EU News Radio

Cuts to red tape and increased support for farmers – EU

The European Commission is proposing to cut red tape and simplify CAP requirements for farmers.  Today the Commission presented a package of measures to help reduce time-consuming and costly administrative burdens on farmers. The Commission says farmers will  benefit from the removal of overlapping obligations, reduction of on-farm field visits by national authorities, and simplified application procedures.

The European Commissioner for Food and Agriculture, Christoph Hansen, outlined their plans to simplify the Common Agricultural Policy.  

Dur: 01:28

Digital tools to help farmers with EU compliance – Hansen

Digital tools could help farmers to reduce the bulk of reporting they have to comply with when it comes to the Common Agricultural Policy. That’s according to the European Commissioner for Food and Agriculture, Christoph Hansen. He was speaking today in Brussels where the Commission presented a package of measures to help reduce time-consuming and costly administrative burdens on farmers. Commissioner Hansen said the CAP “needs to become more modern”.

Dur: 00:33

EU simplifies CAP rules for farmers

The European Commission today presented a package of measures to help reduce time-consuming and costly administrative burdens and controls on farmers. They’ll (farmers)  benefit from the removal of overlapping obligations, reduction of on-farm field visits by national authorities, and simplified application procedures. The proposals include recognition of diverse farming practices such as organic farming. And streamlined supports for small and medium-sized farms through simplified payments, are also in the package.

EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis today outlined the proposed measures.    

Dur: 00:32

Farmers should concentrate on farming not forms says EU

Farmers should be able to concentrate on farming and not filling out forms. That’s the recommendation from the European Commission which today outlined a series of measures to help reduce time-consuming and costly administrative burdens and controls on farmers. The measures include simplified payment schemes for small farmers and simplified environmental requirements and controls. The Commission says farmers will benefit from the removal of overlapping obligations, reduction of on-farm field visits by national authorities, and simplified application procedures.

Speaking today in Brussels, the European Commissioner for Food and Agriculture, Christoph Hansen, explained more about their plans to simply the Common Agricultural Policy.  

Dur: 00:40

36% dissatisfied with Ireland’s role & influence in Brussels - EMI Poll

Thirty six percent (36%) of people polled in Ireland are dissatisfied with Ireland’s role and influence in Brussels. That’s according to the 2025 European Movement Ireland poll conducted with Amárach Research that’s out today (08/05). EMI says the findings come at a time when Ireland remains underrepresented in EU institutions. 

Noelle O’Connell, CEO of EMI says Ireland faces challenges when it comes to replacing senior Irish people retiring from EU  institutions. 

Dur: 00:46

43% don’t believe views reflected at EU level - EMI Poll

Forty three percent (43%) of people polled in Ireland do not believe their views are represented at an EU level. And over a quarter (26% of those polled) are dissatisfied with the direction the EU is taking. And thirty four percent (34%) feel the EU is not upholding its core values. 

They’re some of the findings of this year’s European Movement Ireland poll conducted with Amárach Research. The poll found that support for Ireland’s membership of the European Union remains strong at eighty two percent (82%). However that figure has dropped to its lowest level since 2013. Here’s European Movement Ireland’s CEO Noelle O’Connell. 

Dur: 00:51

€100billion potential US tariffs on EU goods - Sefcovic

US tariffs on EU goods could be a “massive” one hundred billion euros (€100bn) if they were to be fully implemented. That’s the warning from EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning. 

He told MEPs, the US has recently launched investigations on a range of additional products. Including pharmaceutical products and semi-conductors.  He said, US duties on EU exports “would be massive” if the United States imposes tariffs on those additional products. 

Dur: 00:17

Defence and Security “focus” of upcoming EU-UK summit - Sefcovic

Defence and security issues are likely to feature in the upcoming EU-UK Summit taking place in London on May 19th. That’s according to EU Trade Commissioner, Maris Sefcovic who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday evening. 

EU and UK leaders will meet in London for the first institutional bilateral gathering in Britain, since the UK left the EU in 2020. Commissioner Sefcovic told MEPs, EU officials have been working intensely with their UK partners to prepare the summit. He cited security and resilience as an area with scope to further develop the EU-UK relationship. 

Dur: 00:55

Upcoming EU-UK Summit “an important milestone”

The EU and UK have been “working intensely” to prepare the upcoming EU-UK Summit on the 19th of May. And it’s clear that both sides want to deliver a “positive summit”.  That’s according to EU Trade Commissioner, Maris Sefcovic. 

He was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg (on Monday evening) during a debate about the upcoming summit. He told MEPs, the meeting offers “an opportunity to strengthen EU-UK co.operation” across a number of areas.

Dur: 00:11

Cork/Dublin interpretation students get shout out in Brussels

Translation and interpretation students from UCC and Dublin City University were given an encouraging shout out today by the European Commission’s Chief spokesperson. Paula Pinho welcomed the thirty five students, who were attending the Commission’s daily press conference in Brussels.

Dur:00:26