A number of representatives from the United Kingdom and Irish delegations have met today in Belfast to ensure citizens in the UK and Ireland are better informed about the work of the EU and the Council of Europe.

Members of the Committee of the Regions (COR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe were welcomed by Northern Ireland Councillor Michael Browne, chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee. He remarked that much of the city's recent regeneration schemes followed on the back of the waterfront development, initiated thanks to European funding.

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"As Europe strives to become the most dynamic and knowledge based society in the world, we all have a role to ensure that citizens whom we represent are aware of the opportunities within the European Union to help us achieve this goal," Mr Browne said.

Alderman Arnold Hatch, President of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, also commented: "NILGA is committed to ensuring that local government is better informed and able to fully participate in Europe for the benefit of all citizens in Northern Ireland."

At the meeting at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast, the delegations agreed on the need for better-informed citizens and pledged to work with other European institutions to provide citizens with factual, clear and concise information in Europe.

Both delegations also discussed opportunities to work together and agreed to ensure that the views and concerns of UK and Irish local regional and devolved authorities are fully recognised in the work of the Committee of the Regions and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

(JM)