Archive
Contents
- Opportunity Europe 2008
- Role of the EU in the Northern Ireland Peace Process
- MEP Reports on Peace Programme
- European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
- Ministers' meet with President of the European Commission
- CoR and CLRAE joint delegtions meeting in Belfast
- European Parliament Regional Development Committee visit
- Opportunity Europe 2007
- Student Mock Council of the European Union
- CoR Open Days 2007
- 50th Anniversary of the Treaty or Rome - Events
- CoR Open Days 2006
- Opportunity Europe 2006
- Louvain Institute
- Head of European Civil Service visits Belfast
Opportunity Europe 2008 took place on 21 and 22 October in St George’s Market, Belfast.
The annual fair and exhibition provided students, teachers and the general public the chance to learn about the benefits of language learning and the opportunities to work, study, travel or volunteer in other European countries.
The programme included language tasters, job workshops, drama, table quizzes, information stands, music and dance. In addition to the European theme, this year’s event also featured presentations on Climate Change, an important policy area for the European Union.
View the full programme of events (PDF 497 KB).
Opportunity Europe is the local event associated with Open Days 2008: European Week of Regions and Cities. Read more about Open Days on Europa’s Open Days website
The European Policy and Co-Ordination Unit (OFMDFM) helped plan this event, run by the European Commission’s Belfast Office and Belfast City Council. The Northern Ireland Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research at Queens University (NICILT), Language Network Northern Ireland and the European Movement are also involved in organising Opportunity Europe.
Jane Morrice and Mike Smyth, Northern Ireland’s representatives on the Economic and Social Committee, hosted a conference at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown on 28 April. The Conference was part of the preparation of an opinion which Jane Morrice is preparing for the Committee on ‘The Role of the EU in the Northern Ireland Peace Process’.
A presentation ceremony was held that morning to recognise the role of those directly involved in establishing the EU PEACE Programme. Monika Wulf-Mathies, former Commission Secretary General, and Carlo Trojan, Chair of the first EU Task Force for Northern Ireland (PEACE); were invited to Belfast by the First and deputy First Ministers to thank them for their involvement.
First Minister Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley said "Since the first Peace Programme, around 22,000 projects have been supported across Northern Ireland. This is a considerable achievement. Our aim of course is to continue to work to achieve a more stable and prosperous future for Northern Ireland". The First Ministers speech on the role of the EU in the NI peace process can be viewed in full (PDF 26 KB).
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said "We have a responsibility to share our knowledge and expertise in conflict resolution with others". He went on to say "The concept of Europe is one where co-operation between nations and respect for diversity among its peoples serves as a touchstone for us all". The deputy First Ministers speech can be viewed in ful (PDF 33 KB).
Noel Ahern TD, Minister of State in the Department of Finance also spoke at the recognition ceremony, representing the Irish Government. He said "I believe that the cross-border programmes in Ireland can help to change the mindset of people on both sides of the border. They help to forge links between different communities and encourage tolerance for diversity". Mr Ahern's speech can be viewed in full (PDF 32 KB).
The working session of the Conference followed that afternoon - during which evidence was gathered from stakeholders and funding recipients to inform the opinion.
Due for completion in autumn 2008, the opinion seeks to chart the relatively unsung story of EU support for the region and draw up a ‘tool kit’ of the lessons learned in the EU’s approach to conflict resolution here. It is expected to dovetail with other initatives by the European Parliament and the Barroso Taskforce on Northern Ireland to create a focus for future relations between Northern Ireland and the European Union.
Main party at the University of Ulster Jordanstown for the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) event on 28 April 2008 - (from left to right) Henri Malosse, EESC, Noel Ahern TD, Minister of State, Department of Finance, Martin McGuinness MP, MLA, deputy First Minister, Monika Wulf-Mathies, Former Commissioner for Regional Policy, Dr Ian Paisley MP, MLA, First Minister, Jillian van Turnhout, EESC, Professor Richard Barnett, Vice Chancellor, University of Ulster and Carlo Trojan, Former Secretary General, European Commission.
The European Parliament’s Regional Development Committee endorsed Bairbre de Brún’s report ‘Evaluation of the Peace Programme and Strategies for the Future’ on 27 March 2008. The report was adopted by a simple majority in the European Parliament in May.
2008 has been designated the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue by the European Union and Member States.
The Year recognises that Europe’s great cultural diversity represents a unique advantage. It encourages all those living in Europe to ‘explore the benefits of our rich cultural heritage and opportunities to learn from different cultural traditions’—a theme which is particularly relevant to Northern Ireland.
A number of initiatives have been planned to mark the Year.
