The European Year of Citizens 2013 is officially launched!

The European Year of Citizens 2013 was officially launched on 10 January in Dublin, Ireland. European Commission President Barroso and the Irish Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore ceremonially launched the European Year of Citizens 2013 with a series of speeches followed by a questions-and-answers session with the audience in Dublin's City Hall.

Following the launch ceremony, the first Citizens' Dialogue of the European Year immediately began in the same venue with European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, and Irish Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton. This two-hour questions-and-answers event was an occasion for citizens in the audience and via the social media to debate with the VIPs their concerns and hopes on a wide range of EU issues.