Press release
Minister Byrne takes part in the European Forum Alpbach 2021
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD, will travel to Austria this week where he will take part in the political programme of the European Forum Alpbach 2021 from 1-3 September.
During the Forum, Minister Byrne will participate in a panel on European cohesion on 2 September. The other panellists will include European Commission Vice President Dubravka Suica, Spain’s State Secretary for the European Union, Juan González-Barba Pera, and French academic Alberto Alemanno, Professor of European Union Law, HEC, Paris. This panel will discuss how the EU can best achieve its cohesion objectives in infrastructure, development and technology, as well as advancing the EU’s green and digital transitions.
Commenting on his participation in the event, the Minister said:
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the European Forum Alpbach 2021. Ireland enjoys deep historical and cultural connections with Austria and attendance at this event is a valuable chance to solidify this important bilateral relationship. As the EU emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum is also an important opportunity to reflect upon how the Union can chart its next phase and address the challenges we face. I look forward to speaking on European cohesion and hearing the perspectives my fellow panellists have to offer on this important subject."
Additionally, Minister Byrne will engage with a number of his EU ministerial counterparts and officials from the EU institutions also in attendance at the Forum.
The European Forum Alpbach (EFA) is a platform that drives ideas for an empowered and democratic Europe. It brings together young people, leading scholars, thinkers, scientists, policy makers, business people and civil society actors from Europe and from all over the world to engage and contribute to its mission of shaping a stronger Europe.
By focusing on questions like: “How to secure Europe’s future?”;“How can we finance Europe?”; Can the climate crisis be an opportunity to rethink Europe?, the European Forum Alpbach intends, not only to dream the future of Europe, but also to shape Europe's future and to initiate action for the European continent.
EU Cohesion Policy contributes to strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union. It aims to correct imbalances between countries and regions. It delivers on the Union's political priorities, especially the green and digital transition. The key framework is the 2021-2027 policy: Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 - Regional Policy - European Commission (europa.eu)