International Committee

Young Fine Gael's (YFG) International Committee deals with all of YFG's International Relations and Foreign Policy, this includes the development and maintenance of relationships with other political parties in the UK, European Union, USA and beyond. The development of links with young politicians across the world is crucial to representing Ireland abroad and in maintaining a strong and influential role in Europe.

YFG is a founding member of it's youth organisation of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP). YEPP is Europe's largest youth political organisation, bringing together 57 member organisations from 39 countries. YEPP is the youth organisation of the European People's Party. The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 74 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the Commission, Council, and Parliament, 17 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commissio and the largest group in the European Parliament.

YFG is currently represented on the YEPP board by Colm Lauder, who holds the position of Deputy Secretary General. Colm is a permanent member of the EPP Working Group on Economic & Social Affairs following his work on developing a European critique of the Basel III accords. He served as YFG's International Secretary from 2009-2011. Past member's of the YEPP board include Minister Leo Varadkar, Minister Lucinda Creighton, Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt and Prime Minister of Finland Jyri Katainen.

Julie O'Leary (International Secretary) and Cillian Ryan (Deputy International Secretary) currently represent YFG. They are backed up by the International Committee and would love to hear from anyone who would like to get invovled.

People:
Julie O'Leary  - International Secretary Branch: University College Cork Mobile: 086 193 7471 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it					Colm Lauder - Deputy Secretary General YEPP Branch: Dublin North Central Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Web: youthepp.eu/colm-lauder
Cillian Ryan - Deputy International Secretary  Branch: University of Limerick Mobile: 087 254 6337 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Public Relations Officer - Cathal Sheerin Branch: Dublin South West Mobile 085 166 7140 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Embassy Liaison Officer - John Kennedy Branch: Dublin South Mobile: 085 720 3284 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Recent Press Statements:

Priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2012

Non FG MEPs vote to put spending on bureaucracy above youth projects

Young Fine Gael secures senior seat on board of Europe's largest political youth organisation

Young Fine Gael Launch European Campaign

Four members of a Youth Political Wing Imprisoned in Belarus Ireland and the EU must act against President Lukasenko

Young Fine Gael host Seminar of leading Europeans

Young Fine Gael take campaign for 'Head-Shop' Regulation to Europe

YFG urges EU to respect Christian Symbols in Schools 

Recent & Upcoming Events

EPP Economic Conference, Brussels 6th November

EPP Political Assembly, Brussels 7th November

YFG International Committee Meeting Dublin, 1st December

EPP Congress, Marseille 6-8th December

YEPP Seminar, Marseille 7-10th December

YEPP Seminar, Beirut, February 2013

YEPP - Youth of the European People's Party

YEPP is the youth organisation of the European People's Party. They bring together more than 50 Centre-Right youth political organisations from 38 countries all over Europe. Founded in 1997, YEPP has developed into the largest political youth organisation in Europe. Apart from being active within the structures of the senior party the EPP, they are committed in a number of other international arenas. One of the main objectives is to maintain good contacts within the EPP political family, provide ground for training, discussion and cooperation and prepare the younger generation to lead tomorrow's Europe. This runs parallel to the mission to stimulate further integration in Europe, to uphold EPP principles, policies and ideas in the European political debate.

EPP - European People's Party

The European People's Party is the largest European-level party of the continent. The EPP is the political family of the centre-right, whose roots run deep in the history and civilisation of the European continent and has pioneered the European project from its inception. The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 72 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the Commission, Council, and Parliament, 14 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.

Enda Kenny serves as Vice President of the EPP. His role gives Ireland a strong voice in the EPP group, and excellent rapport with other EPP world leaders from Merkel to Sarkozy.

The EPP is committed to European integration, based on the principle of subsidiarity – a democratic, transparent and efficient Europe. Their vision is one of mutual respect, of inclusion of all free citizens, encompassing all European countries and regions, no matter how diverse – a Europe for all.