Mullingar to host major European regional policy summit
Prominent EU political figures will convene in County Westmeath next week to deliberate on strategies for fostering sustainable local development. The assembly aims to formalise a new declaration focused on enhancing community resilience and regional prosperity.
Source:
Gov.ie / MerrionStreet
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⏱️ 2 min read
On 23 September 2026, the Mullingar Park Hotel will serve as the venue for a significant gathering of European regional leaders. Hosted by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage alongside the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, the event will see the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) Bureau address the theme of "Thriving and sustainable communities – building a Europe that works for all territories."
The agenda features high-level contributions from notable figures, including CoR President Kata Tüttő, Irish Delegation Chair Gillian Coughlan, and First Vice-President Juanma Moreno. Minister of State Jerry Buttimer TD is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, representing the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Discussions will centre on economic resilience, innovation, and strategies to ensure young people can remain and prosper within their local regions.
The proceedings will culminate in the adoption of the Mullingar Declaration, titled "A Future worth staying for," which advocates for a robust, place-based strategy to improve housing, employment, and climate resilience. Following the main event, the Conference of Presidents will travel to Dublin’s Custom House to meet with Minister of State John Cummins TD, further solidifying political consensus on future CoR priorities. Details regarding the full programme are available on the official government website.
The agenda features high-level contributions from notable figures, including CoR President Kata Tüttő, Irish Delegation Chair Gillian Coughlan, and First Vice-President Juanma Moreno. Minister of State Jerry Buttimer TD is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, representing the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Discussions will centre on economic resilience, innovation, and strategies to ensure young people can remain and prosper within their local regions.
The proceedings will culminate in the adoption of the Mullingar Declaration, titled "A Future worth staying for," which advocates for a robust, place-based strategy to improve housing, employment, and climate resilience. Following the main event, the Conference of Presidents will travel to Dublin’s Custom House to meet with Minister of State John Cummins TD, further solidifying political consensus on future CoR priorities. Details regarding the full programme are available on the official government website.