The European Parliament will open a “Europa Experience” visitor centre in Chatham Street in the centre of Dublin in 2024. Through this new facility, Parliament will reinforce its efforts to bring Europe closer to citizens in Ireland in an attractive and engaging way. The Europa Experience will include a 360 degree cinema, interactive media stations, an educational role-play game (where participants can take the role of MEPs in crafting European laws), as well as other exhibits. It will enable visitors to better understand how the EU works, its achievements and challenges, and to discover more about the functioning of the European democracy.
Located in the heart of Dublin, the new Europe Experience will be highly visible, able to welcome walk-in visitors as well as pre-booked groups. It will be a new-build (on the site of what was previously known as Chatham House), constructed in line with the latest environmental performance standards to meet the LEED Gold standard (fewer than 50 buildings in Ireland currently meet this standard or higher). The new construction can also specifically reflect the need for a building focussed on welcoming citizens and be optimised for PRM access.
It is estimated that the new Europa Experience could welcome 50,000-100,000 visitors annually. Most facilities will be open seven days per week and free to visit on a walk-in basis (although the role play game will require pre-booking). The new building will also offer space for conferences and events for up to 150 people. The construction will include offices for the Parliament’s Liaison Office in Ireland, which will continue its work in the fields of media relations, stakeholder outreach, education, citizen’s enquiries and other communication activities as before.
Speaking after the announcement, Frances Fitzgerald, MEP for Dublin and Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group, said “I am delighted to welcome today’s announcement of this development in the heart of Dublin which will bring Irish citizens closer to the European Union and their Parliament.” “This new visitor centre will provide a state of the art resource to be used by all citizens, students, other educational groups, civil society organisations, NGO’s and public representatives in communicating the work and values of the European Union.” “I am pleased that I along with other Irish colleagues supported this project which will significantly increase the presence of the EU in Dublin and Ireland.” “I look forward to continuing my work with EPLO Dublin in hosting public webinars/seminars and events for the benefit of all citizens and constituents.”
