The EU at 50 - One foot in the grave?

Dramatic events at Stormont, the Prime Minister's resignation at Westminster, now the centre of activity moves to Brussels.

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action held a seminar on 11 May to mark the 50th anniversary of the European Union.

Speaking before the event Lisa McElherron, Public Affairs Manager at NICVA commented:

"Is the European Union reaching its prime or has it one foot in the grave? That's one of the questions we will be asking at this seminar,"

"Amid the historic political developments this week, we need to remind ourselves of the great power of the European Union, as well as its large budget. The EU has made a major contribution over the years to the peace process which led to Tuesday's success at Stormont.

"This seminar will look at both how the EU can benefit us and how we can influence an organisation that now has 27 countries as members. It will sharpen our ability to help the people and communities the voluntary sector represents,"

Speakers

The seminar gave voluntary and community organisations an opportunity to find out more about the EU and meet the people who represent Northern Ireland.

European Parliament members Jim Allister and Jim Nicholson gave keynote speeches.

Other speakers included:

• Seamus McAleavey, chief executive of NICVA
• Eddie McVeigh, head of the European Commission Office NI
• Brian Harvey, consultant
• Shaun Henry, SEUPB and
• Jane Morrice, Economic and Social Committee.

The European Commission and Northern Ireland

Eddie McVeigh, Head of European Commission Office NI.

Eddie has over 14 years experience working for European institutions. From 1988 – 96 he worked for the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg before moving to the Parliament office in London. Eddie became head of the European Commission office in Belfast in 2002 .

What has the EU ever done for us?

Shaun Henry, Special European Union Programmes Body

Shaun joined the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in November 2001 as Programme Manager. He was appointed Director of the Peace Programme in April 2002 with overall responsibility for the implementation of the Programme. In October 2005 Shaun took responsibility for the implementation of the PEACE II and INTERREG IIIA programmes and the Community Initiatives for which SEUPB is responsible.

Prior to his employment with the Special EU Programmes Body Shaun worked as Programme Manager in the Rural Development Council for six years and before that he had the experience of working in East Africa - two years with Ireland Aid under the Department of Foreign Affairs Ireland and five years with Concern

Keynote address: The EU, better of out?

Jim Allister, MEP

Born in County Down in 1953 into a farming family, Jim studied at Regent House, Newtownards and Queen’s University Belfast, when he first engaged in politics. Having studied law he was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1976. He left private practice for a time to become Ian Paisley’s Personal Assistant in Europe from 1980 – 82.

Jim had been active in DUP politics in the 1980s, representing North Antrim in the Stormont Assembly (1982 – 1986) when he fulfilled the role of DUP Chief Whip. He was elected as MEP for the DUP in 2004. Jim resigned from the DUP in March of this year and now sits in the European Parliament as an independent

The voluntary and community sector organising in Europe. What's possible?

Brian Harvey, Harvey Consulting

Brian Harvey is an independent social research consultant, working in the areas of poverty, social exclusion, equality, European integration and the world of non-governmental organizations for voluntary and community groups, government agencies, trusts and foundations in both parts of Ireland, Britain and continental Europe.

Representing NI interests across the European Union

Jane Morrice, Economic and Social Committee

Jane is a consultant and expert on Europe. She is a former MLA and Deputy speaker at the NI assembly. Jane was also head of the NI Office of the European Commission. In 2006 she was appointed alongside Mike Smith as one of the NI representatives on the key EU advisory body; the European Economic and Social Committee

Keynote address: Northern Ireland in a changing European Union: My vision for the future.

Jim Nicholson MEP

Jim Nicholson has been an MEP for 15 years, a former member of the NI assembly 1982-86 and an MP for Newry and Armagh from 1983-85. In the European Parliament the Ulster Unionists are allied to the EPP-ED GROUP, the largest parliamentary group in Brussels and Strasbourg.

Mr Nicholson sits on a number of European Parliament Committees, including agriculture, fisheries, regional transport and Tourism. He is also the Chairman of the influential European Parliament delegation for relations with the US congress.

The day concluded with a questions and answers session followed by an exhibition of art work from the children from Belfast City Councils 22 community centres and 4 play centres and children from the Travelling community.

Each group adopted a member state and was asked research its customs and traditions and design something to represent what they discovered.

A selection of what they made was available at the seminar. A larger version of the art work is available if you select the image on the right.