the Mid-East region to 37 members in the Border region. The EU Operational Committee has a similar, but broader, composition and assists the Regional Authority in matters relating to EU assistance and reviewing the implementation of various EU Operational Programmes in a region. Each Regional Authority had a Director, assisted by a number of policy and administrative staff. The Regional Authorities had specific responsibility for: Reviewing the Development Plans of local authorities in their region and in adjoining regions; Preparing Regional Planning Guidelines and Regional Economic and Social Strategies; Promoting cooperation, joint actions, arrangements and consultation among local authorities and other public bodies. On 1 June 2014, the functions of the Regional Authorities were transferred to the two Regional Assemblies as established in 1999, to create a single regional system. From 1 January 2015, these were replaced by three Regional Assemblies, with the former Regional Authority regions being succeeded by strategic planning areas, wholly within the Regional Assemblies. References External links Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly Northern and Western Regional Assembly Southern Regional Assembly Regions