The Ordinary Lives exhibition in the Long Gallery in Parliament Buildings was hosted by OFMDFM. This exhibition and accompanying publication marked the culmination of a year-long project exploring the stories of European migration through the eyes of 18 young people from the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Portugal and Northern Ireland. The stories are about those who took the decision to move here, the people they met on arrival and those they left behind. This group represents intercultural dialogue in action and the effects of migration on societies experiencing both departure and arrival. Read more about Ordinary Lives on the British Council website
Opportunity Europe 2008 will also promote the Year of Intercultural Dialogue to students and teachers through tailored workshops. Read more about Opportunity Europe below.
Read more about the Year at the Intercultural Dialogue 2008 official website
2009 will be the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. Please contact the European Policy and Co-ordinaton team If you have any ideas about how to celebrate this theme in Northern Ireland.
Ministers’ meet with President of the European Commission
During a two-day visit to Brussels on 9-10 January, First Minister, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley MP MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP MLA secured the commitment of EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso to extend the life of the special EU taskforce for Northern Ireland. Read more about the Barroso Taskforce
Committee of the Regions and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe joint delegations meeting in Belfast
UK and Irish delegations to the European Union’s Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE) met jointly in Belfast on 10 December 2007.
This was the first meeting of its kind to bring together all four of these delegations to debate topical issues and share best practice. This event provided an opportunity for elected officials from across the UK and Ireland serving on both European advisory groups to discuss their roles in Europe and to network with other delegates doing similar work. ‘Communicating Europe’ was a major theme of the event.
All four delegations jointly adopted and issued a joint ‘Belfast statement'(PDF 30 KB)
Following the day’s work, Cllr Sean Neeson MLA, Northern Ireland’s representative in the regional chamber of CLRAE, hosted a evening reception and dinner for the delegates and guests in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The Speaker of the Assembly, William Hay MLA sponsored the drinks reception, welcoming the delegates to Belfast. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, a former member of the CoR, and Junior Minister Paisley also attended the evening reception.
Sean Neeson MLA wth Alan Lloyd and Gordon Keymer, leaders of the UK delegations, during the day's meeting at the Hilton, Belfast.
Junior Minister Paisley met the UK CoR and CLRAE delagation leaders, Cllrs Gordon Keyer and Alan Lloyd, at a drinks reception in Parliament Buildings.
The speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William Hay MLA, welcomed delegates and guests to Stormont.
A delegation from the European Parliament Regional Development Committee visited Northern Ireland on Monday 10 September 2007 as part of a four day visit to Ireland. Two of Northern Ireland's MEP's, Bairbre de Brun and Jim Nicholson are members of the Committee and were part of the visiting delegation.
The Committee was undertaking a four day visit to review the use of European funding in the period up to 2006 and arrangements for the forthcoming programmes which will run to 2013. Whilst here, the Committee met with Assembly Ministers and a number of organisations involved in the dispersal of European Structural Funds before departing to County Donegal.
Martin McGuinness MP MLA, Gerry Kelly MLA, Bairbre de Brún MEP, Jan Olbrycht, Vice- Chair of the Regional Development Committee, Ian Paisley Jnr MLA and Jim Nicholson MEP
The Regional Development Committee in session in Parliament Buildings
The Delegation with the deputy First Minister and Junior Ministers
Several Thousand school children and young people attended Opportunity Europe 2007, an award winning European event, held in St. George’s Market in Belfast on 13 and 14 November. EPCU teamed up with Belfast City Council, the European Commission and other stakeholders to plan the event, which provides workshops and exhibitions highlighting Northern Ireland’s links with Europe and the opportunities available to work, study, volunteer and do business in Europe.
In addition to attending workshops and learning from the many exhibitors on hand; students and visitors participated in table quizzes, received salsa dancing lessons and were entertained by COOL FM.
Representatives from the business world led workshops on the value of languages in today’s economy. Local firms, including Bombardier Aerospace, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Michelin Tyre PLC, Caterpillar Business Services, Belfast City Council and Montupet shared their experience of doing business in Europe. Ex-patriots from France, Lithuania, Belgium, Poland and Spain also took part.
Belfast City Council's European Unit has been Highly Commended by the National Centre for Languages European Award for Language Programme for staging Opportunity Europe.
For more information on this event, please contact Jaime Bennett at Hapening (NI) Ltd. Tel: 028 9066 4020, E-mail: jaime@happen.co.uk
The British Council and the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland are inviting schools to take part in a role-play of a meeting of the Council of the European Union on 17 October, 2007, in Parliament Buildings at Stormont.
You can watch the webcast from last year’s event on the british councils website
Participation in this simulated council meeting will demonstrate to students how the main decision making body of the European Union functions. Students will get a chance to practice their debating and diplomacy skills in a realistic setting, observed by teachers and students from 28 participating schools. For more information contact the British Council at ERCNI@britishcouncil.org.
The Open days European Week of Regions and Cities, organised by the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy (DG Regio), was held in Brussels from 8-11 October 2007. A total of 212 regions and cities—up from 135 last year— participated in what is the biggest event in the regional policy calendar.
