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

These cover policy fields where, depending on the treaties, it either has sole competency to act on behalf of its Member States (trade, customs union…), shares competence with the Member States in ‘’common’’ policies (agriculture and fisheries, environment, transport, research and innovation, economic and territorial cohesion…) or has a lesser, coordination and support role (culture, education, training, tourism…).

It is therefore essential to closely monitor the EU decision-making process to help Irish local and regional authorities to anticipate, adapt and influence the decisions that will be taken.

European policies are not adopted in a void but in the framework of overarching priorities and strategies. Currently EU policies are informed by the 6 priorities set out by the von der Leyen Commission and include:

  • A European Green Deal
  • A Europe fit for the Digital Age
  • An Economy that Works for the People
  • A Stronger Europe in the World
  • Promoting our European way of Life
  • A New Push for European Democracy

Updated guidelines are set out every September in the European Commission’s President’s ‘State of the Union’ address. All policies of relevance at regional and local level are also aimed at achieving the goals set in the EU Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024 which is the EU’s current agenda for achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs. The strategy’s aims are underpinned by a series of performance targets for each Member State in employment; research and innovation; climate/energy; education; and social inclusion/poverty reduction.

These are, in turn, monitored by the Commission via the annual ‘European Semester’ process of enhanced economic and fiscal policy coordination and commitments by the Member States to implementing tailored reform measures at national and even regional level.

Click here to find out more about the EU Decision Making Process and the European Budget.

Tweets

Registration is now open to attend our EU funding event "Connecting, Communicating and Collaborating - Irish Regions Cooperating across the EU" in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone on the 19th of April.
Find out more: https://www.ireo.eu/eu-funding-conference-connecting-communicating-and-collaborating-irish-regions-cooperating-across-the-eu/
Register: https://form.jotform.com/230531888876369

If you're trying to email IREO staff, please note our email system is currently not working. We ask for your patience as we resolve the matter. If you need to contact the office please phone us. Apologies for any inconvenience caused, we'll update when the system is back working.

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy (@cllrkmac) offers his policy reflections and experiences during the “Communicating Cohesion policy successes on the ground” debate.

🤝🏻 COTER Commission🤝🏻
The first COTER Commission meeting of the year takes place this morning in Brussels!

✨Highlights✨
🚫 Do No Harm to Cohesion

💶 Mid-term Review of the Multiannual Financial Framework

🤝🏻 The Future if Cohesion Policy

Cllr. Kate Feeney (@KateFeeneyFF) steps in to chair the debate on the European Year of Skills.

Discussing the “European Industrial Policy and its Impact on the Regions” Cllr. Emma Blain (@EmmaBlain) takes the opportunity to ask about the future of renewable hydrogen.

Discussing the “European Industrial Policy and its Impact on the Regions” Cllr. Michael Murphy (@cllrmmurphytipp) urges the European Commission to listen to regional voices for their views on industrial policies.

Speaking on the “Measures for a High Level of Public Sector Interoperability Across the Union”, Cllr. Michael Murphy (@cllrmmurphytipp) highlights that interoperability is crucial to allowing access to the European single market to regions across the Union.

Discussing the “Measures for a High Level of Public Sector Interoperability Across the Union”, Cllr. Kate Feeney (@KateFeeneyFF) speaks of the importance of improving interoperability facilities to ensure consistent and high-quality public services to citizens.

Irish delegation member Cllr. Emma Blain (@EmmaBlain) provides a considered contribution on the “Reform of the EU Economic Governance Framework”

Load More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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.

Read More

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