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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

REMINDER: Registrations are open for our second #CommunicatingEurope initiative! More details available on our website:
https://www.ireo.eu/communicating-europe-initiative-in-emra/
@EMRAssembly @karencolemanIRL @The_Wheel_IRL @emireland

Our second event as part of the #CommunicatingEurope is open for registrations! IREO and @EMRAssembly are hosting a seminar on #cohesion funding and the Conference on the #FutureofEurope. More details below with full agenda to follow:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-duologue-for-strength-and-resilience-communicating-europe-initiative-tickets-192284406837

Thanks to @ColmMarkey for closing today's event with an excellent contribution on citizen engagement in EU policy. @Future4Europe @EU_CoR @NWAssembly

How does citizen engagement inform and influence EU policy making. That was the subject of our panel discussion today. With thanks to @emmamurtagh17 @MacManusChris @jimmymcclearn @endastenson for their insights. @EU_CoR @Future4Europe @NWAssembly

How local authorities in Ireland can engage in the Conference on the Future of Europe. @Future4Europe Thanks to European Movement Ireland @emireland for the really important insights and tools. #CommunicatingEurope @NWAssembly

Fantastic to have European Movement Ireland as a partner in our Communicating Europe events. The Conference on the Future of Europe is a key tool for citizen engagement. @emireland @NWAssembly @EU_CoR

Donegal County Council @maryfowleydaly @donegalcouncil and Mayo County Council @MayoCoCo present how outstanding NPA, AA and NWE projects have contributed to strength and resilience in the North West @NPA2014_2020 @AtlanticArea @INTERREG_NWE #CommunicatingEurope

2

We are delighted to kick off our Communicating Europe series of events, with the first one (virtually) in the Northern and Western region of Ireland. Excellent presentations and interventions from County Councils, CoR Members and MEPs. @NWAssembly #CommunicatingEurope @EU_CoR

Only three more days to go! Places are filling up fast - if you want to learn more about EU Cohesion funding in Ireland, register using the link below:

Retweet on TwitterIrish Regions European Office in Brussels Retweeted

Our very own @emmamurtagh17 will be representing The Wheel and @EuropeAccess at this event on 8 October!

Register now for this special event brought to you by @IrishRegions_EU and @NWAssembly, and funded by the @dfatirl #CommunicatingEurope Initiative.

https://bit.ly/3zWYd3Q https://twitter.com/EuropeAccess/status/1443590487231717378

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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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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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