What does it mean to be an EU citizen? Human Rights, Civic Rights, Entitlements and Obligations

March 11th, NICVA Belfast

The Centre for Cross Border Studies is a partner in the Transfrontier Euro Institute Network (TEIN). Formed in 2010, TEIN now brings together 15 partners from 9 border regions in Europe. A new TEIN project is bringing together partners from five other European border regions with support from the Europe for Citizens programme – Engaging civil society in border regions for the future of Europe. The project comprises five seminars addressing topics related to the future European political agenda; encouraging citizens to debate their ideas, fears and suggestions for the future of Europe.

CCBS hosted the first forum in Belfast on Monday 11 March, at which 78 participants from both parts of this island, Austria, France, Germany and the Czech Republic discussed “What does it mean to be an EU citizen?” The focus of this event was on “Human Rights, Civic Rights, Entitlements and Obligations”.

The conference was opened by Mr Les Allamby, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The morning session, Europen Perspectives on EU Citizenship was addressed by Professor Frédérique Berrod, who is Professor of Public Law at the University of Strasbourg’s Institute of Political Studies and Dr. Hynek Böhm is Assistant Professor at the Technical University Liberec in the Czech Republic. This was followed by Irish Perspectives on EU Citizenship, delivered by Eilis Barry, CEO of the Dublin-based Free Legal Advice Centres and Daniel Holder, Deputy Director of Belfast-based Committee for the Administration of Justice. Emma de Souza, spoke eloquently about her ongoing four-year legal battle with the British Home Office for recognition of her rights enshrined in the GFA as an Irish citizen born in the North.

The afternoon session heard from a number of local projects using European human rights and equality provisions on behalf of citizens and others funded through the EU Peace Programme to promote human rights and equality. Dr Duncan Morrow was our final keynote speaker on “How Human Human Rights have shaped European values and peacebuilding in Ireland and other European conflict regions”.

The proceedings of the seminar are available below …

Programme now available!!