EU News Radio

Farmers know we’re listening - McGuinness

The EU is listening and reacting to concerns from farmers, says Mairead McGuinness. In recent months, hundreds of farmers across Europe have taken part in demonstrations. Environmental rules, cheap imports from Ukraine and cost of living pressures are some of the reasons farmers are unhappy, according to the unions. The Irish Farmers Association has warned about a “mounting frustration” in agriculture here too. European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, says the EU is asking member states to “lighten to burden” on farmers.
 
Out words: your answer
Dur: 01:07

McGuinness urges Ireland to plant more trees

Ireland needs to plant more trees. That’s the message from Mairead McGuinness. According to the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Statistics, Ireland was planting around 20,000 trees per year in the mid 1990s, but by 2022 it was down to around 2,000 new trees. The EU has committed to planting three billion trees across Europe by 2030. Speaking after a tree planting in Kilternan, European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, said she wants to see Ireland go much further.
 
Out words: Absolutely need
Dur: 00:21

EU fines Apple €1.8 billion for music streaming restrictions

Apple has been fined €1.84 billion by the EU for restricting music streaming. The European Commission believes Apple has abused its dominant position. Consumers were forced to pay more than they should have for music streaming apps, the EU has concluded. The fine amounts to 0.5 per cent of Apple’s worldwide turnover. European Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, says Apple’s actions were illegal and European consumers lost out as a result.

 

Out words: European consumers

Dur: 00:21

Kinsale students compete in EU debating prize

Eight transition year students from Kinsale Community school, will debate future EU enlargement in a nationwide competition at Dublin Castle today.

The students will participate in a simulation of a meeting of the Council of the European Union. Each of the 27 EU Member States is represented by a team of 3 students from Irish secondary schools. The idea is to give students in Ireland the opportunity to debate EU topics in a European-style setting. Fiona Hedderman, a teacher with Kinsale Community School, says it’s crucial Irish students take part in these kind of European events.

Out words: as well

Dur: 00:29

Cork students debate future EU enlargement at Dublin Castle

Students from Kinsale Community School will compete in a debating competition on future EU enlargement at Dublin Castle tomorrow (Friday). The eight transition year students will participate in a simulation of a meeting of the Council of the European Union.

The idea is to give students in Ireland the opportunity to debate EU topics in a European-style setting. The winning team will travel with their class, to Strasbourg in October where they’ll become MEPs for a day in the European Parliament. Fiona Hedderman, a teacher at Kinsale Community School, says the event is a great opportunity for the young school goers.  

Out words: of life

Dur: 00:13

Ballyhaunis students debate future EU enlargement at Dublin Castle

Fifth year students from Mayo's Ballyhaunis Community School, will debate future EU enlargement in a nationwide debating competition at Dublin Castle today.

The students will participate in a simulation of a meeting of the Council of the European Union. A team of three students from Irish secondary schools will represent each of the twenty seven EU Member States. The Ballyhaunis team will represent Spain. The idea is to give students in Ireland the opportunity to debate EU topics in a European-style setting.

Paul Ryan, a History and English teacher at the school says participating in this kind of event is a great experience for the students.  

Out words: each time

Dur: 00:15

Mayo students vie for EU debating prize

Students from Ballyhaunis Community School will debate future EU enlargement at a nationwide event in Dublin Castle tomorrow (Friday). The fifth year students will participate in a simulation of a meeting of the Council of the European Union.

The idea is to give young people in Ireland the opportunity to debate EU topics in a European-style setting. The winning team will travel with their class, to Strasbourg in October where they’ll become MEPs for a day in the European Parliament. Paul Ryan, a history and English teacher at Ballyhaunis Community school, will accompany the students to Dublin Castle.

Out words: like that

Dur: 00:17

Von der Leyen vows to “separate” President role from EU campaigning

The European People’s Party says it is logical that Ursula von der Leyen would be the next Commission president.Today the EPP announced Mrs von der Leyen was the “only proposed” EPP candidate for the position of ‘lead candidate’ in the upcoming European elections. The EPP is the biggest political group in the European Parliament and is tipped to win the most seats in the June elections. That would put President von der Leyen in poll position to be re-elected EU boss for another five years. 

Speaking at a press conference today, she vowed  to “strictly divide” her presidential role from her election campaigning.  

Out words: absolutely separated  

Dur: 00:24

EPP backs Von der Leyen for EC president bid

The European People’s Party (EPP) today announced it was supporting Ursula von der Leyen to be their lead candidate in the upcoming European elections. The EPP said Mrs von der Leyen was the “only proposed” EPP candidate for the position of ‘lead candidate’ in the June elections.

The EPP is the biggest political group in the European Parliament and is tipped to win the most seats in the European Parliament elections. That would put President von der Leyen in poll position to be re-elected EU boss for another five years. At a press conference in Brussels, President von der Leyen said that when she first ran for the EU’s top position in 2019,  she did it because she “deeply believed in Europe”.

Out words: its people

Dur: 00:19

EU “outraged” by Navalny’s death – Tánaiste

Published: 19/02/2024

The EU is “outraged by the death of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny. And the ultimate responsibility for his death lies with the Russian president Vladimir Putin and the Russian authorities.

They were the stark words issued in a statement this afternoon by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. The statement said Mr Navalny’s “unexpected and shocking death is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia”.

Earlier today Mr Navalny’s widow joined an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels which Tánaiste Micheal Martin also attended. This morning he gave his reaction to Mr Navalny’s death and the treatment of those in Russia expressing their sympathies for him.

Out words: their sympathy

Dur: 00:18