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From:Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

On 23 September 2026, leading politicians from across the EU will meet in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar to discuss strengthening communities. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) Bureau will discuss “Thriving and sustainable communities – building a Europe that works for all territories.”

This meeting of its External Bureau will conclude with the adoption of the Mullingar Declaration – “A Future worth staying for”. The event is part of the official programme of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and is hosted by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.

The Committee of the Regions is the European Union Advisory body representing the voice of local and regional authorities of all 27 members states. The Bureau is its political driving force. It establishes and monitors the implementation of CoR’s political priorities, coordinates the work of the plenary assembly and commissions.

The Mullingar meeting brings together senior European and regional leaders, including Kata Tüttő, Budapest councillor and President of the CoR, Gillian Coughlan, Chair of the Irish Delegation to the CoR, and Juanma Moreno, President of Andalucia (Spain) and First Vice-President of the CoR. The keynote address will be given by the Minister of State for Community Development, Charities and Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD, representing the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The CoR’s discussions will focus on two key challenges facing Europe’s territories:

“Transitioning for stronger and more innovative regions”, will explore how regions can strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and economic resilience, drawing on perspectives from leading experts in cohesion policy, research, and enterprise development.

“The right to stay: opportunity, services and quality of life across Europe’s territories,” will examine how regions can create conditions that allow people, particularly young people, to remain and thrive in their communities. Speakers will include representatives from Eurofound, SGI Europe, Housing Europe, the European Commission, and the European Youth Forum.

The meeting will conclude with the adoption of the Mullingar Declaration – “A Future worth staying for”, focusing on a strong place-based European strategy that empowers local and regional authorities, strengthens cohesion policy, improves access to jobs, housing and services, supports climate resilience and innovation. It ensures that people across all territories have a genuine opportunity to thrive in the communities they choose to call home.

The programme also includes a study visit to Belvedere House, Gardens and Park, which recently received support from the EU Just Transition fund, as well a cultural programme showcasing local talent.

Later on 23 September, the Conference of Presidents (CoP) will meet Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD in Dublin’s Custom House. This group consists of the President, the First Vice-President and the Presidents of all political groups. The CoP prepares the work and facilitates the search for political consensus on decisions to be taken by the other constitutive bodies (the Plenary Assembly, the Bureau, and the commissions) of the Committee of the Regions.