EU News Radio

Europe should be ready for a new space age with all the advantages and dangers it brings, says Ursula von her Leyen. She has been speaking at the International Space Summit in Paris this morning. She has proposed spending €131 billion on security, defence and space projects in the next EU budget. That could be good news for the more than 100 space companies based in Ireland. President von der Leyen said Europe must continue to be at the forefront.

 

Out words: Decades to come

Dur: 0’18”

The European Commission has published its long-awaited EU Affordable Housing Act. Under the proposals governments and local authorities would be able to ban short term rentals like Airbnb in areas of so-called “housing stress”. Those are areas where there are not enough places for local people to live because of holiday lets, second homes or empty houses. Presenting the plans this lunchtime, the European Housing Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, said the EU was determined to clear legal obstacles out the way so that councils and governments can take action.

 

Out words: Are totally unacceptable

Dur: 0’51”

The EU is considering reclassifying methane produced by cows, the European Commissioner for Agriculture has confirmed. Environmentalists fear that the EU will end up watering down climate commitments if cow emissions are rebranded as “biogenic methane”. Green groups say highly polluting methane has the same impact of the environment whatever its origins. Speaking in Dublin this afternoon after a meeting of EU farming ministers, European Agriculture Commissioner, Christophe Hansen, promised that any decision would be based on scientific advice.

 

Out words: On that point

Dur: 0’23”

The European Union has announced it is investing €200 million in Greenland. The money will be used to improve satellite links, boosting internet connections for people living in remote communities. The EU is also investing in mining projects and hydropower. Speaking from the capital, Nuuk - after signing the agreement with the prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark - European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said EU funding would bring wide benefits.

 

Out words: In the country

Dur: 0’23”

Cork’s Marina is the new location for an award-winning garden that was commissioned by the European Commission to mark Ireland’s EU presidency. The garden, which featured in this year’s Bloom festival, will be presented to the people of Cork tomorrow (Monday). At its heart are twenty seven trees, each representing one of the EU's Member States. Some of the trees rise to more than seven metres in height.

EU Commissioner Michael McGrath will formally present the garden to the City’s Lord Mayor tomorrow. Peter Power, head of the European Commission in Ireland, says the garden represents “a celebration of Europe”.  

Dur: 00:17

An award-winning garden, which featured in this year’s Bloom festival, will be presented to the people of Cork tomorrow (Monday 7th September). The garden, was commissioned by the European Commission in Ireland to mark Ireland’s EU presidency and the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to Cork city this summer. It has now been installed on the City’s Marina promenade where it will remain permanently.  EU Commissioner Michael McGrath will formally present the garden to the City’s Lord Mayor tomorrow. 

Peter Power, head of the European Commission in Ireland says the garden represents “a celebration of Europe”.  

Dur: 00:16

The European Commission today announced it’s fined the e-commerce platform AliExpress five hundred and fifty million euro (€550m) for what it says are breaches of the EU Digital Services Act.

European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier this morning said AliExpress “failed to assess and mitigate the risks of illegal products being offered on its marketplace”. 

Dur: 00:17

Protecting the safety of children online will be a key priority for the Irish EU Presidency. Over the next six months, the government will seek to drive EU legislation to ensure the online world is a safe and healthy space for kids. Ireland’s EU Commissioner Michael McGrath says “we need to do more to make the online environment safer for children”. 

Dur: 00:18

PUBLISHED: 1st July, 2026

Ireland’s EU presidency begins today (Wednesday July 1) and will last until the end of the year. Over the next six months Ireland will guide negotiations, broker agreements between Member States, and help deliver EU laws and policies that affect the daily lives of more than four hundred and fifty million people.

This will be the eighth time the country has held the rotating presidency. The last one was in 2013. Ireland’s EU Commissioner, Michael McGrath says it’s a “fantastic opportunity to showcase everything that Ireland has to offer”. 

Dur: 00:15

Ireland is “well placed” to ensure a “coordinated approach” is taken on security and defence during its EU Presidency. That’s the view of Ireland’s European Commissioner, Michael McGrath.

Strengthening European security and defence is a priority for Ireland during its EU presidency which starts on Wednesday, Commissioner McGrath says the bloc faces many types of security threats. 

Dur: 00:15