evidence: Together with the UK's financial commitment and additional national co-financing from Ireland and Northern Ireland, this will result in a total investment of €1.1 billion in peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland. Vice-President for Inter-institutional Relations and Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič, said: "The EU has proven time and again its commitment to the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement. Today is another concrete example of that support – together with the Irish and British governments, the new PEACE PLUS programme will provide around €1 billion to Northern Ireland and the border counties. Preserving the hard-earned gains of the peace process will always be of paramount importance to all Europeans." Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, added: "Since 1995, the EU has been committed to make a constructive contribution to the peace process. The new ambitious PEACE PLUS, the largest ever cross-border cooperation programme in the island, is built on the same principles of partnership that have made the past PEACE programmes effective instruments for cooperation and peace building. We invite partners in Ireland and Northern Ireland to continue their work to achieve our shared ambitions for reconciliation, peace and prosperity."