On 1 January 1973, Ireland officially became a member of the European Economic Community (now the European Union). To mark this momentous moment in Irish history, we hosted a live recording between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Dr Theresa Reidy, reflecting on 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership.
Speaking at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin where the live recording was hosted, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said “it is a pleasure to join European Movement Ireland to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the EU. It is something worth celebrating as the story of modern, prosperous, and progressive twenty-first century Ireland is interwoven with the development of the European Union. It is the story of an extraordinary transformation that I hope will offer inspiration to those countries now looking to join the EU – from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to the countries of the Western Balkans.
“Today’s EU is bigger and more diverse than the one we joined in 1973. It is our home that we have helped to build, and its foundations are strong. We look forward to the next fifty years of membership with confidence and ambition.”
This episode is a part of a wider podcast series from European Mivement Ireland that celebrates 50 years of Ireland’s membership of the European Union and reflects on how EU membership has left a defining mark on the Ireland of today. In 1972, the Irish Council of the European Movement (today known as European Movement Ireland) played a key role in campaigning for Ireland to join the EEC. 50 years on, our organisation is excited to bring to you the ultimate podcast series on ‘Ireland EU50’.
European Movement Ireland | European Movement International
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