The Future is Community: EU Elections 2024
Civil society across Europe is facing real challenges.
We need leaders who will advocate for greater inclusion of charities, community and voluntary organisations, and social enterprises in policy development and the co-design of European programmes.
We are asking you, as a candidate for the European elections, to support The Wheel’s The Future is Community campaign by signing our pledge and championing the work of Ireland’s community and voluntary sector at European level.
A strong, vibrant, and independent community and voluntary sector is essential for a just society and a healthy democracy.
Voting Matters Ireland
Voting Matters Ireland is an initiative of Alice Public Relations, an award-winning Public Relations Agency that delivers change to makes Ireland and the world a better place. Led by Alice’s Chairperson, Dermot Ryan, Voting Matters aims to promote the importance of voting through information and engagement; and to combat disinformation and misinformation about democracy, politics and political representatives.
The Wheel supports this website, and encourages all to visit here: www.votingmatters.ie
The pledge is made up of four core commitments, based on values important to our sector.
- Champion the causes of the community and voluntary sector in at European level.
- Speak up for civil society and use my voice to ensure that the charity, community and voluntary, and social enterprise sector across Europe can thrive.
- Support the charity, community and voluntary, and social enterprise sector in Ireland through the development of an EU Match Funding Scheme, and by ringfencing a portion of decentralised EU funding for the sector.
- Foster inclusivity in European programmes by streamlining and simplifying accessibility requirements.
- Lead engagement with national and local policymakers to support local groups applying for EU funding.
- Actively engage with the next iteration of the European Expert Group on Social Economy and the delivery of the EU’s Social Economy Action Plan to help build an economy that is better for people and the planet.
- Work to build inclusive communities, respectful of all cultures and traditions, supporting new communities and other volunteer groups to access EU funding.
- Take action now to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into my work in Europe.
FAQs for candidates
Members of the European Parliament are the vital link between Irish communities and the many decisions made at EU level that impact our daily lives as citizens. This pledge is a chance to demonstrate your commitment to supporting and advocating for the organisations representing our communities, be they geographical or communities under a joint cause.
The Wheel is Ireland's national representative body for charities, community groups, and social enterprises, with more than 2,300 members across the country. We are a representative and supportive voice for the sector, providing training for and advocating on behalf of our members. Our vision is for a thriving community and voluntary sector at the heart of a just, fair, and inclusive society.
Please get in touch with our Senior EU Programmes Manager, Emma Murtagh, at emma@wheel.ie with any questions you may have.
The Wheel’s The Future is Community campaign does not endorse any particular candidate or political party. All candidates are welcome to sign our pledge and this does not serve as an endorsement of their candidacy or views.
