EU Events : Cumbria County Council

A successful and well-attended event took place to discuss town twinning with Bolton in Cumbria and Vobbia in Italy - a small rural community some 20 miles north east of Genoa, Italy. Presently, Bolton has no firm ideas on how to take the project forward but they might form an association of like minded individuals and families. In the early stages there will be a need to 'test the waters' and for some form of exchange to see and confirm that there could be compatibility between the two communities.

Venue: Memorial Hall, Bolton Parish
Date: Friday 28 October 2011 / 7.30pm

European Day of Languages

Free foreign language workshops for families. All welcome! Lot's of fun, activities and prizes.

Venue: Kendal Library, Stricklandgate, LA9 4PY
Date: Saturday 24 September 2011 / 2.00pm-4.45pm
For more information, please contact: Kinga (Kendal Library) 07753 782 967

Is the EU exceeding its madate?

Professor Aristotle Kallis: Windermere School, 15 June 2011

Cumbria and North Lancashire Forward in Europe group held this meeting in collaboration with local schools was a great success. Professor Kallis, professor of Contemporary History at Lancaster University talked about whether the EU is spreading itself too widely (through enlargement) and/or too deeply – i.e. taking unto itself powers which more properly might be thought to belong to national governments. This outward spread may eventually lead, in Professor Kallis’ judgment, to a form of “differentiated integration”. He cited the current talk, in discussing the Eurozone crisis, of a split between the prosperous North and the poorer countries of the South. There is already a sign of this, he felt, in what is happening with the Schengen Agreements.

Professor Kallis described the contribution of Jacques Delors, who in his view was the most successful President the EC has ever had. Delors had guided Europe step by step towards the creation of an integrated European Union. Professor Kallis pointed out that the concept of sovereignty went back to the 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Nowadays those who use the term “pooled” sovereignty” tend to be pro-EU; Eurosceptics prefer to describe it as “giving up sovereignty”. Sovereignty is not a “zero-sum dilemma” where what one element gains, another has to lose. Globalisation kills the idea of the European super-state. Those who think the EU is exceeding its mandate are asking the wrong question, he said. “They should instead ensure that communities, representing the people of EU countries, maintain and strengthen their voice and influence in the globalising world”.

Alluding to an earlier remark by Professor Kallis, about when the term ”Union” replaced “Community”, Sir Christopher Audland (who lives in Cumbria) told the meeting that he himself, as a young diplomat, had in his own hand drafted the UK’s application to join the European Communities. The Treaty of Rome to which we were to accede in 1973 expressly mentioned the aim of Member States to lay the foundation of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe. He also pointed out that the democratically-elected European Parliament possesses wide democratic powers, and drew attention to the concept of subsidiarity, enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty.

Forthcoming events in the UK about the EU

House of Lords Seminar on future of European Social Fund

Following its enquiry into the European Social Fund (ESF) in 2010, the House of Lords European Union Committee is inviting all those involved in the ESF community to take part in a seminar on ESF after 2014, to be held on 8th December 2011.

A significant opportunity for ideas to be exchanged. Attendees will hear from the Commission, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and key ESF stakeholders about key issues likely to come up during negotiation of the new structural funds. House of Lords European Union Committee Social Policies and Consumer Protection Sub-Committee.

A Seminar on the European Social Fund 2014-20

8th December 2011, 9.45am-12.30pm at Europe House, 32 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3EU.

Participation is open, however numbers are limited. Please register your interest as soon as possible with the Committee Assistant, Mandeep Lally: Telephone (020) 7219 3015.

For information about the seminar, please contact the Policy Analyst, Alistair Dillon: Telephone (020) 7219 8646.

Forthcoming events of interest in the EU

"Your Europe, Your Say" - Youth event 2012

After the success of the first two editions of the youth plenary session "Your Europe, Your Say", the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is repeating this event aimed at young people aged 16-17. The third edition of "Your Europe, Your Say" will take place in Brussels from 26-28 April 2012. We are inviting pupils from the penultimate year of secondary school in the 27 Member States of the European Union to play the role of EESC members by taking part in a mock plenary session. To find out more, please see the EESC letter of invitation (PDF <1mb).

Intelligent Energy Europe Information Day on 24th January 2012

Place: Brussels, Belgium

Venue: Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1049 Brussels

Applying for Intelligent Energy - Europe funding is a competitive process, and only the best project proposals will be selected for funding. The European Info Day 2012:

gives you an update on the European policy for renewable energies and energy efficiency

presents you the Intelligent Energy-Europe (IEE) programme and the priorities of its 2012 call for project proposals

presents ongoing IEE projects and the ingredients of their success

tells you how to apply for IEE funding and gives the best chance for your project to be selected

offers dedicated workshops for each funding area with the opportunity to meet the IEE team of the EACI

organises bi-lateral meetings with IEE project officers to give you the opportunity to discuss your project or a specific question related to the 2012 IEE call

is an opportunity to network and find project partners

The 2012 call for proposals is expected to be launched early January 2012 with a closing date in the first half of May 2012.