Minister Byrne announces €200,000 EU50 funding for community and voluntary organisations

The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, has today invited voluntary organisations, educational bodies and civil society groups to apply for funding under the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Communicating Europe Initiative.

The Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) is aimed at deepening public awareness of the role the EU plays in our daily lives and at improving the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues, particularly at regional or national level.

2023 marks 50 years since Ireland joined the European Communities, now the EU. The government’s EU50 programme, which began in January 2022 and which continues to Europe day/week, 9 May next, marks this historic milestone. CEI 2023 will play an important role in bringing EU50 to communities across the country.

Projects should seek to communicate European issues, the role of the European Union and Ireland’s place in Europe. Projects are encouraged to have EU50 as a key programme theme.

Announcing the launch of the scheme, the Minister said that:

"As Minister for European Affairs, my priority is to promote a national discussion around Ireland’s place in Europe and the impact our EU membership continues to play on our daily lives.

"EU50 is a programme that marks an important milestone in our history. Recognising this important occasion, I am delighted that we were able to double the overall funding under the 2023 CEI scheme to €200,000.

"The type of programmes awarded funding in previous years was really varied – from school events, to podcasts and radio programmes – and it’s always exciting to see the creativity and energy that are put into these projects."

Previous projects funded have included local media projects and competitions, school initiatives and interactions, promotion of employment opportunities in EU Institutions and EU-related Citizens’ Dialogues. Projects have promoted themes on the role of women and young people in the EU, climate action and the importance of diversity in Ireland to our relationship with the EU.

Further details including application forms are now available from ireland.ie and EU50 materials can be found on ireland.ie/eu50 .

The closing date is Friday 6 January 2023.