AQW 8530/08

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 24/06/2008
Answered On Date: 08/07/2008
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the level and nature of representation of Northern Ireland within the various structures of the European Union, in addition to the 3 MEPs; and the level of engagement of Ministers of the Executive with the European Union in the last 6 months.

Answer:

Northern Ireland's representation, excluding MEPs, within the European Union is:

European Body	Northern Ireland Representatives
Committee of the Regions	Councillor Edwin Poots MLA Councillor Lord Morrow MLA Councillor Sue Ramsey MLA* Councillor Bernice Swift
European Economic and Social Committee	Jane Morrice Michael Smyth

* Sue Ramsey has been nominated to replace Conor Murphy MP, MLA

The level of engagement of Executive Ministers with the European Union over the last six months is:

Date	Details
10 January	Minister Gildernew met with Commissioner Fischer Boel and President Barroso in Brussels.
14 March	Minister Gildernew met with Commissioner Fischer Boel in Brussels.
1 April	Minister Gildernew met with Commissioner Joe Borg in Brussels.
23 June	Minister Gildernew attended an Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg and met with Commissioner Vassilou.
24 January	Minister Dodds attended a reception to promote Aerospace NI in Brussels.
14 April	Minister Robinson and Commissioner Hübner launched the 2007-13 European Regional Development Fund Programmes in Belfast.
23 April	Minister Empey addressed the European Commission's Employment and Social Policy Seminar in Belfast.
5 June	Minister Empey delivered the opening address at the 5th Annual Anti-Discrimination Conference “Communicating Equality and Non-Discrimination in the EU” in Belfast.
9/10 January	First Minister and deputy First Minister met with President Barroso in Brussels to discuss the Commission's Northern Ireland Task Force. The visit also included meetings with Commissioners Hübner and Fischer Boel.
14 April	Commissioner Hübner formally launched the Northern Ireland Report of the Task Force in Belfast with the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
28 April	The First Minister and deputy First Minister in conjunction with the European Economic and Social Committee paid tribute to the PEACE Programme founders in the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. This event preceded an evidence gathering session by the EESC for an ‘own initiative opinion' on the PEACE Programmes.

In addition, the Junior Ministers within OFMDFM have engaged with the European Union as follows:

9/10 January	Both Junior Ministers accompanied the First Minister and deputy First Minister when meeting President Barroso and Commissioners Hübner and Fischer Boel in Brussels.
14 March	Junior Minister Donaldson accompanied Minister Gildernew when meeting Commissioner Fischer Boel in Brussels.
2 April	Both Junior Ministers met with Commissioner Hübner in advance of the publication of the Barosso Taskforce report
14 April	Both Junior Ministers attended the formal launch of the Northern Ireland Report of the Task Force in Belfast with Commissioner Hübner.