Registration from 9.30am at Hotel Lobby.

Welcome and Opening of Seminar at 10.30am.


SESSION ONE - 10.40am - 11.40am:
Mr. Tony Canavan (Director of the Northern Ireland EU Office, Brussels)
The Structures of the European Union
The Role of the Regional Offices

1. European Parliament
2. EU Commission
3. Judicial System and the Courts
4. 2004 - the Year of the Irish Presidency
5. Enlargement
6. The new Constitution

SESSION TWO - 11.50am - 1.00pm:
Nuala Kerr (Acting CEO, SEUPB)
EU Structural and Special Funding,
Issues and Areas of Discussion:

1. Sources of EU Funding
2. Distribution of Funding in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
3. EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation - PEACE II, INTERREG, CAP, LEADER+, URBAN II, EQUAL
4. AGENDA 2000, the Reform of the Structural Funds, and Transitional Support
5. Objective 1 (Regions whose development is lagging behind)
6. Objective 2 (Economic and Social conversion)
7. Objective 3 (Education, Training and Employment)
   

Lunch served at 1.00pm


SESSION THREE - 2.00pm - 3.10pm
Issues and Areas for Discussion
The Europe-isation of Ireland
The Regions within Europe

1. Enlargement
2. Integration
3. Attitudes and Awareness
4. Committee of the Region
5. Allowing the Regions to be heard at European level
   

SESSION FOUR - 3.15pm - 4.15pm
Implementing EU Funds - Case Studies:

1. Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly
2. Cooperation Ireland

4.15pm:
Close of Seminar:
Senator Jim Walsh (Wexford County Council)