Hackney People
Chiara Cordelli
European Parliament elections are coming soon, and according to Stoke Newington resident Chiara Cordelli, it’s important that everyone votes.
Chiara, 28, works for the European Commission Representation in the UK, and sees first-hand how what takes place in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg has a direct effect on Hackney.
For instance, she says the borough’s famous diversity is in part due to the opening of borders between European Union (EU) member states, allowing international travel and work without the need for visas.
“It directly contributes to Hackney’s nice multicultural environment,” she said.
Adding: “European citizens can freely live and work in Hackney with no need of special permits. They rent rooms, spend money and also open businesses in the area, contributing to Hackney’s development and growth.”
Chiara’s job involves informing people in the UK about what goes on in Europe, organising seminars and visiting businesses, and her office can also provide schools with free books in EU languages, to assist in foreign language teaching.
She says that the EU has allowed her to study and work in different European countries and provided funding for this, while also giving her the opportunity to learn other languages like French and Spanish.
Though the media often reports on global issues such as climate change and the credit crunch from a European Commission perspective, Chiara believes this could go further.
She said: “What the press fails sometimes to do is inform people about what the EU does for them at a more local level, and the way in which it can directly benefit their lives.”
She cites for instance, that only last month the European Parliament voted to extend EU Regional Development funding for projects to insulate walls, roofing and windows, plus provide solar panels, and replace old boilers for more energy-efficient ones, for homes across the EU.
London has also received more than ”12 million from the European Social Fund to support projects that help people back into employment, while the EU Agency Workers Directive ensures working conditions for temporary staff members are equal to permanent employees.
Chiara will certainly be casting her vote at the ballot box on 4 June, and hopes other residents do too. She said: “Is this relevant for Hackney? Of course it is!”
Curriculum Vitae
- 1981 Born in Rome
- 2000 Political Philosophy student, University of Rome
- 2002 Student at University of Barcelona, via EU Erasmus Programme
- 2004 EU-funded work experience with non-governmental organisation, Brussels
- 2007 PhD student at the School of Public Policy at University College London, funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council doctoral award for EU citizens
- 2007 Moved to Hackney
- 2008 European Commission Representation in the UK, London
More information
For details of European Commission representation in the UK, visit: www.ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom
To register to vote, or for info about the election, callHackney's elections office on: 020 8356 3000 or visit the European Elections page.
Page updated: 28 May 2009