Irish Presidency Review

Transcription

1 PRESIDENCY PROGRAMME 2013 Irish Presidency Review A Review of EM Ireland s Presidency Programme of Campaigns and Activities 2013 July

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3 Table of Contents Executive Director s Foreword... 2 Launch of European Year of Citizens 2013 and Citizens Dialogue... 3 Regional Citizens Dialogues... 3 EM Ireland / Red C Presidency and EU Sentiment Poll... 4 Youth Media and the Irish Presidency (YMIP)... 4 EESC-European Movement Ireland Conference... 5 Brussels Connection and the Green Book Presidency Edition... 5 EM Ireland Brussels Branch... 5 Europe Week (6-10 May 2013)... 6 Accountability Report Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs... 7 Eurovisions Drawing Inspiration from the Continent... 7 European Movement International Federal Assembly Years of Change Third-Level Bursary Award... 8 Public Irish Presidency Talks on Ireland and Europe... 8 EU in 20 Presentations to Secondary Schools... 8 Irish Presidency Calendar... 9 Presidency Weekly Events Bulletins... 9 Online Events Calendar... 9 Just the Facts Campaign... 9 College of Europe Grad Jobs in Europe Campaign Civil Society Outreach European Movement Ireland 1

4 Executive Director s Foreword From January to June 2013, Ireland held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the seventh time in its history. The six Presidency months have been an exciting and unique opportunity for Ireland to instigate changes that will benefit the whole European community. The period was also a busy one for us here at European Movement Ireland, coinciding as it does with the 40 th anniversary of Irish accession to the EU and the designation of 2013 as the European Year of Citizens by the European Commission. The aim of the European Year of Citizens is to encourage citizen participation in the EU and to create a dialogue between EU citizens and European representatives, an aim which fits seamlessly with our own mission of developing the connection between Ireland and Europe at all levels of society. As such, 2013 truly is a unique year for EM Ireland. As the oldest Irish organisation working in the sphere of Irish-EU relations, the year afforded us an opportunity to take stock, reflect on our relationship with Europe and look to the future. During the Irish Presidency, in addition to our regular work programme, EM Ireland organised a wide range of events, projects, programmes and campaigns. The aim of these was to ensure that EM Ireland members, as well as the broader Irish public, were kept informed of Presidency and European Year of Citizens related events and activities. We have prepared this Review of our 2013 Irish Presidency Programme of Campaigns and Activities in order to give our members and stakeholders a brief insight into our work over the last six months. The publication of this Review represents the culmination of almost a year of work by the EM Ireland team, leading up to and during the Irish Presidency. This Review, and the work of EM Ireland over the past year, would not have been possible without the contribution and efforts of a significant number of people. I would like to thank the European Movement Ireland Board, Advisory Council and stakeholders for their constant support and encouragement throughout this busy period. I would also like to pay tribute to the entire EM Ireland team, including the many stagiaires who worked with us over the past year, for their efforts in contributing to EM Ireland s Presidency Programme. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our members for your on-going support of EM Ireland, without which our work simply would not be possible. This EM Ireland Presidency Review is also available to download from our website, We are always looking for ways to improve and expand on our work and, to that end, I would welcome any comments or feedback you may have on this Review. Noelle O Connell Executive Director 2 European Movement Ireland

