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| Events recently organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland |
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See below for details of recent events:
Click here  [204 KB] for details of events organised in 2011.
Click here [439 KB] for details of events organised in 2010.
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Briefing on proposals for two new EU programmes: 'Erasmus for all' and 'Creative Europe', European Union House, Dublin, Thursday 24 November 2011
On Thursday 24 November the European Commission Representation in Ireland hosted a briefing on the proposals for two new EU programmes: "Erasmus for all" and "Creative Europe". The briefing was given by Denis Crowley, Head of Unit at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture.
The briefing coincided with the announcement by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education and Culture, of the Commission's proposals for 'Erasmus for all', the new programme for education, training, youth and sport, and 'Creative Europe', the new programme for the cultural and creative sector. The European Commission aims to strengthen investment in education, training and youth and the cultural and creative sector. The new programmes are part of the Commission's proposal for its multi-annual budget for 2014-2020.
'Erasmus for all'
The new programme for education, training and youth will combine some existing programmes and offer new possible activities. It will offer internships in companies in other EU countries, building on the great success of Erasmus to date. It will also include measures for sports, which the EU can now support because of provisions in the Lisbon Treaty.
'Erasmus for all' would allocate €15.2 billion (73% more than currently) over seven years; the increase underlines the priority given to investing in knowledge and skills to support job creation and growth in Europe. The programme would ensure that more people benefit from EU grants to study or train abroad. For the first time, a loan guarantee scheme will be introduced to support postgraduate studies abroad. It would also promote cooperation between governments, educational institutions, businesses and other partners, to support the policy reforms needed to modernise education systems and promote innovation, entrepreneurship and employability.
There will be emphasis placed on E-Twinning: computer-based contacts between schools across Europe, as a means to develop joint courses or modules. Under the new programme, there will be money to build this up further and also to deepen the contacts by having teacher and pupil exchanges and joint experiments on new ways of learning.
'Creative Europe'
The 'Creative Europe' programme will support the cultural and creative sectors with a budget of €1.8 billion, or 37% more than previously. The focus will be on helping culture and audiovisual professionals to make the most of the Single Market and to reach new audiences in Europe and beyond. Loan guarantees, which have been available purely for the audiovisual businesses in the past, will be available more generally to small businesses across the culture sector. Together these programmes will promote cultural diversity and the Europe 2020 objectives for jobs and sustainable growth.
Powerpoint Presentation on "Erasmus for All" and "Creative Europe"  [8 MB]
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Seminar on "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland", Waterford, 30 November 2011
 On Wednesday 30 November, the European Commission Representation organised a seminar on "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland" in the Auditorium, Waterford Institute of Technology, Cork Road, Waterford.
At the seminar, economist and commentator Jim Power emphasised that 'Europe is on the brink of an historic decision.' Students, lecturers and local business leaders and politicians were among the audience.
Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland said that 'these seminars come at a crucial time for Ireland, the Eurozone and the European Union as a whole. Given the speed at which things are changing at European level, we felt that more opportunities should be provided, not only to give information, but also to answer whatever questions people might have about European Economic Policy and the impact it will have on Ireland.'
Jim Power argued that EU leaders needed 'to create the firepower to convince the markets.' He said that we are dealing with 'an unorthodox crisis' and in that case that whatever is necessary must be done 'to get Europe away from the edge of the cliff.' Mr Power argued for a 'stronger level of governance from the centre of the EU' and concluded that 'the cost of [the euro] falling apart would exceed the cost of keeping it together.'
Nigel Nagarajan, the European Commission's Resident Adviser on Economic and Financial Affairs provided the audience with a comprehensive insight into the EU/IMF's Financial Programme for Ireland, its objectives and the progress which has been made to date. Nigel explained that 'the financial assistance provided to Ireland under the programme is helping to cushion the impact of the severe shock suffered by the economy and helping to keep vital public services operating.' Nigel emphasized that 'there is now a light at the end of the tunnel for Ireland' and that 'Ireland's strong track record in implementing the programme and the improvement in competitiveness over recent years was laying the foundations for a gradual return to job-rich growth in the future.'
