EU News Radio

EU releases €324m to Ireland - Von der Leyen

The EU today released three hundred and twenty four million euro (€324m) to Ireland in grants as a first payment under the bloc’s Recovery and Resilience facility (RRF). The RRF was set up to support Europe’s economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic and to help make EU economies greener, digital and more resilient.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announced news of the payment which she said will be for railways, clean tech and digitising schools.

Out words: the rise 

Dur: 00:15

EU imposes tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

The European Commission today imposed provisional tariffs on imports of Chinese battery electric vehicles to the EU. The Commission says it’s imposing the provisional tariffs because China is benefiting from unfair subsidies that are threatening European producers of BEVs (battery electric vehicles). Speaking in Brussels this morning, European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said the move follows a nine-month investigation.   

Out words: in Europe

Dur: 00:15

 

 

von der Leyen wins over EU leaders for second term

Ursula von der Leyen will go forward for a second term as president of the European Commission. The prime minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, has been put forward as the next EU foreign affairs chief. Meanwhile the former prime minister of Portugal, António Costa, will become president of the European Council. EU leaders spent around an hour considering and voting on the package of top jobs. Ursula von der Leyen now needs to win the approval of a majority in the European Parliament to be confirmed in the post. Speaking at a press conference in the early hours of Friday morning, Ms von der Leyen thanked leaders for their endorsement.

 

Out words: the way forward

Dur: 00’20”

Europe is failing Gaza - Taoiseach

The European Union has failed to put enough pressure to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, says the Taoiseach. Simon Harris has arrived in Brussels for an important EU summit this afternoon. Leaders will debate the situation in the Middle East as Israel continues its war in Gaza. Speaking in Brussels, Taoiseach, Simon Harris, said he believes the EU can do more to bring about peace, and should back the verdict of the International Criminal Court.

Out words: Makes an order

Dur: 00’19”

Europe must hold fast to values - Tánaiste

The success of far right and populist parties in Europe must not undermine EU values of rule of law and human rights – that’s according to the Tánaiste. Extremist parties made significant gains in the European elections, particularly in France, Germany and Italy. Speaking at a meeting of European foreign ministers in Luxembourg this morning, Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, warned that the EU must not ignore the signs and should hold strong to core values.

Out words: Maintain those values

Dur: 00’27”

Europe should focus on growth - Donohoe

The EU has been successful in bringing inflation down but work continues – that’s the message from Paschal Donohoe. Annual inflation rose to 2.6 per cent in the euro area last month, up 0.2 per cent on the previous month, according to data from Eurostat. That could be a cause for concern for economists. But speaking ahead of a meeting of Euro area finance ministers in Luxembourg this afternoon, the President of the Eurogroup, and Irish minister, Paschal Donohoe, was upbeat. He is urging the EU to focus on economic growth.

 

Out words: years ahead

Dur: 00’18”

CAP vital says outgoing Agriculture Commissioner

The Common Agricultural Policy is vital for Europe – that’s the message from Commissioner Wojciechowski as he prepares to leave office. Representatives from all over Europe are meeting in Brussels to discuss the future of the CAP. Following the European elections, a new European Commissioner for Agriculture will be selected in the coming months. Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has been in charge of the farming brief for the past five years. He says leaders must recognise how essential the Common Agricultural Policy is for the EU.  

 

Out words: And every citizen

Dur: 1’28”

Taoiseach arrives in Brussels for talks on EU 'top jobs'

Ireland’s next European Commissioner will come from Fianna Fáil, the Taoiseach has confirmed. Simon Harris has just arrived in the European Council where heads of state and governments will discuss the EU top jobs tonight over dinner. The lead candidate for the centre-right EPP, and incumbent, Ursula von der Leyen is in pole position to keep her job as European Commission President. But Simon Harris said the EU27 will need to achieve a careful balance with the other roles – president of the European Council, parliament, and the EU’s foreign affairs chief – to take into account the recent European election results.

Korea re-opens beef market to Ireland & France – EC

Irish beef producers will once again be able to export beef to the Republic of Korea following the removal of local restrictions on EU beef. In 2001, the Korean market was closed to beef imports from 15 EU Member States due to outbreaks of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).

Korea re-opened its market to EU beef from Denmark and the Netherlands in 2019. And now that’s being extended to France and Ireland. The Republic of Korea is one of the biggest import markets for beef in the world.  Speaking today through an interpreter, European Commission spokesman Olof Gill announced news of the trade barriers being lifted.

Out words: eliminated

Dur: 00:17

Farmers “core’’ players in winning EU Natura 2000 project

Farmers played a “core” role in an Irish project that’s just won an EU Natura 2000 award.  That’s according to Derek McLoughlin, the Project Manager of the LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature project.

The Wild Atlantic Nature project is funded by the EU LIFE programme. It aims to develop capacity among farmers to deliver improved ecosystem services by directly linking farmers’ agri-environment payments, to the ecological condition of their land. The project was found to have delivered “an extremely convincing demonstration of how farmers can be paid fairly and effectively to protect Natura 2000 sites and habitats”. Here's Derek McLoughlin.

Out words: and so on

Dur: 00:22