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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.

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly and the Southern Assembly together with the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly are managing authorities for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managing the respective Regional Operational Programmes for 2021-2027. 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

Retweet on Twitter Irish Regions European Office in Brussels Retweeted

The preparatory projects are importnat tools for developing strong main project applications. Preparatory projects can run for 6 or 12 months, depending on how "matured" the project idea is

🔗 https://www.interreg-npa.eu/news/interreg-npa-2021-2027-first-call-for-preparatory-projects-pre-announcement/

#NPA2021_2027 #transnational #cooperation #Interreg #EUfunds

Retweet on Twitter Irish Regions European Office in Brussels Retweeted

📢 Save the Date!
28.09.22 | Annual event 14-20
29.09.22 | Launch event 21-27

#Interreg #AtlanticArea #WeareAtlantic #MadewithInterreg #EuropeanFunds #Cooperation #EUinmyRegion @Interreg_eu @RegioInterreg

🌳 ENVE Commission Meeting 🌳
The last CoR meeting before the summer break and it’s a packed agenda. Debates include:

🔋Energy Package on gas, hydrogen and methane

🏙 Inclusion of Cities and Regions in COP27

👚 Sustainable and Circular textiles

Thread below 🧵👇🏻

Excellent news for continued cross border cooperation and great opportunities for funding for local authorities in the border region @NWAssembly @EMRAssembly

Check out our round up from the Committee of the Regions' 150th plenary session 👇🏻
https://www.ireo.eu/round-up-of-150th-cor-plenary/

💶 ECON Commission Meeting 💶
A busy final ECON Commission meeting before the summer break with debates on:

🖥 Digital Cohesion

💾 EU Chips Act

🥃 Geographical Indicators in the EU

Thread below to find out more 🧵👇🏻

📢 Offering objective information about Europe's policies, initiatives and programmes has never been more critical. That's why the European Commission has recently launched the Building Europe with Local Councillors initiative. To find out more: https://www.ireo.eu/building-europe-call-for-applications/

🇪🇺🇮🇪 Day 2 of June Plenary 🇮🇪🇪🇺

Day 2 of the CoR’s June plenary kicks off with a debate on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

A debate which features a guest statement from MEP Ciaran Cuffe (@CiaranCuffe)

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy (@cllrkmac) speaks in support of the EU Enlargement Package calling it “an endorsement of the values we hold dear. Values if peace, co-operation and support”

🇪🇺 June Plenary 🇪🇺
A huge couple of days here in Brussels for the Irish European Committee of the Regions delegation.

Highlights include:
🗳 Election of a new President of the Committee of the Regions
🖥 Improving Working Conditions for Online Work
🇪🇺 EU Enlargement Package 2021

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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.

Read More