NasCSO 2023 Civil Society Roundtable
In 2021, European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland held a series of online meetings for Irish Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and MEPs called NasCSO. These discussions covered topics from equality and diversity, Gaeilge to agriculture and fisheries, and other regional issues. Following these discussions, we hosted a follow-up online roundtable discussion that focused on developing relationships between CSOs and MEPs, while building on points raised by CSOs in previous meetings. It provided an opportunity for capacity-building guidance for CSOs and to further their understanding of how to engage with the European Parliament and other EU institutions.
The event included discussions with MEPs and representatives from the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland and European Movement Ireland: Barry Andrews MEP, Ciarán Cuffe MEP, Colm Markey MEP, Grace O’Sullivan MEP, Maria Walsh MEP and Thomas Kramer, Community Manager, European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland. The event was moderated by Stephen O’Shea, Deputy CEO, EM Ireland.
NasCSO Roundtable Meeting: Midlands-North-West European Parliament constituency
In this NasCSO Roundtable, representatives from civil society organisations working in a variety of different sectors across the Midlands North West European Parliament constituency met with Irish MEP Chris MacManus, and representatives from European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland to discuss challenges facing their organisations and priorities for the European Parliament at present. Among issues discussed were agriculture, homelessness, rural development and the changing landscape for civil society organisations in Ireland. Watch the discussion back and learn more about NasCSO in this snapshot video from our most recent NasCSO meeting. To attend future meetings or learn more about NasCSO, sign up at the form below.
NasCSO Roundtable Meeting: Ireland South European Parliament constituency
In this NasCSO Roundtable, representatives from civil society organisations working in a variety of different sectors across the Ireland South European Parliament constituency met with Irish MEPs Deirdre Clune and Billy Kelleher, and representatives from European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland to discuss challenges facing their organisations and priorities for the European Parliament at present. Among issues discussed were financial and resourcing challenges facing civil society organisations at present, the ever-changing landscape for civil society organisations in Ireland, health care, rural development and EU funding applications . Watch the discussion back and learn more about NasCSO in this snapshot video from our most recent NasCSO meeting. To attend future meetings or learn more about NasCSO, sign up at the form below.
NasCSO Roundtable Meeting: Dublin European Parliament Constituency
In this NasCSO Roundtable, representatives from civil society organisations working in a different sectors across the Dublin European Parliament constituency met with Irish MEP Barry Andrews, and representatives from European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland to discuss challenges facing their organisations and priorities for the European Parliament at present. Among issues discussed were financial and resourcing challenges facing civil society organisations at present, the ever-changing landscape for civil society organisations in Ireland and ways the European Parliament can support CSOs in Dublin. Watch the discussion back and learn more about NasCSO in this snapshot video from our most recent NasCSO meeting. To attend future meetings or learn more about NasCSO, sign up at the form below.
NasCSO Roundtable Meeting: Agriculture and Fisheries
In this NasCSO Roundtable, representatives from civil society organisations working in agriculture and fisheries met with Irish MEPs, Billy Kelleher and Deirdre Clune, and representatives from European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland to discuss challenges facing their organisations and key priorities for the European Parliament at present. Watch back MEPs’ contributions and learn more about NasCSO in this snapshot video from our most recent NasCSO meeting. To attend future meetings or learn more about NasCSO, sign up at the form below.
Cruinniú Comhchéime NasCSO – An Ghaeilge agus Parlaimint na hEorpa
Crunniú NasCSO trí Ghaeilge a bhí i gceist leis seo inar tháinig ionaduithe ó eagraíochtaí sochaí sibhialta timpeall na tíre a oibríonn ar chúrsaí Gaeilge le chéile le hionaduithe ó fhoireann NasCSO agus Oifig Idirchaidrimh Pharlaimint na hEorpa, chomh maith le Feisire Parlaimint na hEorpa, Seán Kelly MEP. Pléadh an Ghaeilge sa Pharlaimint, na dúshláin roimh na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge in Éirinn agus a gcuid mianta, agus na bealaí gur féidir tuilleadh tacaíochta a fháil ón bParlaimint.
