This information service is an initiative made possible with funding from the EU INTERREG IVA Programme, through the Special EU Programmes Body. It is part of our larger INTERREG IVA Project - the Ireland Northern Ireland Cross Border Cooperation Observatory, Phase 2 – otherwise known as INICCO-2 that is being jointly managed and delivered by CCBS and ICLRD.
We welcome your contributions on forthcoming cross-border events, research and other cross-border projects.
If you would like to use our online information bulletin please send your event or news item by email to
New readers are always welcome, so if any of your friends, colleagues or associates might be interested in BORDER-ZINE, pass the ezine on to them, or send them a link to the new subscriber page. There is also a sign-up form on our website, on the right-hand side of every page.
We now publish monthly summaries (in PDF format) of Parliamentary references to cross-border issues on our website. Both the NI Assembly and the Oireachtas (Dáil & Seanad) are covered.
Each reference has a link to the full Question, Ministerial Statement or Debate.
. The theme is “
Crossing the border to live, work, study or retire can create questions and finding accurate answers can be difficult. During March 2014 Border People project will host a series of training sessions for Information Advisors working or volunteering in organisations that deal with cross border enquiries from the public.
Each one-day course provides an overview of the social welfare system on the other side of the border and focuses on common cross border issues e.g. exporting benefits, where to pay tax, where to access health care, where to claim illness benefit, etc.
The Annual CCBS/ICLRD Conference was held at the Cavan Crystal Hotel on 30 – 31 January 2014.
On 5th February2014, the Centre for Cross Border Studies gave an informal information session in Leinster House to members of the Oireachtas, facilitated by the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
The 13th InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference returns to Belfast at a time when there is extensive equity funding available for entrepreneurs in both parts of the island from both venture capital funds and through business angel networks. Hence the theme of this year’s conference.
CCBS RESPONSE TO DEPT. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOREIGN POLICY REVIEW
In its response to the DFA’s foreign policy review, The Centre for Cross Border Studies considers that the economic prosperity and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ireland can only be assured with the permanent attainment of stability and security of all those living on the island of Ireland.
A TOBACCO-FREE FUTURE
an all-island report on tobacco, inequalities and childhood
The first comprehensive all-island report on tobacco, inequalities and childhood has been published by IPH and TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland. It shows a decline in smoking rates amongst children and pregnant women but warns of tobacco’s continuing and devastating toll on children’s health. A Tobacco-Free Future was welcomed by Ministers of Health, North and South. The report discusses aspects of smoking in pregnancy, active smoking by children and the exposure of children to second-hand smoke.
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION: the legal instruments available to cross-border projects
The Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière, produced a guidebook entitled “
The legal framework for cross-border cooperation. The legal instruments available to cross-border projects” which is aimed at helping cooperation practitioners to choose the legal form that is most appropriate for their needs.
This guidebook, available in six languages, is aimed at cross-border cooperation practitioners that have adopted legal structures for their projects or who intend to do so.
THE EU ANTI-CORRUPTION REPORT
The EU Anti-Corruption Report, published in January 2014, explains the situation in each Member State:
- what anti-corruption measures are in place,
- which ones are working well,
- what could be improved and how.
IRELAND DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: FAREWELL TO PLATO'S CAVE
by Dr Bryce Evans, Lecturer in History, Liverpool Hope University
This book contains an extensive discussion of cross-border political and economic relations during WWII and cross-border smuggling.
Publisher: Manchester University Press (1 Jan 2014)
ISBN-10: 0719089514
ISBN-13: 978-0719089510
CROSS-BORDER EDUCATION
UNIVERSITIES IRELAND: 2014 BURSARY & SCHOLARSHIPS APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
2014 PhD History Bursary
Universities Ireland is offering one bursary to a student taking a PhD on a topic relating to the 1912-1923 period in Ireland, the decade of the First World War and the division of the island into the states of Ireland (Irish Free State) and Northern Ireland.
