Historic moment as Seamus Boland appointed President of EU body

Ballycumber native Seamus Boland is today (Wednesday) a focal point of the EU Parliament following his historic appointment as President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Unanimously elected to the role during an EU Parliament sitting in Brussels this morning, Boland will be the lead voice of organised civil society in Europe, representing employers, workers and civic society organisations for a two and a half year period, until March 2028.

The local man is the second Irish person to head the EU body in its 67-year history (the first in the body's current format) and, in his inaugural press conference, he spoke of the need for the EU to "embrace change".

"My vision is of an EU of opportunities, security and resilience, that together we can help to deliver," Mr Boland said.

The 35th President of the EESC will seek to address the key challenges presented by homelessness and poverty, amongst other issues, during his term in the role.

"We are living in a new Europe in which civil society must be at the heart. This will be my motto during my term as President," Boland said.

Boland, who serves the role of CEO of Moate-based Irish Rural Link outside of the EESC, will work with fellow EU institutions to ensure "a balance of economic growth and social inclusion enabling people to thrive".

"My style of Presidency will be one that puts the voices of European citizens at the heart of the EU," Boland stated.

Boland will chair his inaugural session as President of the EESC in the EU Parliament tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 9am.