British–Irish Council
Logo of the British–Irish Council | |
Heads of government meet in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the 42nd council summit | |
| Abbreviation | BIC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2 December 1999 |
| Founders | |
| Type | Intergovernmental organisation |
| Purpose | "Promoting positive, practical, relations... between the people of these islands." |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, Scotland (secretariat) |
| Coordinates | 55°56′45″N 3°13′21″W / 55.9458°N 3.2226°W |
Region served | British Isles |
| Membership | |
| Website | www |
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| Additional bodies |
The British–Irish Council (BIC; Irish: Comhairle na Breataine–na hÉireann, Welsh: Cyngor Prydeinig-Gwyddelig.) is an intergovernmental organisation that aims to improve collaboration between its members in a number of areas including transport, the environment and energy. Its membership comprises the governments of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
The British and Irish governments, and political parties in Northern Ireland, agreed to form a council under the British–Irish Agreement, part of the Good Friday Agreement reached in 1998. The council was formally established on 2 December 1999, when the Agreement came into effect. The council's stated aim is to "promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands". The BIC has a standing secretariat, located in Edinburgh, Scotland; it meets in semi-annual summits and more frequent ministerial meetings.