It was officially confirmed today that Young Fine Gael’s International Secretary, Colm Lauder, has successfully secured a senior seat (Deputy Secretary General) on the board of Europe’s largest and most influential political youth organisation - the Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP). Colm will take up his position at the upcoming YEPP Congress.
Following intense and detailed negotiations with our European partners over the past few months to secure an Irish seat on the board, it was announced in Brussels that Mr. Lauder would be uncontested. The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and Minister Lucinda Creighton generously assisted and advised during the long negotiation period.
Mr. Lauder said he was “delighted with the opportunity” to hold one of the most significant youth political positions in Europe. He stressed “it is crucial for Ireland to have a strong and competent voice within Europe’s most powerful political youth organisation. We are facing a challenging negotiating period with our European colleagues and need to be well placed to ensure Ireland’s interests are fought for at every European level.”
Eric Keane, President of Young Fine Gael (YFG), noted, “securing this senior seat on the YEPP board will be of enormous benefit to Ireland. It will allow unprecedented access to leading European politicians which is crucial for securing and defending Ireland’s interests.”
Previous Irish board members include the Minister for Transport, Dr. Leo Varadkar and Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton.
In recent years, YFG’s International Committee has successfully negotiated and achieved European support on issues as wide-ranging as the protection of the right to display Christian symbols in public buildings to developing an EU-wide response to the Basel III banking regulations. Mr. Lauder will present his proposals and critique (unanimously adopted as policy by YEPP) on Basel III to European Ministers and MEPs at the EPP Political Bureau on 4th May in Brussels.
The YEPP Congress will take place from 12-15th May in Berlin and will be hosted by the German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Straabe.
Notes:
The Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP) is the youth wing of the European People’s Party. YEPP comprises of over 40 centre-right political parties from across Europe of which YFG is a founding member. The Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny TD, who also serves as Vice-President of the EPP, has fully endorsed Mr. Lauder’s candidature.
ENDS
Contact:
Young Fine Gael, 51 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2
Eric Keane +353 87 944 1514
Colm Lauder +44 7787 444960
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Sun 20th May, 2012 