5 Launch of European Year of Citizens 2013 and Citizens Dialogue Date: 10 January 2013 Location: Dublin City Hall EM Ireland began its Presidency Programme with the official Launch of the European Year of Citizens in Dublin City Hall on 10 January EM Ireland coordinated this high-profile event in partnership with the Department of the Taoiseach, the European Commission and the European Commission Representation in Ireland. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny; An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore; and President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, launched the European Year of Citizens in front of an audience comprised of over 200 members of the public. Following the launch, a Citizens Dialogue a frank and open exchange of opinions on the current economic crisis, the rights of European citizens and the future of the European Union took place between attendees and Vice-President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding, and Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton. This Citizens Dialogue was hosted by RTÉ presenter, Pat Kenny. Regional Citizens Dialogues Building on the success of the Launch of the European Year of Citizens and the Citizens Dialogue, and to mark the 40 th anniversary of Irish accession to the European Union, EM Ireland organised a series of Regional Citizens Dialogues to be held around the country throughout 2013, some occurring during the Presidency. So far, three of these events have been held, as outlined below. Date: 10 January 2013 Date: 15 February 2013 Date: 8 April 2013 Date: 22 July 2013 Location: Dublin City Hall Location: Cork City Hall Location: Galway County Hall Location: Savoy Hotel, Limerick The first of these events outside Dublin took place in Cork with a panel consisting of An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore; H.E. Ambassador of Denmark to Ireland, Niels Pultz; Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor John Buttimer; and President of Network Ireland, Julia Lynes. On 8 April, the second Regional Citizens Dialogue took place in Galway with Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton; H.E. Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ireland, Tomáš Kafka; and Vice- President of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Jim Fennell. The third Regional Citizens Dialogue will take place in Limerick on Monday 22 July with Minister Creighton. Further events are planned around the country for the remaining months of With audience members spanning all sectors of society EM Ireland members and stakeholders, members of the public, unemployed individuals, students, business owners, trade union members, politicians, and officials these Regional Citizens Dialogues have been important in increasing awareness of, and ensuring citizen engagement in, both the Irish Presidency and the European Year of Citizens across Ireland. European Movement Ireland 3

6 EM Ireland / Red C Presidency and EU Sentiment Poll European Movement Ireland commissioned the independent polling company Red C to carry out a poll at the start of the Irish Presidency in order to ascertain Irish people s views on a variety of different topics related to Irish-EU relations. The poll was conducted among a representative sample of over 1,000 people aged 18 and over from across the country and took place between 7 and 9 January The poll proved positive for the Irish Presidency, with a high level of awareness among respondents of Ireland s Presidency of the Council of the EU: 76 per cent of those polled were aware of Ireland s role. The poll also raised the question of Ireland s position in the EU. 85 per cent of those surveyed said Ireland should remain part of the EU, while 83 per cent believed that Ireland had on balance benefitted from EU membership. 29 per cent of respondents, however, felt that if the UK were to leave the EU, Ireland should follow suit. Youth Media and the Irish Presidency (YMIP) As part of its Presidency Work Programme, EM Ireland developed Youth Media and the Irish Presidency, an all-ireland initiative funded under the European Commission s Youth in Action programme. In December 2012, EM Ireland recruited a team of 25 citizen journalists aged between 18 and 25 to report on the Irish Presidency and bring a fresh, youth-focused perspective to coverage of European affairs in Ireland. Throughout the Presidency, the team of YMIP journalists received detailed briefings and trainings from EM Ireland staff, external trainers and experts from the worlds of media and politics. Over the last six months, our citizen journalists have been at the fore of Irish media work, reporting on official and associated Presidency events, including Informal Meetings of Ministers, international conferences, debates and youth consultations. The YMIP journalists have had the opportunity to meet and interview high-profile individuals, including the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello, Vice-President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding, and Managing Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde. In addition, they have also secured substantial press coverage in regional and national print outlets, on online news publications, and regional and national radio stations. Two of our YMIP team were afforded the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview Madame Lagarde on the occasion of her visit to Ireland on International Women s Day. This YMIP interview was one of only three one-on-one interviews which she gave while in Ireland. 4 European Movement Ireland

