. These work areas can be expanded or reduced as the Council decides. It is also open to the Council to make agreement on common policies. These agreements are made through consensus, although individual members may opt not to participate in implementing these. The current list of work areas and the member responsible are:
Demography was adopted as a work area at the 2006 meeting of the Council. It was proposed by the Scottish Executive, who also took responsibility for it. During the 2007 meeting of the Council the Scottish Government further proposed that energy become a work area of the Council and offered again to lead the area. No decision will be reached on whether to add energy as a work area or who should take responsibility for it until after the strategic review returns its findings.
In represented minority and lesser-used languages the council is known as:
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