Closing date: Friday 30 May 2014, 4pm
2014 North/South Postgraduate Scholarships
Universities Ireland is offering 3 scholarships to students undertaking a recognised Master’s Degree or the first year of a PhD programme (taught or research) in the other Irish jurisdiction.
Closing date: Friday 30 May 2014, 5pm
CROSS-BORDER PROJECTS
PROMOTING POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUTH
Salus is a new, cross-border project introduced to Derry/Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh and Cavan in September 2013. It aims to help young people (12-25 years) to improve their mental health and equip them with strategies to cope better with everyday life events. Our ‘Provoking Thought’ workshops will be offered free of charge to schools and youth settings in your area.
To book a free workshop for your School or Youth Club, for information on the Youth Forum, or to discuss any aspect of the project, please contact Michaela on 00353 74 97 26920 /
michaela@amh.org.uk
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
POSITIVE IMAGES
The Building Peace through the Arts - Re-Imaging Communities programme is all about empowering people throughout Northern Ireland and the Border Region of the Republic to tackle sectarianism and racism.
THE IRELAND FUNDS SMALL GRANTS
The objective of the Small Grants Round is to enable as many organisations as possible to fund new and innovative responses to social need. The Ireland Funds accept applications for projects that fit within our four key programme areas of
- Arts & Culture,
- Community Development,
- Education and
- Peace & Reconciliation.
The maximum amount organisations may request is €10,000. The average award will be around €5,000 and there is no minimum award.
Closing date: Friday, 28 February at 5.00pm
EUROPEAN MATTERS
NEWS: IRELAND'S WINNER OF EU YOUNG TRANSLATOR CONTEST ANNOUNCED
Aileen Ní Ghloinn, of Coláiste Ide in Dingle won the top prize in Ireland for her translation of a Spanish text into English in the European Commission’s annual Young Translator 'Juvenes Translatores' contest for secondary school pupils.
Eireamhan Semple who translated a text from Irish into English was the winner for the Netherlands. More than 3,000 teenage pupils from 751 schools sat the contest and their papers were marked by the Commission's in-house translators.
WE ARE EUROPE...EVERY DAY - VIDEO CONTEST
At a key moment in the history of European Construction and ahead of the European elections next May, the European Commission, in partnership with the United Nations, is launching a video competition on the theme of the European project and the support of its citizens for this project. Participants are asked to create a video mixing images of personal events with EU related events. You can use your personal footage as long as it fosters the European values.
Videos must be submitted between 3 January and 10 March 2014.
The prizes are as follows:
- First prize - EUR 6,500
- Second prize - EUR 2,500
- Third prize - EUR 1,500
SYMPOSIUM: SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION PROCESSES IN A EUROPEAN CROSS-BORDER REGION
Title: Social, ecological, economic and climatic change impacts and policy options in the border region of Luxembourg, Germany and the “Greater Region”
Dates: 13-14 February 2014
Venue: Domaine Thermal, Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg
The border region between Luxembourg, Germany, France and Belgium (the so called “Greater Region”) is facing complex transformation processes with substantial repercussions on economic, ecologic, juridical and social decision-making processes.
COMMISSION ACTS TO DEFEND VOTING RIGHTS OF EU CITIZENS ABROAD
The European Commission has issued guidance to EU-Member States which have rules in place leading to a loss of voting rights for citizens in national elections, simply because they have exercised their right to free movement in the EU. Five Member States (Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta and the United Kingdom) currently apply regimes which have that effect. Irish citizens who left Ireland to live elsewhere in the EU are only allowed to remain on the electoral roll if they register their intention to return within 18 months.
Whilst under the existing EU Treaties, Member States are competent to determine who can benefit from the right to vote in national elections, disenfranchisement practices can negatively affect EU free movement rights. Disenfranchisement practices are also at odds with the founding premise of EU citizenship which is meant to give citizens additional rights, rather than depriving them of rights.
COMMISSION INVESTIGATES RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING CROSS BORDER PROVISION OF PAY TV SERVICES
The European Commission has opened formal antitrust proceedings to examine certain provisions in licensing agreements between several major US film studios (Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures) and the largest European pay-TV broadcasters such as BSkyB of the UK, Canal Plus of France, Sky Italia of Italy, Sky Deutschland of Germany and DTS of Spain.
