Representatives of the 15 counties for which the Government is seeking Objective 1 status have engaged consultants to draw up proposals for devolving the administration of structural funds in the region.
It is an attempt to redress "the reluctance of central government to meet the requirements of subsidiarity as enshrined in the philosophy of the EU", according to Ms Marian Harkin, chairwoman of the Council for the West and spokeswoman for the committee co-ordinating the efforts.
"Our decision to commission consultants to propose a regional structure is geared to ensuring that our case for the retention of full Objective 1 status does not fail because of the absence of an acceptable and empowered regional administrative structure," she said.