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Information session on ‘Horizon 2020’ - the new instrument for EU research and innovation funding, 30 November
The Dublin Representation organised and hosted an event on Wednesday 30 November on the adoption by the Commission of the Horizon 2020 proposal, the new package for EU research and innovation funding. The main speaker was Alan Cross from DG Research and Innovation. Two FP7 benficiaries, one from academia and the other from business, also set out their experience with working with EU research funding.
There was a good turnout, with over 80 participants from the media, universities, research organisations, business and government. A lengthy question and answer session demonstrated a keen desire to make full and better use of the EU funding opportunities. Among the topics raised were concerns over a possible funding gap between FP7 and Horizon 2020 and questions surrounding the reduction of red tape.
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Exhibition "We Volunteer!", Monday 28 November to Friday 2 December
From Monday 28 November to Friday 2 December, the European Commission Representation hosted the “We Volunteer!” exhibition at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
"We Volunteer!" is a physical and virtual photographic exhibition of student volunteering in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the island of Ireland to mark the European Year of Volunteering 2011. This exhibition showcased the work of students from over twenty HEIs who collaborated in developing this exhibition to recognise the tremendous contribution which student volunteers make to the lives of communities and with a diverse organisations and activities. “We Volunteer!” was sponsored by Campus Engage, the national network for the promotion of civic engagement within HEIs.
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Lecture on War and Memory in Europe after World War II, 7 December
 On Wednesday 7 December, the European Commission Representation hosted a lecture on War and Memory in Europe after World War II. The lecture was part of Trinity College's European Studies Lecture Series.
The speakers were:
- Dr Per A. Rudling (University of Greifswald): War and Memory: National(ist) Interpretations of World War II in Ukraine
- Dr Edward Arnold (Trinity College Dublin): Myth, Memory and Collective Amnesia in in Post-war France
For more information about this event please contact Dr Balazs Apor at aporb@tcd.ie
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Exhibition on 'Croatian Archaeological Heritage', 12 to 19 December
 From Monday 12 to Monday 19 December, the European Commission Representation in Ireland, in cooperation with the Embassy of Croatia, hosted an exhibition on 'Croatian Archaeological Heritage'.
The exhibition aimed at presenting Croatia as the home of countless archaeological and historical cultural monuments, which all together make this country a unique cultural and historical landscape.
From earliest prehistory through antiquity and the Middle Ages, until the Modern Age and the present day, the territory of Croatia has always been a place of the encounter and intersection of various cultures and traditions, as well as often diverse worldviews, whose interplay through the ages has helped lay the foundations and build the edifice of a modern European country, proud of its rich and diverse origins.
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European Commission stand at the 2012 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin, 12 to 14 January 2012
 The European Commission Representation in Ireland hosted a stand at the 2012 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS on Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Sautrday 14 January:
The stand featured two interactive tools:
- A "smart grids" touchscreen which provides information on innovation in electricity infrastructure and smart electricity grids. A smart grid is an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the behaviour and actions of all its users to ensure a sustainable, economic and secure electricity supply.
- A "glove box" which helps users to learn about the EU Joint Research Centre's work on nuclear research. Glove boxes are normally used in nuclear facilities and laboratories for the handling and storage of radioactive material.
Staff from the EU Joint Research Centre, the European Commission Representation in Ireland and the European Parliament Office in Ireland were also on hand to answer questions.
The Joint Research Centre (www.jrc.ec.europa.eu) is the scientific and technical arm of the European Commission and provides scientific advice and technical know-how to support a wide range of EU policies. The European Commission Representation in Ireland (www.euireland.ie) and the European Parliament Information Office in Ireland (www.europarl.ie) provide information to the Irish public on the European Union and its policies, and the roles the EU institutions.
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Lecture by Dr Lukasz Kaminski, President of the IPN on the exhibition on “The Phenomenon of Solidarity: Pictures from the History of Poland, 1980–1981”, 24 January
In cooperation with the European Commission Representation in Ireland, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ireland and the Institute of National Remembrance in Poland organised a lecture by Dr Lukasz Kaminski, President of the IPN to conclude the exhibition on “The Phenomenon of Solidarity: Pictures from the History of Poland, 1980–1981”.
