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About Irish Regions European Office

The Irish Regions European Office (IREO) is a specialised support service which acts as a bridge between Irish local and regional government and the European Union, explaining and guiding its stakeholders through the Brussels scene and promoting Irish interests and best practices at the European level.

Who we are

The Irish Regions European Office is based in Brussels and represents the three Regional Assemblies and 31 local authorities of Ireland.

Operating as part of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and with the support of the Department for Housing, Planning and Local Government, our focus is on bringing the EU closer to the wider local government sector and vice versa.

Location

Irish Regions European Office
5th Floor
Rue Froissart 50
B-1040 Bruxelles

+32 (0) 2 2331122

info@ireo.eu

What we do

IREO has four main functions by which it seeks to provide timely and relevant guidance and advisory services to stakeholders in order to inform and facilitate their individual and collective understanding of and engagement in European activities:

  • Policy – to monitor and report on relevant EU policy developments and enable input into the policy-making process where possible.
  • Committee of the Regions – to provide the secretariat to the Irish delegation to the Committee of the Regions and to work to enhance the strategic linkages between their activities and the priorities of Irish local and regional government.
  • Funding and financing – to highlight opportunities and assist with the development of quality involvement in EU funding programmes and initiatives.
  • Networking – to represent our stakeholders’ interests by identifying and engaging with decision-makers and by participating in collaborative value-added activity including relevant European networks, associations and partnerships.

Being based in Brussels gives us a practical advantage and enables us to:

  • Pinpoint contacts and identify relevant decision-makers.
  • Open doors and engage with key Institutional interlocutors in the European Commission, the European Parliament and Ireland’s Permanent Representation
  • Organise targeted study visits for our stakeholders
    Network and build alliance with other European local and regional authorities and European associations (CPMR, ERRIN…).
  • Represent our stakeholders’ interests at working/advisory groups, thematic and regional fora and project meetings.

Role of Regional Assemblies

Following on from the enactment of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, three new Regional Assemblies came into effect on 1st January 2015, namely the Southern Regional Assembly, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and the Northern & Western Regional Assembly.

Both the Southern Assembly and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly are managing authorities for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managing respectively the Southern and Eastern Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 and the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020. All three Regional Assemblies also provide national contact points for European Territorial Cooperation Programmes and participate on those programmes’ monitoring committees.

Other key duties of the assemblies are to:

  • Co-ordinate, promote and support strategic planning and sustainable development of the region
  • Prepare, adopt and implement the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES).
  • Ensure consistency with RSES in relation to the Local Economic and Community Plans of the constituent Local Authorities.
  • Identify, participate in and co-ordinate certain EU projects.
  • Support the work of the National Oversight and Audit Commission.

Who we do this for

Regional AssembliesLocal AuthoritiesThe Irish delegation to the CoR

The three Regional Assemblies’ staff and elected representatives

The 31 Irish Local Authorities’ staff and elected representatives

 

The Irish delegation to the CoR

Meet the team

Teresa Lennon

Teresa Lennon

Head of the Irish Regions European Office
Agata Kolodynska

Agata Kolodynska

EU Support Officer

Latest

Tweets

Call is seeking studies for 2020 #CEFTransport to address missing links and cross-border connections on the core EU transport network #TEN_T

Attend the Virtual Information Day on Thurs 14 Jan from 10am CET / 9am GMT.

Register at https://europa.eu/!Hg33th

Irish CoR Members actively participating in today's CoR- UK Contact Group talking about the implications of the recently agreed Withdrawal Agreement. @EU_CoR @EMRAssembly @SouthernAssembl @NWAssembly @cllrmmurphytipp @unapower @cllrkmac

3

European Commission published its proposal for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve 🇪🇺🇬🇧during Christmas - here's a breakdown of what can be expected:
https://www.ireo.eu/european-commission-proposes-brexit-adjustment-reserve/

Engaging discussions on #EUCitizenEngagement for an inclusive & transparent EU. Cllr. Declan McDonnell urged that the Conference on the Future of Europe be a “public forum for an open, inclusive, transparent debate with citizens” with continuous feedback to citizens

What an active @EU_CoR plenary session! In debate with Comm @jwojc and @EUAgri, rapporteur Enda Stenson @endastenson highlighting the importance of an inclusive rural policy and a true revival of EU rural areas to make them an attractive place to live, work and raise a family.

Retweet on TwitterIrish Regions European Office in Brussels Retweeted

The ultimate objective: a balanced and fair trade agreement after #Brexit, stated our member Kieran McCarthy @cllrkmac at #CoRplenary today📜

@IrelandRepBru @corkcitycouncil @SouthernAssembl
@EA_CoR

Retweet on TwitterIrish Regions European Office in Brussels Retweeted

Uncertainty is the last thing we need now in the aftermath of #Brexit says our member Michael Murphy @cllrmmurphytipp at #CoRplenary👇

@TipperaryCoCo
⁩⁦@IrishRegions_EU
@EPP_CoR

Retweet on TwitterIrish Regions European Office in Brussels Retweeted

#Climate “Cities role is decisive to achieve emissions reduction says @cllrkmac #Cork welcoming rapporteur @gryffroy suggestions to link #EUGreenDeal and digital initiatives with @EUUrbanAgenda #CoRPlenary @EU2020DE

"Without regions and cities...the Green Deal policies will not succeed" @CoR_President . The @EU_CoR debating how to step up climate ambition during the COVID-19 pandemic. #covid19 #EUGreenDeal

Continuing our virtual tour of the Midlands...delighted to be online with Offaly County Council this afternoon to talk EU funding and EU policy. Great engagement and lots of potential. @IrishRegions_EU @EMRAssembly @offalycoco @EUinmyRegion

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POLICY

The European Union adopts legislation in a number of areas that have a direct impact on Member States and on local and regional authorities.

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COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Established in 1994, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) is an EU advisory body composed of 350 local and regional elected representatives.

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FUNDING & FINANCING

To help achieve its various policy objectives, the European Union provides financial support for activities to be undertaken by organisations, including local and regional authorities.

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NETWORKING & EVENTS

One of the four key functions of the Irish Regions European Office is to enable local and regional actors to make the most of having their own permanent physical presence at the heart of Europe with all that entails in terms of tapping into useful connections.

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