The Commission will in particular investigate whether these provisions prevent broadcasters from providing their services across borders, for example by refusing potential subscribers from other Member States or blocking cross-border access to their services.
COMMISSION CALLS ON MEMBER STATES TO IMPLEMENT COMMONLY AGREED RULES FOR PEOPLE SENTENCED OR AWAITING TRIAL IN ANOTHER EU COUNTRY
Ireland is one of a number of Member States not to have implemented common rules on matters relating to detention, which were adopted unanimously by Member States, according to a new European Commission report
NEW EU RULES ON CROSS-BORDER INSOLVENCY IN THE PIPELINE
The European Parliament this week backed with an overwhelming majority a European Commission proposal to modernise Europe’s rules on cross-border insolvency.
PEACEBUILDING
MSc in APPLIED PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES
Now Accepting Applications for September 2014
The MSc. in Applied Peace and Conflict Studies offers students a unique opportunity to undertake a graduate programme characterised by academic excellence within the context of a vibrant and culturally rich society emerging from conflict.
Based within the University of Ulster's International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE), an associate site of the United Nations University, the programme, now in its 25th year, has attracted over 400 graduates from more than 30 countries.
Have a question or want to apply
Email or call
Dr. Stephen Ryan (Course Director) at
s.ryan@ulster.ac.uk or +44(0)28 7137 5246.
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN CONSULTATION ON OFMDFM GOOD RELATIONS STATISTICAL INDICATORS 21/01/2014 – 15/03/2014
OFMDFM’s Good Relations Indicators were developed to monitor progress under
A Shared Future and the
Racial Equality Strategy [
Download the report in PDF] was published in 2007 and
the latest update was published in January 2013.
There is a commitment in the
Together: Building a United Community Strategy releases in May 2013 to review the existing
Good Relations Indicators
The consultation will run from 21st Jan 2014 – 15th March 2013.
CROSS-BORDER EVENTS
HUGH MCSHANE – ILLUSTRATED HISTORY TALKS
"As a result of invitations to speak in a number of Libraries Ireland venues in 2014, I am extending the cross-community/cross-border theme. In April I will be delivering a talk on Ulster, Ireland and the First World War in Rush, County Dublin, as well as in Lucan and several Dublin City libraries. It was pleasing to see that there is an interest in the impact of events 1912-22 on the whole of Ireland and I believe that cross-border awareness of our common history is crucial in building both a shared understanding of our past and a shared vision of our future".
See local libraries for upcoming events.
PATHWAYS TO HEALTH - LEVEL 3 TRAINING ARMAGH
2014 course now taking applications!
Pathways to Health Level 3 is a training programme for community and voluntary sector leaders who are committed to tackling inequalities in health using a community development approach. The benefit of this training is the chance to link grass roots practice with operational, strategic and policy working. It will provide participants with the opportunity to tackle health inequality in a unified way underpinned by the principles and practice of community development.
Pathways to Health training will be delivered as a series of master classes, one a fortnight for 14 weeks. Each master class will focus on one of 6 main themes to explore the efficacy of community development within.
THE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
7 March 2014 at the Ramada Plaza, Shaw's Bridge Belfast
The 7th Women’s Leadership Conference has the theme of 'Leading with Confidence' and is organised by the Institute of Directors in partnership with the Chief Executives’ Forum.
M.O.T. CONFERENCE
The Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière is organising a European conference on “
The integrated economic development of cross-border territories”
Date: 15th April 2014 in Paris.
The potential of cross-border economic development is insufficiently tapped by the concerned territories. The recent political and institutional evolutions have redefined the intervention of local authorities, offering them the possibility to seize this opportunity, which is determinant for their dynamism. At the European level, cross-border economic development is situated at the convergence between two priorities that the 2014-2020 programmes of the cohesion policy will have to implement: the Europe 2020 Strategy and the territorial cohesion.
