Minister Byrne announces grants to help promote understanding of the EU & Ireland’s place in Europe

Press release

The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., today congratulated 21 non-Governmental organisations, local community groups, educational institutes, youth organisations and local media organisations who have been awarded funding under the Department of Foreign Affairs 2022 Communicating Europe Initiative scheme.

Announcing the funding allocation of €91,500 for 2022, Minister Byrne congratulated the 21 successful projects, all of which will make an extremely valuable contribution to the ongoing debate on Ireland’s place in, and the future role of, the European Union.

The Minister said: “This year’s Communicating Europe Initiative forms an important pillar of the Government’s EU50 programme. EU50 marks Ireland’s 50 years as a member of the EU and will continue to provide an opportunity for citizens to engage with EU issues throughout the 18-month period.

“I’m very excited about the range of projects put forward this year under the Communicating Europe Initiative, including the impressive breadth of projects across Ireland. Over recent years, the virtual nature of CEI projects allowed us to reach out to much greater numbers of Irish citizens from diverse backgrounds than in the past and I am delighted that as we move to a more hybrid model, we have been able to continue to capture that same wide diversity of projects and organisations.

“As we look to the next 50 years of partnership and friendship in the EU, it has never been more important to engage with our citizens on what the EU is, what it brings to our country and how it helps projects our voice and our values on the international stage.”

ENDS

Press Office

18 May 2022

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