Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly

08/10/2026

Voting is still open for the 2026 People’s Choice Award.

🇮🇪 Two projects with Irish involvement are shortlisted:

- - (Ireland–UK)
- – EuroVelo 1- Area

⏰ Voting closes 14 October at midday CET.

⏰ Only 1 week left to vote!

🏆 Discover the finalists of the Awards and choose your favourite project making a difference in Europe’s regions.

Voting closes on 14 October.

👉 Vote now: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/regio-stars-awards_en

05/10/2026

Second-level students, take part in the Graduate quiz and show what you know!

https://www.graduate.ie/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUwSzdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMHdDYzFOT1ZwTWNFUHk5ZERzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEejKVwXjej04sICzbOnuhDQt4qRPKHkWzGsMd_rVlmV4UKr36acdbRfGCVcLE_aem_FjkmKgu90btQnWis0PGiRg

📣 Week 4 is now LIVE!
Open to second-level students across Ireland — test your knowledge, take part and be in with a chance to become one of this year’s winners.
Best of luck to everyone taking part this week!

WWW.GRADUATE.IE
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The Graduate.ie programme is sponsored by:
European Parliament
Tipp Coco
Southern Regional Assembly
Leitrim County Council
Mayo County Council
Louth County Council
Fingal County Council
Health and Safety Authority
Roscommon County Council
Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Northern & Western Regional Assembly
Communicating Europe
Cavan County Council
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
Fáilte Ireland
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman - FSPO
CCPC

30/09/2026

Last week, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly was delighted to attend the informal meeting of the Working Party on Structural Measures and Outermost Regions ( ). This meeting brought together representatives from EU Member States and the European Commission.

The Attaché trip showcased EU Cohesion Policy-funded projects across Monaghan and Athlone and took place between 23-25 September.

The programme included visits to:

✅ Monaghan Peace Campus
✅COMAND (Connected Media Application Design and Delivery) Technology Gateway at TUS Athlone
✅Applied Polymer Technologies (APT) Technology Gateway at TUS Athlone
✅Mount Lucas Circular Bioeconomy Aquaculture Initiative -IMTA-DemoProject funded by the .
✅National Construction Training Centre, where the group also took part in hands-on training in modern building techniques

Thank you to all the projects who came to showcase their projects yesterday.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the impact of EU Cohesion Policy on the ground and highlight the innovation, skills, research and regional development taking place across Ireland.



, , , , , ServiceReformandDigitalisation

29/09/2026

📣 Our latest newsletter is out!

Catch up on the latest EUJTF updates 👇

As autumn falls upon us, we reflect on recent updates from the EUJTF programme. There was a significant pace in delivery of projects over the summer months!  Did you know that there are now 170+ individual projects that have been funded through the EU Just Transition Fund across 3 Priority areas?! ...

25/09/2026

Happy to be celebrating this today! 👟✨

Step into someone else’s shoes and show us your mismatched pair!

Learn more here: https://cilveksnevisdiagnoze.lv/en/mismatched-shoes-day/

A different perspective starts with a single step.

Join us tomorrow in seeing the world from a different perspective.
Step into another's shoes and join the conversation using

14/09/2026

🗳️ Voting is open for the 2026 People’s Choice Award! 🇪🇺

This year, two projects with Irish involvement are among the finalists:

: (Ireland-United Kingdom)

Bringing communities together through shared spaces, sport and reconciliation in Derry/Londonderry.

ℹ️ https://keep.eu/projects/28360/Waterside-Shared-Village-EN/

🚲 -EuroVelo 1: (France, Norway, UK (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and South-West), Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Portugal)

Promoting sustainable tourism, cycling and cross-border connectivity along Europe’s Atlantic Coast.

🗓️ Vote by 14 October 2026 at 12:00 midday (Brussels time).

👉 Vote and help showcase these fantastic projects: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/regio-stars-awards_en

14/09/2026

The 2026/2027 Graduate Quiz is LIVE! 🇮🇪

Week 1 is now open for all 2nd level students across Ireland.