7 EESC-European Movement Ireland Conference Date: 1 February 2013 Location: Castleknock, Dublin On 1 February 2013, Group III of the European Economic and Social Committee and European Movement Ireland held a joint conference entitled Ireland 40 years on: The benefits, opportunities and challenges of EU membership. The event provided members of the EESC and EM Ireland, and a wide range of organisations representing organised civil society with a unique opportunity to review and assess Ireland s journey through the past 40 years of EU membership and to discuss a range of topics related to the future of the EU. Topics discussed on the day included CAP reform, the current financial crisis, the future of European farming and the environment. Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton; Dr Donal Donovan, former Deputy Director of the IMF; Dominic Hannigan TD; and Senator Jillian van Turnhout, were some of the speakers on the day. Brussels Connection and the Green Book Presidency Edition Date: 25 March 2013 Location: Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union, Brussels, Belgium EM Ireland travelled to Brussels on 25 March to host our Irish Presidency Brussels Connection networking event. Brussels Connection is a bi-annual EM Ireland event, organised to coincide with the arrival of a new class of Irish stagiaires in Brussels. The event offers new stagiaires an opportunity to get to know each other and to meet with Irish officials and experts from all areas of work in the city. The Irish Presidency Brussels Connection event was kindly hosted by Ireland s Permanent Representative to the EU, H.E. Ambassador Rory Montgomery. This first Brussels Connection event of 2013 marked both the launch of the Presidency Edition of the EM Ireland Green Book and the launch of the EM Ireland Brussels Branch. The latest edition of the Green Book has been updated to ensure that it is fully up-to-date with all the necessary information on internship opportunities in EU Institutions and Agencies, life in Brussels, and job-hunting after a stage. The Green Book was also expanded this year to include a chapter detailing the priorities, challenges and likely outcomes of the Irish Presidency, as well as a new section on living and working in Strasbourg. EM Ireland Brussels Branch As part of our Irish Presidency work, an EM Ireland Brussels Branch was launched in March 2013 in order to cater for Irish people based in Brussels looking to network and engage. The inaugural event of the Brussels Branch will take place on Tuesday 16 July 2013 and will focus on the topic The EU Presidency: a blessing or a burden for small nations? This will be followed by an EU Careers Talk in autumn European Movement Ireland 5

8 Europe Week (6-10 May 2013) Date: 6-10 May 2013 Location: Various nationally EM Ireland was extensively involved in a number of different Europe Week activities throughout the country. The Blue Star Programme for primary schools aims to foster better understanding and knowledge of the European Union and how it affects the lives of Irish citizens among Irish primary pupils through classroom projects and activities. EM Ireland is the National Implementation Body in partnership with the office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, the Department of the Taoiseach, the European Commission Representation in Ireland and the European Parliament Information Office in Ireland. As part of the Programme, schools are required to host Europe Day celebrations. Members of the EM Ireland team visited schools around the country during Europe Week to join in their celebrations which included food fairs, parades, concerts, talks and visits from MEPs and other public representatives. EM Ireland also hosted an art exhibition in the Mansion House for three Dublin-based Blue Star schools. At the event, Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, Emer Costello MEP and Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí spoke to the pupils. The pupils also enjoyed face-painting, balloon art, European-themed games and other fun activities. EM Ireland also co-ordinated the Europe Day national handshake in Blue Star schools across the country. Over 5,000 pupils shook each other s hands in a spirit of solidarity and to celebrate the diversity in their schools. Both the Blue Star Programme and its events during Europe Week received extensive media coverage across the country with many regional newspapers and radio stations reporting on the various events that took place. Accountability Report 2012 European Movement Ireland s Accountability Report acts as an Irish-EU report card, evaluating the level of Irish engagement in the EU. The third annual Accountability Report, offering insight and analysis of Ireland s report card scores in 2012, was published during Europe Week The Accountability Report evaluates the level of Irish engagement in the EU by tracking various indicators; including the attendance of Irish representatives at EU-level meetings, the contributions made by Irish stakeholders to European Commission Consultations and the level of Irish MEP engagement in the European Parliament. The Report also assesses the levels of scrutiny and discussion of European issues that takes place at an Irish national parliamentary level and provides recommendations for increased engagement and improved performance in a number of different areas. The Accountability Report 2012 was launched on 7 May 2013 by former MEP for Dublin, Mary Banotti. Dr Jane Suiter, political scientist in the School of Communications at Dublin City University and former Irish Times Economics Editor, was also on hand to provide an academic critique of the Report. EM Ireland Executive Director, Noelle O Connell, presented an overview of the Report s key findings for members and media present. The launch of the Accountability Report 2012 received extensive and high-profile media coverage with the event covered by RTÉ 6 European Movement Ireland

