EU News Radio

McGrath calls for ‘de-escalation’ of war in ME

Ireland’s EU Commissioner has called for a de-escalation of the war in the Middle East which he says is adding to the “severe human rights situation in Iran”. Michael McGrath was speaking last night in the European Parliament in Brussels. He told MEPs “de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue” must be the “compass” to prevent the conflict from spreading. 

Dur: 00:14

McGrath “strongly” condemns Iranian executions

EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has condemned recent executions of four men in Iran. Last week Iran executed three men after accusing them of killing police officers during anti-government protests in January. Human rights groups say the men were executed without a fair trial and were forced to confess under torture. A fourth man who was also hanged, was found guilty of alleged espionage.

Last night Mr McGrath called on Iran to “refrain from using” capital punishment. He was speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Dur: 00:11

EU-Australia FTA to add €4bn to Europe GDP by 2030 – VDL

EU boss Ursula von Leyen says a new free trade deal between the EU and Australia will add billions of euro to Europe’s GDP by 2030. She was speaking in Sydney after the EU and Australia concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement after years of negotiations. According to the EU, the deal will remove over ninety nine percent (99%) of tariffs on EU exports to Australia. And the Commission says, it will lead to a thirty three percent (33%) increase in EU annual exports over the next decade.   

Dur: 00:22

Wars taking world closer to WW3 - Kallas

The EU’s foreign policy chief has warned the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are taking the world closer to a third world war. 

Kaja Kallas was speaking in the European Parliament today during an address to its Foreign Affairs Committee. She told the committee there is “clearly a connection between Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine and what is going on in the Middle East.” She warned both wars are products of “the erosion” of international law. And she said, without judicial or political accountability, the war will engulf the world once again. 

Dur: 00:30

10 days of war costing Europe billions in energy costs – VDL

Europe remains “vulnerable” and “dependent” as long as it continues to import a significant share of fossil fuels from unstable regions. That’s the view of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen who was speaking in the European Parliament this morning.  During a speech about the conflict in the Middle East, she outlined what she called “the price” of that energy dependence.   

Dur: 00:29

Oil price drop “stark reminder” of volatility of war – Harris

Tánaiste Simon Harris says it’s “very important” EU Finance ministers “consider and analyse” the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. Mr Harris was speaking in Brussels this morning ahead of an Economic and Financial Affairs Council. His comments follow announcements by US President Donald Trump that the Iran war would be over “very soon”. Oil prices dropped after those statements. Here’s Simon Harris.

Dur: 00:08

“Strategic mistake” for Europe “to turn its back” on nuclear power – VDL

EU boss Ursula von der Leyen says it was a “strategic mistake” for Europe to “turn its back” on the development of nuclear energy. During a speech to the World Summit on Nuclear Energy in Paris today, she said Europe’s electricity prices are too high. And she said Europe is “completely dependent” on expensive and volatile imports when it comes to fossil fuels.

President von der Leyen told the summit that, while Europe has made “great progress” in developing renewable energy sources, its production of nuclear energy has gone backwards.  

Dur: 00:25

EU proposes new Energy package for Europe

A new “Energy Package” for Europe got an airing today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The European Commission presented its proposals to increase the EU’s energy independence and affordability. The package includes initiatives to help fund home-grown clean energy projects and reduce people’s energy bills by enabling them to produce and share their own clean energy. Support for the development of innovative nuclear technologies is also being proposed.

The EU’s Energy Commissioner Dan JØRGENSEN, said the crisis in the Middle East, shows the need to move away from imported fossil fuels.

Dur: 00:45

Byrne calls for unlocking of sanctions & €90bn loan for Ukraine

Irish Minister Thomas Byrne says “it’s essential” the EU approves a new round of sanctions on Russia and a massive loan to Ukraine for budgetary and defence needs. Hungary is threatening to block the twentieth package of sanctions on Russia along with the ninety billion loan (€90bn) because of a dispute over oil supplies from Russia to Hungary.  

Mr Byrne was speaking this morning in Brussels on the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Dur: 00:27

New EU hub to counter foreign disinformation & manipulation – McGrath

A new EU hub to detect and monitor attempts at foreign information manipulation and interference in Europe’s democratic systems, including elections, is officially getting off the ground today (TUESDAY 24^th).

The European Centre for Democratic Resilience will enable EU institutions, Member States and civil society to exchange information to help protect and promote resilient democracies across the EU. EU Commissioner Michael McGrath says the Centre is the EU’s response to the growing threats the bloc’s collective democracies face today.   

Dur: 00:16