EU News Radio

Navalny’s widow to attend EU meeting – Tánaiste Micheál Martin

The degree to which the fundamental spirt of the human being is being suppressed in Russia is “quite shocking”. That’s according to Tánaiste Micheál Martin who was speaking in Brussels this morning where he’s attending an EU Foreign Affairs council meeting. Yulia Navalnaya the wife of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny,  will attend today’s meeting. Mr Navalny died under suspicious circumstances in an Arctic prison last week.

Out words: any dissent

Dur: 00:18

Commission looking into joint Irish-Spanish Gaza letter

The European Commission says it received this morning the joint Irish-Spanish letter about Gaza that was sent to EU boss Ursula von der Leyen. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, have expressed deep concerns about the situation in Gaza. They’re calling for an urgent review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the Agreement.

 

This morning a European Commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta, acknowledged receipt of the letter.

Out words: this stage

Dur: 00:12

 

 

Commission acknowledges receipt of Taoiseach/Spanish PM Gaza letter

The European Commission confirmed this morning the receipt of a joint letter about Gaza that was sent to the President of the Commission from the Taoiseach and the Spanish Prime Minister.  The letter to Ursula von der Leyen expresses deep concern over the situation in Gaza. And it calls for an urgent review of the EU-Israeli Association Agreement and whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the Agreement.

Speaking in Brussels this morning European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali, had this to say when asked about the letter.

Out words: humanitarian law

Dur: 00:22

 

 

UNRWA “backbone” of Gaza humanitarian response – European Commission

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is “simply catastrophic” and a large part of its population “is on the brink of famine”. That’s according to a senior EU official who was speaking this afternoon in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Hans Das, is the chief Operations Officer with the Commission’s department for European Civil protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. He said the European Commission takes “very seriously” the recent Israeli allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7^th attacks. And he welcomed the steps taken following those allegations. But Mr Das warned that UNRWA is the “backbone” of the humanitarian response in Gaza.     

Out words: in Gaza

Dur: 00:26

McGrath defends Ireland’s housing crisis in pitch for EU agency

Finance Minister Michael McGrath was forced to address Ireland’s housing crisis during a pitch today to host a new EU anti-money laundering agency known as AMLA.

Minister McGrath was answering questions in the European Parliament during a hearing on where best to locate AMLA’s new head-quarters. Nine countries, including Ireland, are bidding to host the agency. Minister McGrath was asked how Dublin’s rising house prices would work for families who would have to move there if the capital won the pitch to site AMLA’s HQ.

Out words: twenty three       

Dur:00:21

Ireland pitches for new EU anti-fraud agency – McGrath

Ireland made the pitch today to host the new EU anti-money laundering agency known as AMLA.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath made the pitch this afternoon during a hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels. The agency will oversee compliance with anti-money laundering laws and standards as well as countering the financing of terrorism. It’s expected to create hundreds of jobs in the city where the new headquarters will be based. Minister McGrath told the Parliament, Dublin was well placed to host the new agency.

Out words: direct investment

Dur: 00:20

Conditions to conclude Mercosur trade deal “not met” EC

The European Commission’s chief spokesperson says “the conditions to conclude the Mercosur negotiations are not met” but that the talks are “ongoing”.  

Eric Mamer was responding to media reports based on official French sources. The reports claim the European Commission has stopped negotiating the trade deal with the Mercosur group of South American countries, following pressure from France.  French farmers have been protesting against EU trade deals including the Mercosur one arguing they’ll lead to cheap food imports that don’t meet EU standards.  Here’s Eric Mamer.

Out words: agricultural sector

Dur: 00:15

Trinity professor wins EU funding for pioneering back-pain research

A Trinity College professor has won a European Research Council (Proof of Concept) grant worth €150,000, to pursue further research into pioneering non-surgical solutions for back-pain. Conor Buckley is a Professor of Bio-Medical engineering at Trinity College Dublin. His research lab is developing a material that can be injected into damaged spinal discs that cause back pain.

Out words: native tissue 

Dur: 01:22

67 Cork and Kerry 18 year-olds win free EU travel passes

Sixty seven (67) young people from Cork and Kerry have won free travel passes to explore the EU between March 2024 and May next year. The successful eighteen year olds won the passes under the DiscoverEU programme. It gives 18-year old Europeans from all backgrounds, the opportunity to travel across Europe, to learn from other cultures and build new friendships.

Helen Kearns from the European Commission’s Dublin office explains.  

Out words: across the EU

Dur: 00:22

83 young people from East Counties win free EU travel passes

Eighty three (83) young people from Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Louth have won free travel passes to explore the EU between March 2024 and May next year. The successful eighteen year olds won the passes under the DiscoverEU programme. It gives 18-year old Europeans from all backgrounds, the opportunity to travel across Europe, to learn from other cultures and build new friendships.

Helen Kearns from the European Commission’s Dublin office explains.  

Out words: across Europe

Dur: 00:21