On 11 February 2019, the European Alliance Group held a meeting in Mohill, County Leitrim (Ireland) which focussed on how towns and villages could be helped to drive rural revival in the European Union.
Cllr Enda Stenson, Member of Leitrim County council initiated the meeting to show delegates from across the European Union (EU) the difficulties faced by local, in particular rural and border communities and send a clear message that EU programmes need to be adapted to let those communities invest in broadband, energy and other projects which will help them prosper.
Along with the representatives of Europe's local and regional authorities, keynote speakers included:
- Sean Canney TD, Irish Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Natural Resources;
- Mairi Gougeon MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment of Scotland;
- Marian Harkin, Member of the European Parliament;
- Gerry Kiely, Head of the European Commission representation in Ireland.
The meeting also examined the importance of cross-border cooperation at a pivotal time coming up to the BREXIT deadline as well as the forthcoming European Parliament elections. The special role of the European Union and cross border cooperation was outlined by Gina McIntyre, Special EU funding body. Delegates also adopted the Leitrim declaration "Helping towns and villages drive rural revival in the European Union" which, among other things, calls the EU to provide a framework and concrete guidelines for the development of rural territories, stresses the importance of greater cooperation between urban and rural areas and calls for a greater focus on and funding for cross-border cooperation and territorial cooperation projects
Leitrim Declaration EN
Leagan Gaeilge
Cruinniú de chuid Choiste na Réigiún faoin tslí ina gcuireann na bailte agus na sráidbhailte athnuachan na tuaithe chun cinn, a reáchtáladh i Maothail, Contae Liatroma |
Ar an 11 Feabhra, reáchtáil Grúpa na Comhghuaillíochta Eorpaí cruinniú i Maothail, Contae Liatroma inar díríodh ar an gcaoi a gcuireann na bailte agus na sráidbhailte athnuachan na tuaithe chun cinn san Aontas Eorpach. Ba é an Comhairleoir Enda Stenson, Comhalta de Chomhairle Contae Liatroma, a thionscain an cruinniú chun a thaispeáint do thoscaireachtaí ó gach tír san Aontas Eorpach cad iad na deacrachtaí atá roimh na pobail áitiúla, tuaithe agus cois teorann agus chun teachtaireacht shoiléir a thabhairt nach mór cláir AE a oiriúnú le gur féidir leis na pobail sin infheistiú i mbonneagar leathanbhanda agus fuinnimh agus i dtionscadail eile a chuideoidh leo a bheith rathúil. Mar aon le hionadaithe ó údaráis áitiúla agus réigiúnacha na hEorpa bhí na heochairchainteoirí seo a leanas ann: - Seán Canney TD, Aire Stáit um Ghnóthaí Tuaithe agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, Rialtas na hÉireann;
- Mairi Gougeon, Feisire de Pharlaimint na hAlban, Aire um Ghnóthaí Tuaithe agus an Timpeallacht Nádúrtha, Rialtas na hAlban;
- Marian Harkin, Feisire de Pharlaimint na hEorpa;
- Gerry Kiely, Ceann Ionadaíocht an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh in Éirinn.
Cíoradh sa chruinniú freisin tábhacht an chomhair trasteorann ag tráth cinniúnach agus spriocdháta BREXIT ag druidim linn chomh maith leis na toghcháin do Pharlaimint na hEorpa a bheidh ag tarlú gan mhoill. Ba í Gina McIntyre, ó chomhlacht cistiúcháin speisialta an Aontais Eorpaigh a thug achoimre ar ról ar leith an Aontais agus an chomhair trasteorann. Chomh maith leis sin, ghlac na toscairí dearbhú Liatroma: Cuidiú a thabhairt do na bailte agus na sráidbhailte athnuachan na tuaithe a chur chun cinn san Aontas Eorpach. Sa dearbhú seo iarrtar ar an Aontas Eorpach, i measc rudaí eile, creat agus treoirlínte nithiúla a sholáthar le haghaidh forbairt críoch tuaithe, leagtar béim ar a thábhachtaí atá sé comhar níos mó a chothú idir ceantair uirbeacha agus tuaithe agus éilítear béim níos mó a leagan ar an gcomhar trasteorann agus ar thionscadail comhair críochaigh, agus ar mhaoiniú faoina gcoinne. Dearbhú Liatroma GA |