9 Six One News and Drivetime. The Accountability Report and its launch also featured in a number of print media outlets including The Irish Times, regional papers and online publications. Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs As part of its national debate on Ireland and the future of the EU, which was held against the backdrop of the Irish Presidency, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs invited EM Ireland to speak about its submission to the Committee in March EM Ireland also presented the findings of its Accountability Report 2012 to the Committee following its launch in May Eurovisions Drawing Inspiration from the Continent Date: 21 May 2013 Location: EU House, Dublin On 21 May, European Movement Ireland partnered with Dublin Writers Festival 2013 to bring their members, and members of the public, a cultural Presidency event: Eurovisions Drawing Inspiration from the Continent. This event offered the audience an opportunity to reflect on Ireland s relationship with Europe, coinciding with Ireland s Presidency, the European Year of Citizens and the 40th anniversary of Ireland s membership of the EU from a cultural perspective. A panel of personalities from the worlds of Irish politics and the arts including Director of the Abbey Theatre, Senator Fiach MacConghail; novelist and short story writer, Evelyn Conlon; and Director of Dublin Dance Festival, Julia Carruthers offered an insight into the diverse European figures, past and present, who inspired them and influenced their thinking. European Movement International Federal Assembly Date: May 2013 Location: Dublin Castle and Iveagh House, Dublin European Movement Ireland played host to the European Movement International Federal Assembly in Dublin Castle on 24 and 25 May This Associate Presidency event brought together European Movement delegates representing 75 member organisations from over 40 European countries in Dublin for a two-day period. EM Ireland invited their members to be a part of this Federal Assembly and to join delegates from across Europe at the proceedings on Friday 24 May, which featured keynote addresses by Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, and Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Juan Menéndez-Valdés. The day s proceedings were followed by an evening reception at Iveagh House, kindly hosted by the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and featured a special presentation to Pat Cox, who was appointed Honorary President of European Movement International on the night. European Movement Ireland 7

10 40 Years of Change Third-Level Bursary Award To mark the Irish Presidency and Ireland s 40 years of EU membership, European Movement Ireland teamed up this year with KBC Bank Ireland to launch the 40 Years of Change third-level Bursary Award. This was an essay competition that challenged undergraduate students across the island of Ireland to produce an essay on the topic of Ireland and the EU: Forty Years of Change. The competition invited students to critically examine how Ireland and the EU have developed over the past forty years and how this relationship may develop over the next forty. Entries were reviewed by an independent panel of judges drawn from the worlds of academia and politics to select a winner. The author of the winning essay was announced on 30 May at a 40 Years of Change gala dinner in Dublin, organised by EM Ireland. At the dinner, EM Ireland Honorary President, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, awarded the prize to the Bursary Award winner and delivered a keynote address to guests. Public Irish Presidency Talks on Ireland and Europe Date: On-going Locations: Various nationally, including: Balbriggan, Blanchardstown, Dundalk, Malahide, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Rosscarbery and Rush EM Ireland is in the process of conducting a series of Presidency talks in regional Europe Direct Information Centres and associated libraries for members of the public. The purpose of these talks is to explain the facts of the EU what it is, who is involved and how it works with a particular focus on the Irish Presidency, and to facilitate an environment in which people can pose any questions they may have about the EU and Irish-EU relations. Attendance at these events is open to members of the public. These public talks will be continued throughout 2013 and beyond. EU in 20 Presentations to Secondary Schools Date: On-going Location: Various secondary schools nationally. EM Ireland is continuing to offer its successful EU in 20 presentations to secondary schools around the country as part of the European Year of Citizens and the Irish Presidency. The purpose of these presentations is to explain what the EU is, who is involved and how it works. They also afford students an opportunity to ask any EU-related questions that they may have and to learn more about Ireland s Presidency. Schools visited by EM Ireland for EU in 20 presentations include Ballinteer, Goatstown and Rathcoole. 8 European Movement Ireland

