Displaying items by tag: Tourism, etc
Wexford People reports of a new alliance between Rosslare and Dunkirk which is set to boost the economic, social, educational and cultural development of each region and promote cross-tourism attractiveness between the Irish and French ports.
First mooted in late 2020 this twinning arrangement was rubberstamped following a meeting between Cathaoirleach of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) Councillor Jim Moore and Mayor of Dunkirk Patrice Vergriete during the former’s visit to the French town on St Patrick’s Day. A declaration of intent, signed by both parties, explained why this collaboration had been agreed.
It stated that, as a result of Brexit, France had become Ireland’s closest EU neighbour and “a new European border” between the two nations had been formed making Dunkirk the “continental port of entry to the Republic of Ireland”. Citing existing maritime links, each region’s will to transcend the borders within the EU and contribute to the process of European construction, and their commitment to sustainable development, the declaration states an “intention to engage in active cooperation around concrete projects of common interest” moving forward.
Those projects include the implementation of a bilateral Franco-Irish programme to increase the mobility of young people, develop university exchanges and strengthen citizen’s links between the two territories, and the reinforcement of maritime freight links and the opening of passenger lines between the two ports. During their visit to the French town, Cllr Moore and District Manager Nóirín Cummins were given an extensive tour of the port and were informed of plans to rename the DFDS pier (see related ferry story) to emphasise the new relationship with Rosslare (Europort).
Following their meeting with Mr Vergriete and senior members of his cabinet the declaration of intent was finalised and a formal agreement for future engagement was agreed. Those future engagements will see a delegation from Dunkirk come to Rosslare in early June of this year.
