Next Friday 21 June sees the launch of the Shaping Europe's Future Programme which will give civil society organisations an opportunity to engage with our MEPs and set priorities for the European social model, the economy and environment in the years ahead. The programme, developed by the Wheel with the support of the European Parliament, will be launched at The Wheel's inaugural Summer School at the Carmelite Centre, 56 Aungier Street, Dublin, from 9am-1.30pm. This is a free event but registration is required.

On Thursday 20th June, 12.00 noon to 2.30 pm, the European Parliament Office welcomes Ms Jocelyn Bell Burnell, to Dublin for a special presentation to mark her contribution to science and her advocacy of the role of women in science. Ms Burnell will also be interviewed about her life and work. Ms Burnell acquired fame for the discovery of pulsars - fast rotating neutron stars. She is currently visiting Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University. The event is open to the public. To book a place, telephone (01) 605.79.00 or email epdublin@ep.europa.eu.

This Wednesday 19 June, the European Parliament Office in Ireland will host a Sakharov Prize Network lecture with guest speaker Hauwa Ibrahim, Sakharov Laureate 2005 and Nigerian human rights lawyer. This will be an opportunity to hear the personal experiences of Ms Ibrahim in her drive to promote freedom and democracy. The lecture will take place from 18h30-20h00 at the European Parliament Office, 43 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. All welcome. To register please call (01) 605.79.00 or e-mail epdublin@ep.europa.eu.

New rules laying down common procedures and deadlines for handling asylum applications and basic rights for asylum seekers arriving in the EU were endorsed by Parliament on Wednesday. The Common European Asylum System will also stop transfers of asylum seekers to member states unable to ensure decent living conditions for them.

Jim Higgins, MEP for Ireland North West and Ireland's Member of the European Parliament Transport Committee, has welcomed the European Parliament's decision to back his report by 516 to 111 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today (11th June).

In the 2014 European elections, Ireland, along with 11 other EU member states, will each lose one seat and none will gain any, under a draft decision endorsed by Parliament on Wednesday. These reductions are needed in order to comply with the 751-seat limit set by the Lisbon Treaty and to make room for Croatia's MEPs. The draft European Council decision, approved by Parliament by 574 votes to 71, with 39 abstentions, leaves unchanged the redistribution of seats between member states proposed by MEPs on 13 March 2013. After Parliament's consent, the text still needs to be formally adopted by all EU heads of state and government at the 27-28 June summit.