EU News Radio

Energy bills are rising because of wasted renewables as well as our over-reliance on fossil fuels, that's according to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Last week the IMF warned that Europe is particularly vulnerable to energy shocks like the war in the Middle East because of the large amounts of energy we import. The EU is working on ways to become more resilient. Speaking in the European Parliament this morning, President von der Leyen, said that an Energy Union would ensure Europe’s grid is joined up so that power across the EU is better shared and not wasted.

 

Out words: At home

Dur: 00’19”

The EU wants to attract young people to jobs in the fisheries sector by offering better pay and conditions. The ideas are laid out in the European Commission’s ‘Vision for fisheries and aquaculture towards 2040’ which has just been published. The EU believes that modernising the fishing fleet, embracing zero emissions and new technology will be the future for the sector. European Commission Executive Vice President Raffaele Fitto said the aim was to ensure a thriving fisheries and aquaculture sector and coastal communities.

 

Out words: At home

Dur: 00’19”

The European Commission has announced plans for beefed-up surveillance in the Arctic region to rival Russia and China. Under the proposals announced today by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a Maritime Security Hub will be set up to protect supply chains, shipping routes and subsea cables. The EU will also improve environmental monitoring of the Arctic, a region warming nearly four times faster than the global average. Announcing the EU’s Arctic Strategy this afternoon, President von der Leyen said the Arctic is a vital part of Europe.

 

Out words: These values

Dur: 00’44”

The EU’s nature restoration law should be seen as vital investment, not a cost to be burdened, the EU’s environment commissioner has insisted. Extreme heat this summer alone is estimated to have cost €180 billion to Europe’s economy. The WWF today published their landmark report on the state of biodiversity across the globe. It warns that nearly three-quarters of vertebrate wildlife populations have declined over the past fifty years. Under the Nature Restoration Regulation, Ireland and other member states must show how they will restore at least 20 percent of degraded land and sea by 2030. Speaking in the European Parliament, European Commissioner for the Environment, Jessika Roswall, said that we depend on the nature around us more than we realise.

 

Out words: Function anymore

Dur: 0’16”

Attempts to bring global temperatures under control will fail unless other countries also cut emissions, the EU’s Climate Commissioner has warned. He has been speaking at a leaders' meeting in Fiji ahead of the UN’s COP summit next month. Scientists now fear that global temperatures will breach the 1.5°C Paris Agreement threshold before the end of the decade. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are making it harder to maintain a focus on climate change, Wopke Hoekstra, warned.

 

Out words: Continue with this

Dur: 0’17”

Europe’s dependency on fossil fuels makes us vulnerable to international events, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen has warned. In the budget today, the government is expected to make new pledges to help people and businesses with energy bills. But von der Leyen said in the longer term, a EU-wide solution on energy is needed.

 

Out words: It is needed

Dur: 0’57”

The EU is changing the law so that social media platforms will have to prove they are safe for young people and not the other way around. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has been speaking at a high level dialogue on Protecting Children’s rights facing Artificial Intelligence at the United Nations in New York. Under the EU Kids Act, announced last week, von der Leyen said the burden of proof would fall to the tech giants.

 

Out words: Our children

Dur: 0’55”

The European Commission has reached ‘substantial agreement’ on a free trade deal with Philippines. Under the terms of the agreement, tariffs will be dropped on goods covering 97 percent of trade. The details still need to be finalised before the agreement can be signed. The European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, said it would be a "major" new opening for European exporters.

 

Out words: Safe passage

Dur: 0’19”

Europe faces a renewed risk of jet fuel shortages, the European Transport Commissioner has warned. EU transport ministers met in Dublin this morning to discuss oil and gas supplies in light Houthis attacks on a key Saudi pipeline and tension again around the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking after the meeting, European Transport Commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, warned Europe’s energy supplies look vulnerable.

 

Out words: Safe passage

Dur: 0’19”

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”