The overall theme was ‘Making It Happen: Regions Deliver Growth and Jobs’. The regions and cities were split into 24 conglomerates, focused on shared challenges in areas such as sustainable energy, science and innovation, inter-regional cooperation, local governance and maritime policy. Some 33 countries were represented, including non European Union countries Turkey, Russia, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome by France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg on March 25, 1957. The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community. The preamble to the Treaty affirmed that signatory States were ‘determined to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.’ The Treaty has been amended several times to take account of new Member States joining the Union and the word ‘economic’ has now been removed from the name of the Community and Treaty.
The United Kingdom joined in 1973 and is now part of a European Union of 27 Member States.
Several events to commemorate the 50th Anniversary will take place in Northern Ireland throughout 2007.
Berlin Declaration
EU heads of State and Government attended celebrations in Berlin on 25 March 2007 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The Berlin Declaration was issued, signed by the Presidents of the three European Institutions, which extolled the virtues of the European Union and the many reasons to celebrate at 50.
The United Kingdom has welcomed the recognition in the Declaration of the future challenges facing the European Union, such as climate change, energy security, poverty and global terrorism. These are key areas for the United Kingdom and ones on which we can achieve more by working together.
Europe Day postcard competition for primary schools
The British Council, in conjunction with the European Commission Office in Belfast, organised a competition for primary school children throughout Northern Ireland to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. Pupils were invited to design a postcard which will be used to mark Europe Day on 9 May 2007. Tara McKeown from St. Joseph’s Primary School in Bessbrook designed the winning postcard (shown below) which was printed and distributed by both the British Council and the European Commission Office.
For more information on the competition and to view some of the other entries, visit the British Council (Northern Ireland) website .
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Belfast City Council’s celebration of the EU’s birthday
To mark the 50th Birthday of the European Union, a full programme of activities is planned to show the best of what Belfast has to offer the rest of Europe. For more information and a list of planned events, visit the Belfast City Council’s webpage
October 2006
Opportunity Europe 2006 was held in St. George’s Market on 2 and 3 October, during a week of festivities marking the European Day of Languages. Over 5,000 people attended the two day fair and exhibition designed to highlight Northern Ireland’s many links with Europe. EPCU helped plan the event with the Belfast City Council, the European Commission, the British Council and other stakeholders to provide secondary school students and teachers with more information on the opportunities available in Europe.
One of the Spanish language taster sessions that took place at Opportunity Europe.
Hanson at joint opening of phase one of Louvain development and refurbishment project
David Hanson MP, Minister of State and Brian Cowen TD, the Republic of Ireland’s Finance Minister attended the opening of the first phase of a major development and refurbishment programme at the Louvain Institute on 11 July 2006. This was a joint North/South collaboration.
The event was attended by those closely associated with the Institute from both parts of Ireland and included politicians, European Representatives, European Institution representatives and civil society groups.
David Hanson MP speaking at the opening of phase 1 of the Louvain Institute’s development and refurbishment programme.
David Hanson MP and Brian Cowen TD cut the tape to formally open phase 1 of the Louvain Institute’s development and refurbishment programme.
L to R – Brian Nason, Irish Ambassador to Belgium, Brian Cowen TD, Tom Jago, President Louvain Institute, Malachy Vallely, Director General Louvain Institute, David Hanson MP.
Hanson announces Northern Ireland’s investment in the heart of European Union (EU)
David Hanson MP, Minister for Europe, visited the Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe on 8 June 2006 to see how Northern Ireland’s contribution is being used to develop the historic college.
The Minister was briefed on the Institute by its Director-General, Malachy Vallely, followed by a tour of the work completed to date. He later met invited guests including the architects and the construction company responsible for the project, in the Institute’s historic garden.
Pictured from left to right: William Dukelow, Kenny Knox OFMDFM, Louis Roppe a Louvain Institute Board Member, David Hanson MP, Evelyn Cummins Director of the Office of the NI Executive, Brussels, and Malachy Vallely
The Minister chats to guests following a tour of the Institute.
Head of European Civil Service Visits Belfast
On Friday 18 November, The Secretary General of the European Commission, David O’Sullivan, met with senior civil servants in Belfast. This was a rare opportunity to hear from such an influential EU official working at the heart of EU policy and decision making. As Secretary General, David O’Sullivan is the head of the European Civil Service. His principal mission is to ensure the delivery of the European Commission’s political priorities as defined by President José Manuel Barroso.
This visit took place several days before Mr. O’Sullivan takes up post as Director-General for External Trade in a reshuffle of senior posts within the Commission. Another Irish citizen, Catherine Day, will take up the post of Secretary General on 21 November.
Several other Commissioners visited Northern Ireland in 2005, including:
- Jacques Barrot (Transport)
- Danuta Hubner (Regional Policy)
- Vladimir Spidla (Employment, Social Affairs)
- Joe Borg (Fisheries)
These visits allow Commissioners to learn first hand about the implementation of EU policies in Northern Ireland.