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais faoin gclár seo trí Ghaeilge féach an t-eolas trí Ghaeilge thíos faoi, nó bí i dteagmháil linn ag na sonraí teagmhála thíos.
Official Launch and Overview of NasCSO
brought to you by the European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland
The NasCSO project supports civil society organisations across Ireland in developing their connections with the European Parliament through online resources and networks, and a series of thematic roundtable meetings of CSOs in a variety of sectors and regions of Ireland with European Parliament representatives. These meetings will offer CSO representatives an opportunity to engage directly with Irish MEPs and other European Parliament representatives on issues of importance to their organisation. NasCSO also provides a network of CSOs in Ireland, to allow organisations to connect with others in their sector and/or region for collaboration and support.
As part of the launch you’ll hear from:
• Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh, Head of Communications & Education at European Movement Ireland and Project Lead of NasCSO, who’ll share information about NasCSO and how you can get involved;
• Noelle O Connell, CEO, European Movement Ireland, who speaks about EM Ireland’s work and collaborations with the European Parliament;
• James Temple-Smithson, Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland (EPLO), speaking on the work of the Parliament’s office in Ireland and how the EPLO can support your civil society organisation;
• Thomas Kramer, Community Manager at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland who’ll speak more about the various projects and initiatives of the European Parliament and the EPLO, to connect with citizens and CSOs across Ireland and Europe.
NasCSO Roundtable Meeting: Equality and Diversity
brought to you by the European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland
In this NasCSO Roundtable, representatives from civil society organisations working on women’s issues and LGBTQ+ equality sat down for a conversation with Irish MEPs Clare Daly, Frances Fitzgerald and Barry Andrews and representatives from European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland. Issues raised and discussed included challenges faced by women during the Covid-19 pandemic, threats to equality and freedom for LGBTQ+ people in Hungary and Poland and recent work by the European Parliament in these areas. Watch back MEPs’ contributions and learn more about NasCSO in this snapshot video from our most recent NasCSO meeting. To attend future meetings or learn more about NasCSO, sign up at the form below.

Nasc is the Irish word for connection. NasCSO seeks to build a greater connection between civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ireland and the European Parliament. As the only directly elected European Union (EU) institution, the European Parliament acts as a voice for European citizens and encourages debate and engagement on issues at the heart of the EU and its future. Debate is at its core and NasCSO wants Irish CSOs’ voices to be heard when it comes to the future of Europe, the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Green Deal, digitalisation, economic recovery, health care, and other key areas.
CSOs play an active role in the daily lives of citizens in Ireland by encouraging them to be active and engaged in debate and discussion, which impacts public discourse. To help CSOs’ voices be heard at EU level, NasCSO wants to make that connection easier and connect different CSOs in Ireland with the work of the European Parliament and its Members of European Parliament (MEPs). Our goal is to see CSOs in Ireland being geared with the knowledge and knowhow on how to be involved in Parliamentary democracy and influence debate on key issues at EU level.
NasCSO provides information for CSOs wishing to develop connections with the European Parliament through online resources and networks, and at a series of thematic roundtable meetings of CSOs in a variety of sectors and regions of Ireland with European Parliament representatives. These meetings will offer CSO representatives an opportunity to engage directly with Irish MEPs and other European Parliament representatives on issues of importance to their organisation. NasCSO also provides a network of CSOs in Ireland, to allow organisations to connect with others in their sector and/or region for collaboration and support.
For more information or to attend a relevant meeting on behalf of your organisation, register to join our database using the form below. Tá eolas trí Ghaeilge le fail thíos.
Together.eu
Together.eu is a way for people to engage with the European Parliament directly. It is a platform created for people of all ages and CSOs to be directly involved in EU democracy and to shape the future of the EU. It allows citizens to engage in political processes and campaigns, such as the ThisTimeImVoting campaign in 2019 which highlighted the importance of voting. Together.eu can be used as a tool to influence the debate at EU level on European issues that impact the CSOs sector. It also offers the opportunity to reach local audiences with an interest in EU democracy.
Join the Together.eu community here.
Your MEPs
Here you will find a list of all Irish MEPs. Every five years, European citizens go to the polls to vote in the European elections to decide who represents them in the European Parliament. Your MEPs can bring important issues to your region and/or sector to light in the various committees they are a member of and during plenary sessions at the European Parliament. Each MEP is a member of various committees that look at specific issues that may be of importance to certain CSOs.
