OVERVIEW

The Merseyside Brussels Office (MBO) was established in 1996 to represent Merseyside at the heart of the European Union. It has partner organisations from the public and voluntary sectors in Merseyside. The MBO has two officers in Brussels, who provide a vital link between these partners and the EU institutions and other European regions.

The office helps Merseyside to influence policy, access funds and build European partnerships. The focus is on areas of joint EU-Merseyside interest including regional policy and state aids, transport, the environment, social inclusion, entrepreneurship, governance, community safety, immigration, culture and tourism.

Brussels is where the major EU institutions are located and where most European regions and sectors are represented, so it is the ideal place for Merseyside to be making its voice heard. Much of the legislation that affects the UK public sector is formed in Brussels. There is also considerable EU funding available from Brussels that regions can compete for. The MBO has a good relationship with North West MEPs, the European Commission and the UK government’s representation to the EU. It is also active in various European regions networks, which lobby jointly, bid for funding together and share best practice.

The MBO keeps partners informed in a variety of ways: organising visits to Brussels; setting up meetings and seminars in Merseyside; sending out regular thematic bulletins… It works with partners bilaterally and through Merseyside-wide networks. Some of these networks have been set up specifically as a link with the MBO; others are existing networks. There is also an MBO web site, which promotes Merseyside in Brussels and beyond. The Merseyside Policy Unit helps with the management of the MBO and liaison with partners. The MBO is overseen by its Strategic Board, on which all MBO partners have a seat; the regular board meetings decide broadly the direction of the MBO and are a forum for discussing EU developments of general interest.

The MBO is co-located in North West House with two other North West Brussels offices (representing Greater Manchester and a NW NHS partnership respectively). It co-operates with the other offices on certain joint projects.

The full MBO partnership consists of selected Merseyside local authorities and Merseyside-wide bodies; the MBO also provides Brussels support to PTEG, the grouping of UK passenger transport executives.

What does the MBO do?

Our services in detail

Latest MBO strategic documents:

MBO Work Programme 2011-12

MBO Annual Report 2010-11

MBO Work Programme 2010-11

MBO Annual Report 2009-10