About IIEA Brussels Branch
If you require further information about the Brussels branch of the
IEA please contact
Institute of European Affairs
Benoit Keane or fill out a Membership Application.
Forthcoming Events
7 April at 12:30 pm Is Europe in touch with its citizens?
Guest Speaker: Vice-President Margot Wällstrom
Lessons of 68 for the future of Europe (Working title)
Speaker: Daniel Cohn Bendit MEP
Past Events
4 March 2008, 7:00 pm sharp
Speakers:Caroline Lucas MEP (Green); Nick Campbell (Business Europe); Joe Curtin (IIEA - Climate Change Group)
Subject: Climate Change: Is the EU taking the right approach?
Venue: Scotland House, c/o NASC, Floor 8, 6 Rond Point Schuman, Brussels 1000
Email to attend: iieabrusselsbranch@gmail.com
22 January 2008Is the Single Market delivering for Ireland?
Guest Speaker:Commissioner McCreevy
Commissioner Charlie McCreevy presented the merits of the Single Market to a full house at the NASC West Ireland European Liaison Office with close to 90 attending. The presentation began with a reminder of the public’s positive perception of the Single Market. Commissioner McCreevy referred to some of the visible benefits for Ireland including labour migration due to Ireland’s decision to offer unlimited access to new Member State citizens. He went on to say that although the Single Market was not the sole cause of Ireland’s economic miracle it can be accredited with levelling and expanding the playing field for business and made Ireland an attractive haven for foreign investors. Moving on to the prospects for the future, Mr. McCreevy highlighted the emphasis to be placed on SMEs with new legislation aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to set up their own business. Commissioner McCreevy concluded with a few words on the Lisbon Treaty where he said that rather than focusing on what the EU and the Single Market has been delivering for Ireland, 2008 should be about what answer the Irish people are going to deliver to Europe. An interactive questions and answers session followed where a range of issues were discussed including tax harmonisation, price competition and recent events in financial markets.
Presentation made by Commissioner McCreevy can be downloaded here
Commissioner McCreevy (left) with IIEA Chair Benoit Keane (right) speaking on the Single Market and its impact for Ireland
17 December 2007 Making markets work better
Guest Speaker: Philip Lowe, Director General DG Competition
In a lively presentation, Philip Lowe, Director-General of EU Competition Policy at the European Commission, explained how European Competition policy works i.e. "by applying rules to make sure that companies compete with each other, and in order to sell their products, innovate and offer good prices to consumers". He underlined the European Commission's pivotal role in opening up transport, energy, postal and communication services in the EU, which were previously state-controlled and closed to competition from other providers, thus allowing consumers to benefit from lower prices and improved services. He emphasized the fact that this is a policy area in which the European Commission can and does flex muscle when States and companies step out of line. An interested and informed audience from EU, legal and business spheres added to the discussion with a wide variety of questions and concluded with a sentiment that EU competition is one of Europe's success stories. The event was followed by the IIEA-Brussels Christmas reception.
Presentation made by Philip Lowe, Director General DG Competition can be downloaded here
Philip Lowe, Director-General of DG Competition (right) with IIEA Chair Benoit Keane (left) speaking on the EU’s Competition Policy
19th November 2007 Is the Reform Treaty right for Europe?
Guest Speaker: Minister for Europe, Dick Roche TD and Jens-Peter Bonde MEP
Minister for Europe, Dick Roche and Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde debated the Reform Treaty to a full house with an audience of over 120 at the latest event organised by the IIEA Brussels. Although Ireland is the only country set to organize a referendum on this Treaty, the debate generated interest across Europe with a cross-section of nationalities present on the night. An article in the Irish Times the following day summed up Minister Roche’s position in stating that “he would be advocating a Yes vote to the Irish people because the Treaty improved the way the EU undertook its business, enabled it to play a greater role in world affairs and secured the future of the Union for the benefit of all citizens”. Minister Roche went on to say that the Reform Treaty made way for greater democracy by granting the European Parliament more legislative powers and, for the first time, national parliaments have a say in the evolution of European legislation. Mr Bonde argued that the Reform Treaty created big problems for small Member States in that Germany would have 20 times more influence than small countries, compared to four times under the current status quo. He also argued that all EU citizens should be granted a say in this Treaty through a referendum which should be held on the same day in all Member States.
