Eurofound opens its doors to mark 50th anniversary

Today Eurofound hosted its annual Open Day, an event when the agency opens its doors to the public, engages with citizens, connects with Irish-based partners, and celebrates its long-standing place in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area.

Over 300 members of the local community, including local schoolchildren, toured the grounds of Eurofound in Loughlinstown, learning about the agency’s work, connecting with staff from 21 Member States of the European Union, and visiting the exhibitions of partners and collaborators – which this year included an art installation from the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, (IADT).

The event was opened by Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County area. Cllr Gildea spoke about the local pride at having the only EU agency in Ireland based in the area, particularly given that the work of the agency resonates across the EU and beyond.

The keynote address was given by Regina Doherty MEP. Reflecting on the five decades of the agency, Mrs Doherty noted that the relevance of Eurofound’s work has only increased over time, and that its insights are paramount in a time of rapid and fundamental change:

‘Eurofound provides evidence that can’t be twisted or denigrated, and reflects the realities of life in Europe today.’

Mrs Doherty also placed emphasis on the work of Eurofound in providing information to policymakers that can help tackle important social and economic issues:

‘If we value equality, we need to value the data that show where inequalities are, we must therefore place special value on the crucial work that Eurofound does.’

Reflecting on the Open Day, Eurofound Executive Director Ivailo Kalfin said that this is the occasion when evidence-based research meets community engagement:

'Our job is to analyse developments across Europe, and provide information to decision-makers to take legislative action. But our heart is also in Dublin, and we want to be an institution that is open to our neighbours and partners – a real part of the community. This is why today is so special.'

A selection of photos from the event is available here.