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| EU peace fund to target young Northern Ireland loyalists | EU peace fund to target young Northern Ireland loyalists |
| (4 months later) | |
| The EU is to target young men like those currently engaged in loyalist street violence and riots over the union flag controversy in Belfast as part of its new multimillion-euro peace-building projects. | The EU is to target young men like those currently engaged in loyalist street violence and riots over the union flag controversy in Belfast as part of its new multimillion-euro peace-building projects. |
| Johannes Hahn, the EU commissioner for regional policy, confirmed on Thursday that part of a proposed €150m (£130m) peace fund for Northern Ireland will be used to train and educate young working-class loyalists who are politically and socially alienated from the peace process. | Johannes Hahn, the EU commissioner for regional policy, confirmed on Thursday that part of a proposed €150m (£130m) peace fund for Northern Ireland will be used to train and educate young working-class loyalists who are politically and socially alienated from the peace process. |
| In an interview with the Guardian during an international peace conference in Brussels, Hahn said he wanted some of the Peace 4 fund for Northern Ireland to help improve the prospects of young people who perceived themselves to have lost out in the power-sharing settlement. | In an interview with the Guardian during an international peace conference in Brussels, Hahn said he wanted some of the Peace 4 fund for Northern Ireland to help improve the prospects of young people who perceived themselves to have lost out in the power-sharing settlement. |
| He said the current violence and disorder over Belfast city council's decision to restrict the flying of the union flag was "on his radar". | He said the current violence and disorder over Belfast city council's decision to restrict the flying of the union flag was "on his radar". |
| Nearly 200 people have been arrested in connection with the street disorder and rioting that erupted following the council's decision to restrict flying of the union flag to only 18 days – a policy switch from flying the flag every day atop city hall. Dozens of police officers have been injured in riots, the homes and offices of the Alliance party have been attacked or picketed, and Belfast has lost around £15m in business since the protests began in December. | Nearly 200 people have been arrested in connection with the street disorder and rioting that erupted following the council's decision to restrict flying of the union flag to only 18 days – a policy switch from flying the flag every day atop city hall. Dozens of police officers have been injured in riots, the homes and offices of the Alliance party have been attacked or picketed, and Belfast has lost around £15m in business since the protests began in December. |
| Hahn said: "I have been closely following it and have been briefed about it by Northern Ireland members of the European parliament. We are looking very carefully and are concerned about the situation. Although it has to be said that the huge majority of the people are against any violence and they try to pursue a path that is political. | Hahn said: "I have been closely following it and have been briefed about it by Northern Ireland members of the European parliament. We are looking very carefully and are concerned about the situation. Although it has to be said that the huge majority of the people are against any violence and they try to pursue a path that is political. |
| "If there are dedicated programmes from the region that need support that will definitely improve the situation of these young people, particularly young men, then they will get support. We have to create the opportunities to improve their personal situation." | "If there are dedicated programmes from the region that need support that will definitely improve the situation of these young people, particularly young men, then they will get support. We have to create the opportunities to improve their personal situation." |
| Hahn said he envisaged that the scheme would help train young men who had been unemployed for a long time in communities left behind by the peace process. | Hahn said he envisaged that the scheme would help train young men who had been unemployed for a long time in communities left behind by the peace process. |
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