11 Irish Presidency Calendar As part of EM Ireland s series of bi-annual Presidency calendars, in December 2012 EM Ireland produced a six-month Presidency Calendar for Ireland s Presidency of the Council of the EU. The EM Ireland Presidency Calendars highlight key dates in the Irish and European cultural and political calendars. The EM Ireland Irish Presidency Calendar was distributed to members and delegates at EM Ireland events throughout the Presidency and was available to download from the EM Ireland website. On 25 June 2013, the subsequent Lithuanian Presidency calendar was launched by the Lithuanian Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Vidmantas Purlys, at the EM Ireland Lithuanian Presidency Briefing. Presidency Weekly Events Bulletins As part of EM-Ireland s Irish Presidency communication initiatives, a weekly events bulletin was distributed by to our network of members, informing them about upcoming Presidency and European Year of Citizens events. More information on the events mentioned in the bulletins could be found on the EM Ireland online events calendar. Online Events Calendar As part of EM Ireland s work to keep members and the broader public informed and engaged with the Irish Presidency throughout its duration, an interactive online calendar of events was created on the EM Ireland website. This calendar listed EM Ireland events, Irish Presidency events and official EU events, as well as events run by other organisations around the country. The calendar was continually updated to ensure that it was filled with the most relevant information for EM Ireland members and the wider public. Organisations were also invited to submit material for inclusion in the online events calendar. This calendar was used extensively by Ireland s civil society network to promote awareness of their own Presidency and European Year of Citizens events, and facilitated the creation of a larger community of organisations and individuals aware of the various Presidency and European Year of Citizens events. Just the Facts Campaign EM Ireland s Just the Facts information campaign has long played an important role in fulfilling EM Ireland s goal of promoting reasoned, robust and informed debate on European issues in Ireland. Throughout Ireland s Presidency, EM Ireland published weekly articles informing the general public about topical European issues. Some of the areas covered over the Irish Presidency include the European Youth Guarantee; Croatian accession to the EU; the horsemeat scandal; Cypriot, Italian and Bulgarian elections; and the Late Payments Directive. This work will continue throughout European Movement Ireland 9

12 College of Europe Each year, the College of Europe Scholarship Programme facilitates a number of Irish students to study at Masters Level at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. The programme is open to Irish students studying politics, law, economics and European Studies and offers an excellent opportunity for Irish graduates who are interested in working in Europe to develop their knowledge and skills and to experience education in a truly international environment. In 2013, EM Ireland successfully managed this programme on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. Grad Jobs in Europe Campaign European Movement Ireland continued to operate a multi-faceted Grad Jobs in Europe campaign to inform recent Irish graduates of the opportunities available to them in the EU jobs market. As well as the Presidency Brussels Connection event and the publication of the Presidency edition of the Green Book, which were outlined earlier in this Review, the following aspects of the Grad Jobs in Europe campaign were continued: Nationwide Career Talks were conducted in schools, universities, and other third-level institutions around Ireland. EM Ireland were also present at a number of careers fairs and exhibitions around the country. EM Ireland s Jobs and Internships in Europe webpage and weekly mailout service, which provides our student members and third-level careers services nationwide with weekly updates on the most recent job and internship opportunities in Europe, was continued. Eu jobs.ie stakeholder group: EM Ireland continued to participate on this important working group in collaboration with other key partners to make Irish graduates more aware of the opportunities available to them in the EU system, in order to help Irish graduates fulfil their career ambitions and to ensure that Ireland can maintain its presence in the European system. Civil Society Outreach The European Citizens Initiative (ECI) was one of the major innovations of the Lisbon Treaty. Despite its low uptake, European Movement Ireland hopes to see Irish citizens utilise this democratic tool to a greater extent in the future. We continue to ensure that information about the ECI is disseminated and communicated. This role assumes even greater importance in light of the fact that 2013 is European Year of the Citizens. EM Ireland also continues to deal with enquiries from civil society and the NGO sector in relation to the Irish Presidency and the challenges and priorities of the European Year of Citizens. 10 European Movement Ireland

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