The lecture, which was open to the public, took place on Tuesday 24 January in European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin.
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Exhibition - The Phenomenon of Solidarity: Pictures form the History of Poland, 1980-1981, 11 to 31 January
 In cooperation with the Embassy of Poland in Ireland, the European Commission Representation hosted a special photo exhibition on "The Phenomenon of Solidarity: Pictures form the History of Poland, 1980-1981".
The exhibition was compiled to commemorate 30th anniversary of the birth of the Solidarity Movement. It presented the important events from the strikes of August 1980 to the imposition of Martial Law in December 1981.
The exhibition also depicted the path which led to the establishment of the Solidarity Trade Union, its relations with the communist regime and the attitude of society towards the Trade Union within the context of the most important political, social and economic events of Poland.
It was open to the public at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 on weekdays from Wednesday 11 to Tuesday 31 January.
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Seminar on "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland", Athlone, 31 January 2011
On Tuesday 31 January, the European Commission Representation in Ireland organised a seminar on "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland" in the Earl of Rosse Lecture Theatre, Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Athlone.
This was the second in a series of public economic seminars that began last November with an event in Waterford Institute of Technology.
Speakers included Brendan Keenan, Economics Editor, Irish Independent, Suzanne Kelly, barrister-at-law and tax practitioner, and Nigel Nagarajan, Resident Adviser on Economic and Financial Affairs to the European Commission.
Those in attendance also had the opportunity to voice their opinions and ask questions about the current economic situation.
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Seminar on "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland", Sligo,
On Monday 6 February, the European Commission Representation in Ireland organised a seminar on "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland" in the Institute of Technology, Sligo.
Speakers included Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton TD; Dan O’Brien, Irish Times Economics Editor; and Nigel Nagarajan, Resident Adviser on Economic and Financial Affairs to the European Commission.
This was the third in a series of public economic seminars that began last November with an event in Waterford Institute of Technology.
Those in attendance also had an opportunity to voice their opinions and ask any questions they had about the current economic situation.
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Seminar: "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland", Limerick, 15 February
On Wednesday 15 February, the European Commission Representation in Ireland organised a seminar on "European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland" in Limerick Institute of Technology.
Speakers included former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox and Nigel Nagarajan, Resident Adviser on Economic and Financial Affairs to the European Commission.
Those in attendance also had an opportunity to voice their opinions and ask any questions they may have about the current economic situation.
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Talk on Job Opportunities for Translators at the European Union, 26 March
John McGartoll, a translator in the European Commission's English-language translation department, gave a presentation on the work of English-language translators in the European Commission and the forthcoming recruitment competition for English-language and Irish-language translators. He also gave information on how to apply for the competition and the various stages of the procedure.
The presentation took place on Monday 26 March in the European Commission Representation in Ireland, European Union House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
Useful Facebook pages:
"Translating for Europe" (general page for EU translation matters): http://www.facebook.com/translatingforeurope
"We are waiting for the 2012 EU English-language translation competition": https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/We-are-waiting-for-the-2012-EU-English-language-translation-competition/170135253072451. If people "Like" this page they will see the post when the competition is eventually announced.
"An Coimisiún Eorpach - Aistriúchán Gaeilge" http://www.facebook.com/pages/An-Coimisi%C3%BAn-Eorpach-Aistri%C3%BAch%C3%A1n-Gaeilge/166447866708870
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Europe Day 2012
 Europe Day 2012 was all about the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between the Generations.
The celebrations kicked off with a flash mob of older and younger people dancing together to music from a live swing band in Grafton Street in front of Bewley's Cafe.
Celebrations went on with a free open doors event in European Union House. Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton T.D., and Members of more than 20 voluntary and public bodies involved in Ireland 's year of Active Ageing attended. Live music was provided by The Swing Cats and snacks from EU Member State embassy kitchens were served.
A slideshow of images of Europe Day is available here.
The Representation, in cooperation with the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, also commissioned an online supplement on Active Ageing, which is available here.
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