EU News Radio

Ireland to focus on EU-US working together – Harris

Tánaiste Simon HARRIS says Ireland will focus on trying to find areas where the EU and US can work together during its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union. He was speaking in Brussels today following an Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting there. Mr Harris says Europe’s strength lies in working together as a united bloc.

Dur: 00:20

Ireland “helpful role to play” in EU-US relations – Harris

Ireland can play a positive role in relations between the EU and US as it prepares to take over the presidency of the EU later this year. That’s according to Tánaiste Simon HARRIS, who was speaking in Brussels today following an Economic and Financial Affairs Council.

Dur: 00:13

Shein #kids’ toys “not compliant with EU law”

Tests of a number of children’s toys sold by e-commerce platform Shein, showed they did not comply with EU laws. That’s according to the European Commission which today opened formal proceedings against Shein under the EU’s Digital Services Act. The Commission is launching the investigation for a range of reasons. They include what it’s calling Shein’s “addictive design” and its sale of illegal products, including weapons and child sexual abuse material such as “child-like sex dolls”. 

European Commission spokesperson Thomas REGNIER says, research carried out on twenty seven children’s products sold by Shein, revealed disturbing results.

Dur: 00:28

Commission launches investigation into Shein

The European Commission has today opened formal proceedings against e-commerce giant Shein under the Digital Services Act. The Commission says it's launching the investigation for a range of reasons. They include what the Commission calls Shein's "addictive design” and its sale of “illegal products, including child sexual abuse material”. 

According to the Commission, Coimisiún na Meán, the Digital Services Coordinator for Ireland, will also be involved in the investigation, as the national Digital Services Coordinator in the country of Shein's establishment in the EU. European Commission spokesperson Thomas REGNIER today explained more about the case . 

Dur: 00:27

Europe needs to take care of “own defence needs”

Europe needs to take care of its own defence needs and EU defence ministers need to tackle delays in defence production. That’s according to EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius KUBILIUS. Speaking this morning in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Kubilius said opinion polls clearly show that “in these dangerous times” people expect Europe to be strong in the world and in defence. And he said, the US expects Europe to take responsibility for its own conventional defence.

Dur: 00:14

EU calls for urgent ramping up of defence production

The EU’s Defence Commissioner is calling on the bloc to urgently ramp up its defence production and to strengthen the European portion of NATO. Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg this morning, Andrius KUBILIUS said Russia shows no sign of ending its war on Ukraine. And he warned, US strategic priorities are now focused on the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere.  

Mr Kubilius told the European Parliament, the US expects Europe to take responsibility for its own conventional defence. And that he said, means Europe needs to take care of its own defence needs.  

Dur: 00:25

EU “must radically step up” climate preparedness

Europe is not “sufficiently prepared” for the impact of extreme climate events such as the recent storms that badly hit several European countries. That’s the warning from the EU’s Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis management. Ireland has also suffered from heavy rainfall and flooding in recent weeks.

Speaking this morning in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Hadja LAHBIB said the EU is preparing a framework for climate resilience to build what she calls “resilience by design”.

Dur: 00:18

TikTok’s additive design “major risks” to users especially children – EU

TikTok’s addictive design features pose “major risks” to users, especially children. And TikTok disregarded “important indicators of compulsive use of the app” such as the time children spend on it at night.

That’s according to the European Commission which released its preliminary finding today following an investigation into the social media platform’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act. Speaking this morning in Brussels, EU Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, outlined the danger TikTok features can cause, such as infinite scrolling and push notifications.  

Dur: 00:12

Many citizens feel unprepared for climate impacts – EEA

The head of the European Environment Agency (EEA) is calling for increased investments in preparing European societies and citizens to better manage the impacts of climate change.

Leena YLÄ-MONONEN was speaking this morning in Cyprus ahead of an informal meeting of Environment and Climate Ministers. Discussions today will focus on how legislation and finance can better align European climate and water resilience policies.

Dur: 00:33

 

 

McGrath vows to break down single market barriers

EU Commissioner Michael McGrath is vowing to “systematically” break down and remove EU internal barriers to help improve the competitiveness of the EU economy. 

He says barriers and fragmentation within the Single Market result in too many innovative companies moving from Europe to other countries particularly the United States. Commissioner McGrath says next month, he’ll introduce a plan (to the European Commission) that will enable company founders and owners to scale up globally while keeping Europe as their base.

Dur: 00:33