Minister Roche’s speech can be downloaded here
Link to IIEA consolidated Treaty
Minister Dick Roche (middle) and Jens-Peter Bonde MEP (right) debating the merits of the Reform Treaty with IIEA Chair Benoit Keane (far left)
13th September 2007 State of play in the European Political and Security Sphere
Guest Speaker: Ambassador Cross, Ambassador of Ireland to the Political and Security Committee
In its first event of the 2007–2008 season, the Institute of International & European Affairs—Brussels addressed the EU’s political and security policy. Ambassador Cross, the Irish Ambassador to the EU Political and Security Council, provided members with an in-depth review of the EU’s policy in the field of security. She outlined the reasons for the EU playing a greater role in the field of security. She spoke as well about the success of recent missions and in particular the invaluable role played by Irish military and police forces. Ambassador Cross concluded her speech by providing members with a candid account of the main threats to worldwide and European security and how the European Union is addressing these issues.
Ambassador Cross (right) with Chair Benoit Keane speaking at the IIEA – Brussels
Past Events
3rd July 2007 IEA Brussels Branch Annual General Meeting
Guest Speaker: Director General Alan Dukes
12th June 2007 Round Table with Irish MEPs
Guest Speaker: Gay Mitchell, Pronsias De Rossa, Seán Ó Neachtain, Mairead McGuinness and Jim Higgins
8th May 2007 Constitutional Treaty: a view from the boiler room
Guest Speaker: Denis O’ Leary, Former Ambassador of Ireland to the European Union
2nd February 2007 EU-Transatlantic Relations
Guest Speaker: H.E. John Bruton, Ambassador of the EU to the US
6th December 2006 Update on WTO Doha round
Guest Speaker: David O’ Sullivan, Director General DG Trade
9th November 2006 State of the Union
Guest Speaker: Catherine Day, Secretary General of the European Commission
4th October 2006 A view from FYROM (Macedonia)
Guest Speaker: H.E Erwan Fouere (Ambassador of the EU to the FYROM)
27th June 2006 IEA Brussels Branch Annual General Meeting
29th May 2006 Protectionism and Globalisation - an Irish perspective
Guest Speaker: Mr Micheál Martin, T.D. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
4th May 2006 16 Wasted Years? Campaigning for Consumers in Brussels
Speaker: Mr Jim Murray, Director, BEUC - the European Consumers' Organisation
7th February 2006 EUROPE: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
Speaker: H.E. Bobby McDonagh Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union
15th December 2005 COMMUNICATING EUROPE
Speaker: Enda Kenny, TD, Leader of Fine Gael
22nd November 2005 Reassessing Europe debate
Speaker: Dr Garrett FitzGerald, President IEA; Chair of reassessing Europe working group
14th September 2005 TIME FOR REFLECTION : TIME FOR ENGAGEMENT
Senator Maurice Hayes, Chairman, National Forum of Europe
29th June 2005 What direction now for Europe?
Speakers: David O'Sullivan, Secretary General, European Commission
Proinsais De Rossa MEP, Member of the Convention on the Future of Europe
Brendan Halligan, Chairman, Institute of European Affairs
23rd May 2005 Perspectives for the EU Constitution
Speaker: Alan Dukes, Director General, Institute of European Affairs
23rd May 2005 Stádas na Gaeilge / Status of the Irish language
Speaker: Seán Ó Neachtain MEP
16 February 2005 The Barroso Commission - Five Years to Make a Difference
Speaker: Mr. Charlie McCREEVY, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services
12 October 2004 New Parliament, New Era - Discussion with Irish MEPs
Speakers: Mr Liam Aylward, MEP; Mrs Mairead McGuinness, MEP; Mr Proinsias De Rossa, MEP; Mrs Avril Doyle, MEP; Mr Simon Coveney, MEP; Mrs Mary Lou McDonald, MEP; Mrs Marian Harkin, MEP; Mr Seán O Neachtain, MEP.
6 July 2004 Reflections on the Irish Presidency of the EU
Speaker: H.E. Anne Anderson, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union
23 March 2004 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Speakers: John Cushnahan, MEP; Liam Hyland, MEP
17 February 2004 Enlarged EU and Social Dialogue: the way forward
John Monks, Secretary General European Trade Union Confederation and Brian Crowley, MEP
27 January 2004 Rural development: are we sowing the seeds for the future?
Minister Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D. Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Patrons: |
HE Bobby McDonagh, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU and Mr Charlie McCreevy, Member of the European Commission. |
Chairperson: |
Benoit Keane [Email] |
Vice Chairperson: |
Clodagh Hourigan |
Honorary Secretary: |
Elizabeth Fogarty |
Honorary Treasurer: |
Mairead Ni Oistin |
Committee: |
Richard Bates, Niamh Delaney (Publicity Officer), Kevin Leyden, Vincent McGovern, Frank Wall |
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