Background:
The Confederation
of European Councillors is the partnership body that
comprises of over 2100 councillors of various political
persuasions from Northern Ireland and the Republic of
Ireland. Established in October 1999, we bring together
members of the National Association of Councillors (NAC),
and the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA),
and having existed on an ad-hoc basis since then, we
have begun to strengthen and extend the arrangements
and links on a more structured basis.
Having developed various links and goodwill for many
years, a Steering Committee was formed in 1999 to organise
an inaugural meeting, which took place in Brussels City
Hall. A motion to establish was proposed by Oliver Gibson
MLA and seconded by Senator Camillus Glynn MCC, and
was adopted by acclamation. Both governments have indicated
their support for the initiative since our inception.
Senator Jim Walsh MCC has since held the position of
Chairman, with Ards Borough Councillor Ronnie Ferguson
as Secretary.
The councillors represent the county, urban, town, district
and borough councils across Ireland, and the Confederation
aims to bring them together as a means of fostering
respect and cooperation as well as working together
on areas of mutual interest. After all, these are the
politicians who work at local and ground level, on the
first rung of democracy.
Our objectives are to develop and enhance cross-border
cooperation irrespective of political or religious affiliations
or racial background. With the support of the EU Programme
for Peace and Reconciliation, our programme of events
for 2004 allows us to address and understand areas of
common and mutual interest on a regular basis, as well
as extending and strengthening existing linkages and
friendships. Our programme covers four headings, namely
Conferences/Seminars, Training Seminars, Information
and Awareness, and Civic Leadership. The programme will
aim to address a number of key areas, such as Rural
Communities and their Future Needs; relevant EU Legislation
and Issues; Induction for New councillors within CEC;
and the North-South Political Relations in the 21st
Century.
The objective will be to extend and strengthen the links,
to enhance friendship and co-operation, to promote civic
leadership and dialogue and to provide an effective
forum for councillors to discuss and progress political
issues and cross-border and cross-community matters.
Statement from
LAMA and NAC on the establishment of CEC in 1999.
For many years now, the close liaison and co-operation
between LAMA and NAC has not only been mutually beneficial
to our respective associations but has contributed to
a much better understanding between local public representatives
on a North/South and also on a East/West basis.
The NAC attend and provide speakers at our conferences
and LAMA reciprocates for the NAC conferences. A joint
conference is rotated annually. Indeed, a memorable
moment was when LAMA presented six newly elected Assembly
Members a specially produced Waterford Crystal piece
at our Waterford conference (1999). When Billy Bell,
M.L.A replied on their behalf, the goodwill at the banquet
was palpable. Democrats have much to learn and nothing
to fear from each other.
I suppose it was inevitable that the solid foundations
laid would lead to broadening our horizons and thus
the idea of a Confederation of European Councillors
was spawned. An enlightened Steering Committee, following
meetings in Belfast City Hall and Dail Eireann, organised
a programme and arrangements for a full inaugural meeting
where every City and District Council in Northern Ireland,
and every Borough Corporation and County Council in
the Republic of Ireland were invited to attend. The
Meeting took place in City Hall, Brussels on the 30th
January 2001 and the Mayor if Brussels addressed the
sixty Councillors present. A motion to establish the
Confederation was ably and eloquently tabled by Councillor
Oliver Gibson, M.L.A., and seconded by Senator Camillus
Glynn MCC and adopted by acclamation. There was unanimous
support for the proposal with many fine contributions
from the floor.
It was appropriate that the Northern Ireland councillors
were led by Cllr. Eddie Turner, the first from Northern
Ireland to address a LAMA Conference in 1994. Appreciation
is due to all members of the Steering Committee for
their initiative in planning this event but it would
be remiss not to single out Cllr. Ronnie Ferguson, Confederation
Secretary, Cllr James Bannon, LAMA Secretary, Cllr John
Moran, all of whom made an invaluable contribution to
what undoubtedly was a memorable event.
Staff:
A major new step for the Confederation came in early
January 2004 with the appointment of the new Partnership
Manager following our successful application for PEACE
II funding. The appointment and the proposed programme
schedule for 2004 highlights the manner in which the
organisation plans to develop and move forward as
a strong forum for representatives from both sides
of the border.
John Devaney is the Partnership Manager.
He is a native of Co. Longford, and was formerly the
Development Manager with the Washington-Ireland Programme,
an organisation that develops young leaders on a cross-community
and cross-border basis. He is a graduate of law from
Queen's University, Belfast where he once held post
as Student Vice President in 1998.
Cheryl Robinson has recently been
appointed as our new Clerical Assistant.
Our new office is based within Ards Borough Council
at Kiltonga Leisure Centre. Plan are also underway
to appoint a Clerical Assistant.
The PEACE II funding from the Special European Union
Programmes Body aims to 'reinforce progress towards
a more peaceful and stable society and to promote
reconciliation'. The Confederation's programme is
part of the 5.2 measure, which highlights the improvement
of cross-border public sector cooperation.
You can contact the office at:
+ 44 (0)28 91 812322 or by email at:
info@europeancouncillors.com
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