Test your knowledge! 🎓 www.graduate.ie

🚀 Launch Day is here!

The 2026/2027 Graduate.ie Student Quiz is officially LIVE, and Week 1 is now open for all 2nd level students across Ireland to take part.

Students can now log on, test their knowledge, and get involved in this year’s competition.

Best of luck to everyone taking part — let’s get started! 🇮🇪

www.graduate.ie

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The Graduate.ie programme is sponsored by:
European Parliament
Tipperary County Council
Southern Regional Assembly
Leitrim County Council
Mayo County Council
Louth County Council
Fingal County Council
Health and Safety Authority
Roscommon County Council
Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Northern & Western Regional Assembly
Communicating Europe
Cavan County Council
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
Fáilte Ireland
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman - FSPO
CCPC

10/09/2026

🇪🇺 2026 is coming to Brussels!

Bringing together cities, regions and stakeholders from across Europe, the event is a key opportunity to exchange ideas, connect with peers and discuss the future of regional and cohesion policy.

📅 12–14 October 2026
📍 Brussels
⏰ Register by 30 September

🤝 Organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the European Committee of the Regions.

Register here: https://eu-regions-week.europa.eu/eu-sessions-registrations-are-open

Explore the programme: https://eu-regions-week.europa.eu/programme

09/09/2026

🌱 Seeing the EU Just Transition in Action

Over the past two weeks, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly had the opportunity to visit several projects supported by the and see first-hand how funding is helping communities, businesses and organisations across the territory build a more sustainable future.

From , where innovative approaches to sphagnum moss cultivation are supporting horticulture and peatland restoration. The has enabled them to establish Ireland's first high-density Sphagnum Moss site and experiment with different growing techniques.

To ’s Mycelium and Recycled Carboard ( ) project which is developing sustainable products and materials using mycelium and recycled cardboard while creating local employment opportunities, the project demonstrated the potential of innovation to drive environmental and economic benefits to the Midlands.

We also visited 's Wetlands Wastewater Treatment Plant, an excellent example of how investment in sustainable infrastructure can deliver multiple benefits for a community. The nature-based wastewater treatment system supports biodiversity while helping facilitate the future expansion of childcare and other community services offered at the Campus.

Finally, we were pleased to attend the closing day of a green skills training programme delivered by Roscommon County Council and Galway and Roscommon ETB where participants gained hands-on experience building small-scale wind turbines, alongside training in electric vehicle repair and maintenance. These practical skills will help support the transition to a low-carbon economy. We wish all participants the best in using their newly learned at home or in the workplace with so many different applications in the growing low-carbon economy.

What connected all of these projects was a commitment to innovation, sustainability and creating opportunities for people and communities. It was inspiring to see the diverse ways in which EU JTF funding is helping to support a fair and sustainable transition across the region.

Read more about EUJTF projects: https://www.emra.ie/eu-jtf/beneficiaries/

04/09/2026

Call for Sponsorship Applications 2026 🇪🇺 🇮🇪

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service, Reform and Digitalisation's aim is to provide financial support with up to €15,000 in sponsorship funding to non-governmental organisations and local/community organisations to help promote the visibility of Cohesion Policy Funds in Ireland.

🔵 Funding: Up to €2,500 per organisation
🔵 Eligible activities: Events, conferences, community engagement, website development and promotional materials
🔵 Priority: Projects aligned with the Cohesion Policy 2021–2027 objectives
🔵 Applications open: 1 September 2026
🔵 Deadline: 9 October 2026
🔵 Decisions: End of October 2026

🔗 Learn more and apply: https://www.eufunds.ie/call-for-applications-for-sponsorship-opportunities-to-enhance-communication-and-visibility-of-cohesion-funds/

To apply, email [email protected].



Southern Regional Assembly Northern & Western Regional Assembly

For 2026 our aim is to provide a limited level of financial support to NGO’s and other local and or community based organisations with the objective of reaching citizens to communicate and enhance the…