Focus on Ireland’s 40th anniversary in the EU and the European Year of Citizens 2013

‌Applications are now being invited for funding under the Department of the Taoiseach’s Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) ‌from voluntary organisations, educational bodies, and civil society groups. Proposals are being sought for projects aimed at deepening public awareness of the role that the European Union plays in our daily lives.

2013 is a significant year for Ireland and its role in the European Union. Not only do we hold the Presidency of the EU – we’ll be running the agenda from January until June – Ireland is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of its accession to the Union. All this in the year that the European Commission has designated as European Year of Citizens.

The 2013 awards for funding under the CEI will be made to projects which encourage citizens to actively engage and participate in the debate on their future in Europe

The Irish Presidency sees 2013 as a real opportunity for people across Ireland to focus on what four decades of membership has brought us; the rights that European citizenship has given us and to reflect on how we see our future in Europe.

For that reason, the 2013 awards for funding under the CEI will be made to projects which encourage citizens to actively engage and participate in the debate on their future in Europe. In awarding funds in 2013, priority will be given to proposals for:

events which promote public conversations and debate – at local or national level

cultural and media projects that explain Ireland in Europe and Europe in Ireland- at local or national level

projects or events designed to celebrate the European Year of Citizens

events that celebrate Europe Day on Thursday 9 May.

The closing date for funding applications will be Friday 15 February 2013. The application form (in Microsoft Word format) is now available for completion and successful applicants will be notified in early March.

ENDS

Note for Editors

The Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) was established in 1995 to raise awareness about the European Union and to improve the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues. The programme is administered by the Department of the Taoiseach.

As with last year, up to €150,000 will be available in 2013 for Communicating Europe Initiative funded projects. In 2012, 23 projects from all over Ireland received support.