Councillor Kate Feeney (Fianna Fáil) presents a EU justice and Consumers European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award for local authorities and urged for a bottom up approach to achieve a true Union of Equality. 

The European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award recognises the work done by cities, towns, or regions in Europe to promote inclusion and create discrimination-free societies, and is part of a commitment to foster more inclusive and fair societies in Europe.

“The Union of Equality cannot be achieved without our local and regional leaders who are the drivers and implementing forces for innovative diversity and inclusion policies on the ground. We are at the frontline of putting in place practical measures that benefit not only minority groups within our communities but also the larger society. It’s great to see the European Commission recognize that work because a true union of equality can only be achieved with a bottom up approach when everyone is involved.”

Kate Feeney, Councillor for the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (Fianna Fáil), presented the award in the category of local authorities with fewer than 50 000 citizens. For the integration of refugees, fostering inclusive environment for ethnic minorities and providing mobility, Feeney handed out the awards to: Fundão, Portugal, Labin, Croatia and La Zarza, Spain.

The choice for Feeney as presenter follows on her work in the European Committee of the Regions. As rapporteur, Feeney worked on the “Union of Equality: LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020 – 2025” to advance LGBTIQ+ equality at the local and regional level. This report, in which she urged local authorities to embrace equality and diversity to prosper as a result instead of choosing for a climate of fear and intimidation depriving people of their rights, as well as raising the issue of rainbow families across Europe, received overwhelming cross-party approval.