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The British-Irish Council

The British-Irish Council (BIC) was created under the agreement reached in the multi-party negotiations in Belfast in 1998 (Belfast or Good Friday Agreement). It promotes positive, practical relationships among its members.

Mutual benefit

The BIC is a forum whereby ministers of the British and Irish Governments, the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and the Crown Dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey cooperate on matters of mutual interest.

The British Irish Council’s current work programme focuses on areas of mutual interest under the following themes:

  • misuse of drugs
  • the environment
  • demography
  • social inclusion
  • digital inclusion
  • transport
  • minority and lesser-used languages
  • energy (grid infrastructure and marine energy)
  • early years policy
  • housing
  • collaborative spatial planning

British Irish Council Meetings

The BIC meets in different formats - at Summit level, twice per year (heads of government/administration) and at Sectoral level on a regular basis (ministerial attendance).

Officials from each BIC Member Administration meet regularly to prepare in advance of BIC Ministerial and Summit meetings. The BIC issues communiques following each Summit or Ministerial meeting.

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