You can find an overview here of your elected Irish MEPs and what committees they are members of. Click here to learn more about which policy area is discussed in each committee and meeting schedules.
European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland
The European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland (EPLO) provides information on the European Parliament’s role and powers, on the Irish MEPs and their activities and on issues currently being considered by Parliament which are of significance for Ireland and for Europe as a whole.
You can find out more about the EPLO and stay updated on their activities via their website or follow them on social media:
EYE2021
The European Youth Event (EYE) a biennial event in Strasbourg organised by the European Parliament which brings together thousands of young people from all over the EU and beyond to share and shape their ideas on the future of Europe. This year, EYE 2021 will take place on 8-9 October 2021 and will feature both virtual and in-person activities in Strasbourg, as well as new hybrid formats. This is a unique opportunity for 16 to 30 year olds to interact in-person and online, inspire each other and exchange their views with experts, activists, influencers and decision-makers, right in the heart of European democracy. For more information click here.
Follow debates live
Watch live streaming and recordings of debates at the European Parliament, and latest news stories and material via the multimedia centre. Whether you are looking for news summaries, live videos, images or infographics related to European Parliament activities, the multimedia centre is a one-stop-shop for all you’ll need.
Press releases
Stay updated on events taking place in the European Parliament through the news and press room. Tailored press releases of particular interest to the Irish audience can be accessed via the EPLO: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/ireland/en/news-press
Europe Direct centres
The Europe Direct centres are a network of accessible, local information centres in Ireland that spread information and advice about the EU’s policies, actively promote local and regional debate about the EU and give the public the opportunity to send feedback to the EU institutions.
Want to find out where your nearest Europe Direct centre is located? Find out more here.
Keep up-to-date with legislative developments
Through the European Parliament’s legislative train schedule you can monitor the progress of legislative files identified in the 10 priorities of the European Commission. The Legislative Train schedule shows when a piece of legislation arrives at the European Parliament. It’s also possible to see which proposals are blocked. Clicking on a carriage reveals all details about a proposal, such as the priority it is linked to and the MEP responsible for steering it through Parliament. The tool is limited to the plans outlined in the Commission’s working programme, so does not cover all EU legislation dealt with by Parliament.
The tool can be found on www.legislative-train.eu
What Europe does for me
What Europe does for me is a website that shows the EU’s impact in your region and in your daily life. The website provides citizens around Europe with short notes on how the EU has improved their lives.
Find out more here: What Europe does for me
House of European History
The House of European History is a forum for learning, reflection and debate, open to audiences from all generations and backgrounds. It works to increase understanding of European history, to encourage the exchange of ideas and to question assumptions. The House presents Europe’s history in a way that raises awareness about the multiplicity of perspectives and interpretations. To find out more: https://historia-europa.ep.eu/en/educators-teachers
Is foinse eolais agus tacaíochta, agus gréasán é NasCSO chun na naisc idir eagraíochtaí sochaí sibhialta agus Parlaimint na hEorpa a chothú agus a threisiú, agus chun eagraíochtaí a nascadh lena chéile níos mó freisin. Leis an tionscnamh seo, cuirimid eolas ar fáil (féach na naisc thuas) d’eagraíochtaí maidir leis an bParlaimint agus fáiltimid roimh ionaduithe na n-eagraíochtaí a bheith linn do chruinnuithe (ar líne faoi láthair) le labhairt le Feisirí Parlaimint na hEorpa agus ionaduithe eile de chuid na Parlaiminte.
Más maith leat tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoin tionscnamh nó páirt a ghlacadh sna cruinnuithe, líon isteach an fhoirm thíos!
Is féidir gach eolas a fháil faoi Pharlaimint na hEorpa trí Ghaeilge anseo nó ó Oifig Idirchaidrimh Pharlaimint na hEorpa in Éirinn anseo , an Pharlaimint a leanúint ar Twitter trí Ghaeilge anseo agus teagmháil a dhéanamh le Foireann NasCSO trí Ghaeilge trí r-phost a chur chuig an seoladh seo.