EU News Radio

36% dissatisfied with Ireland’s role & influence in Brussels - EMI Poll

Thirty six percent (36%) of people polled in Ireland are dissatisfied with Ireland’s role and influence in Brussels. That’s according to the 2025 European Movement Ireland poll conducted with Amárach Research that’s out today (08/05). EMI says the findings come at a time when Ireland remains underrepresented in EU institutions. 

Noelle O’Connell, CEO of EMI says Ireland faces challenges when it comes to replacing senior Irish people retiring from EU  institutions. 

Dur: 00:46

43% don’t believe views reflected at EU level - EMI Poll

Forty three percent (43%) of people polled in Ireland do not believe their views are represented at an EU level. And over a quarter (26% of those polled) are dissatisfied with the direction the EU is taking. And thirty four percent (34%) feel the EU is not upholding its core values. 

They’re some of the findings of this year’s European Movement Ireland poll conducted with Amárach Research. The poll found that support for Ireland’s membership of the European Union remains strong at eighty two percent (82%). However that figure has dropped to its lowest level since 2013. Here’s European Movement Ireland’s CEO Noelle O’Connell. 

Dur: 00:51

€100billion potential US tariffs on EU goods - Sefcovic

US tariffs on EU goods could be a “massive” one hundred billion euros (€100bn) if they were to be fully implemented. That’s the warning from EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning. 

He told MEPs, the US has recently launched investigations on a range of additional products. Including pharmaceutical products and semi-conductors.  He said, US duties on EU exports “would be massive” if the United States imposes tariffs on those additional products. 

Dur: 00:17

Defence and Security “focus” of upcoming EU-UK summit - Sefcovic

Defence and security issues are likely to feature in the upcoming EU-UK Summit taking place in London on May 19th. That’s according to EU Trade Commissioner, Maris Sefcovic who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday evening. 

EU and UK leaders will meet in London for the first institutional bilateral gathering in Britain, since the UK left the EU in 2020. Commissioner Sefcovic told MEPs, EU officials have been working intensely with their UK partners to prepare the summit. He cited security and resilience as an area with scope to further develop the EU-UK relationship. 

Dur: 00:55

Upcoming EU-UK Summit “an important milestone”

The EU and UK have been “working intensely” to prepare the upcoming EU-UK Summit on the 19th of May. And it’s clear that both sides want to deliver a “positive summit”.  That’s according to EU Trade Commissioner, Maris Sefcovic. 

He was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg (on Monday evening) during a debate about the upcoming summit. He told MEPs, the meeting offers “an opportunity to strengthen EU-UK co.operation” across a number of areas.

Dur: 00:11

Cork/Dublin interpretation students get shout out in Brussels

Translation and interpretation students from UCC and Dublin City University were given an encouraging shout out today by the European Commission’s Chief spokesperson. Paula Pinho welcomed the thirty five students, who were attending the Commission’s daily press conference in Brussels.

Dur:00:26

EU mobilises €910m to boost European Defence

The EU is investing nearly a billion euro (€910m) in projects designed to boost Europe’s defence capabilities. The European Commission says the investments will involve innovation and collaboration across European science and industry. EU spokesperson Thomas Regnier explains more.  

Dur: 00:17

EU urges Serbia to speed up reforms for membership

The EU’s Enlargement commissioner is urging Serbia to speed up its reforms of the judiciary, media and election laws in order to join the EU. Marta Kos made the comments on Tuesday evening after meeting with Serbia’s new Prime Minister (Djuro Macut) in Belgrade.

Today she’ll pay homage to the victims of the Novi Sad train station tragedy where  sixteen people were killed after a roof collapsed there last November. The deadly incident triggered months of widespread protests in Serbia, with critics claiming corruption and negligence contributed to the roof’s collapse. The protests have cast a shadow over Serbia’s efforts to become an EU member state. Commissioner Kos urged Serbia to work with the EU on the necessary reforms for membership of the bloc. 

Europe dependence on Russian energy way down - von der Leyen

Europe has significantly reduced its dependence on Russian energy supplies since the start of the war in Ukraine.

That’s according to EU boss Ursula von der Leyen who was speaking at the Future of Energy Security Summit in London today. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU worked to reduce its reliance on Russian fuels following global price hikes.

Dur: 00:24

Energy Security “life blood” of economies” - Von der Leyen

The world is facing “a new paradigm for energy security” with Russia’s weaponisation of energy supplies in Europe, the conflict in the Middle East and the threat of US tariffs threatening economies. That’s the warning from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. 

She made the comments today at the Summit on the Future of Energy Security in London. There, leaders have been discussing the main factors affecting energy security internationally and how solutions such as clean energy technologies can improve energy supplies. 

Dur: 00:12