EU News Radio

20th Anniversary EU enlargement tomorrow – Pat Cox

Tomorrow (May 1) marks the twentieth anniversary of the biggest enlargement of the European Union. In 2004, ten countries from Central and Eastern Europe along with Malta and Cyprus, joined the bloc increasing its number from fifteen (15) to twenty five (25). Irish man Pat Cox was the president of the European Parliament at the time. He remembers the celebrations to welcome in the new member states  

Out words: strengthened by it

Dur: 00:28

EU VP slams killings of aid workers and journalists in Gaza.

The EU’s foreign policy chief today strongly condemned the killings of aid workers and journalists in the Gaza Strip. Josep Borrell was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He told MEPs, at least two hundred and forty nine (249) aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October the seventh. And he said people “were also appalled” by the number of journalists and media workers who’ve been killed by strikes in Gaza.

Short clip

Out words: being informed

Dur: 00:15

Israeli ground offensive on Rafah would be “catastrophic” – Borrell

The EU’s foreign policy chief has warned against an Israeli ground operation in Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip. Speaking in the European Parliament today, Josep Borell said such an action would have catastrophic consequences.

Out words: saying that  

Dur: 00:16

EU needs “more specificity” on Ireland’s energy efficiency targets

The European Commission is calling for more specific information from Ireland on how it will achieve its national energy efficiency targets. Under Ireland’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan, it’s set a range of policies and measures to achieve greater energy efficiency by 2030.  However, Matthew Baldwin, the deputy director-general of the European Commission’s energy department, says more clarity is needed on how those measures will be achieved.

Out words: ambitious targets

Dur: 00:41

Ireland needs to “up its ambitions” on climate/energy targets – EU

Ireland needs to “up its ambitions” if it’s going to meet national and EU energy targets. That’s according to a senior official with the European Commission’s Energy department (DG ENER). The EU's 2030 climate target is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% relative to 1990. The goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Under Ireland’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan, a target of increasing reliance on renewables from thirty percent (30%) to seventy percent (70%) by 2030 has been set.  However, the European Commission’s Matthew Baldwin says more clarity is needed on how those renewable targets will be achieved.

Out words: for 2030

Dur: 00:20

“Real surge” in young road fatalities - Chambers

More young people are losing their lives on Irish roads than any other age group in the country. That’s according to Transport Minister Jack Chambers who was speaking at an EU Road Safety conference in Dublin this morning. 

Out words: this year 

Dur: 00:20

20k road deaths in Europe in 2023

More than twenty thousand people lost their lives on European roads last year. That’s according to the head of the European Commission’s Mobility and Transport Department (DG MOVE). 

Magda Kopczynska was speaking at an EU Road Safety Conference in Dublin this morning. The EU wants to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 with the aim of nearly eliminating them by 2050.

Out words: before Covid 

Dur: 00:18

Ireland heading in “wrong direction” on road safety - Chambers

Ireland is “heading in the wrong direction” when it comes to safety on our roads. That’s according to Minister Jack Chambers who was speaking at an EU Road Safety conference in Dublin this morning. 

The EU wants to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 with the aim of nearly eliminating them by 2050. But according to Minister Chambers, in Ireland we’re “definitely” going in the wrong direction "after many years of progress".  

Out words: of progress

Dur: 00:19

Cork looking for opportunities and success - McGuinness

Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has been visiting Cork to discuss future EU opportunities for the region and its people. She’s also been finding out about some projects and activities where the EU and Cork are working successfully together towards sustainable economic growth. 

The Commissioner attended the “EU for Cork: Unlocking Opportunities for Cork” event yesterday that was held at Cork City hall. Later today, she will deliver the Monahan Lecture at UCC. 

Out words: hope globally 

Dur: 00:33

Harris/Varadkar reflect EU values - McGuinness

The EU needs leaders that are motivated about Europe, its values and what it stands for. So says Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness. She is urging people to come out and vote in the upcoming EU and local elections. 

Out words: in Ireland 

Dur: 00:28