EU News Radio

Europe “fastest warming” continent in World – ECCA Dublin Castle

Europe is now the fastest warming continent in the world with 2022 marked by extreme heat, drought and wildfires. And climate change is taking a major human, economic and environmental toll in Europe.

That’s according to the latest report on The State of the Climate in Europe. It was produced by the World Meteorological Organisation and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.  

Andrew Ferrone, one of the lead authors of the report, discussed its findings this morning at the European Climate Change Adaptation conference (ECCA 2023) taking place in Dublin Castle.

Out words: their melting

Dur: 00:46

Major European climate change conference at Dublin Castle

Scientists and climate change experts from around the world have been gathering in Dublin Castle today to see how Europe can adapt to the ravages of climate change.

The 6^th European Climate Change Adaptation conference known as ECCA, is Europe’s flagship conference on climate change adaptation for Europe. It’s the first time the event is being held in Ireland.

Dr Frank McGovern the chief climate scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency,  says the goal is to see what can be done to reduce the adverse impact of climate change on people, places and nature.

Out words: European level

Dur: 00:29

Google accused of distorting competition in adtech industry by Commission

The European Commission has informed Google of its preliminary view that the company breached EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the advertising technology industry  known as ‘adtech'.

The Commission is alleging Google favours its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of competing providers of advertising technology services, advertisers and online publishers. The Commission's preliminary view is that only the mandatory divestment by Google of part of its services would address its competition concerns.

Speaking today, the EU’s Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced details of the findings.  

Out words: ad tech services

Dur:  00:32

Millions of EU farms lost due to lack of young farmers – Ag Commissioner

Over three million farms were lost and eight hundred farms disappeared every day during the decade from 2010 to 2020. Those losses were mainly due to a lack of young farmers willing to take over their family holdings.

That’s according to the EU Agriculture Commissioner, Janusz Wojciechowski. He was speaking (last night) in the European Parliament where MEPs will vote today on a report on ensuring food security in the European Union. The average age of a farmer in the bloc is now fifty seven (57). And over a third of farmers are over sixty five (65) years old.  

The Commissioner says the key to tackling generational renewal lies not only in agricultural policies but in other EU policies as well. He’s advocating for rural residents to have the right to the same living conditions as city dwellers.

Out words: rural residents

Dur: 00:27

EU proposes increased transparency for sustainable investments – McGuinness

The European Commission today proposed new rules which they say will increase transparency on the market for sustainable investments. The proposals concern providers of Environmental, Social and Governance ratings known as ESGs. ESG ratings generally assess the impact of environmental, social, and governance factors on a company and a company's impact on the outside world.

The Commission is proposing a regulation to improve the reliability and transparency of ESG rating agencies. The Commission says these new rules will enable investors to make better informed decisions regarding sustainable investments. Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, today explained more.   

Out words: and reliable

Dur: 00:36

Vote on Artificial Intelligence “historic” – Vestager

The EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager says proposed EU rules on Artificial Intelligence will enable its development “in a positive manner”. She was speaking today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Tomorrow MEPs will vote on their negotiating position on new EU rules to curb the risks of artificial intelligence and to promote its ethical use.

The European Commission is proposing a set of comprehensive rules to manage AI risk and promote it in ways that align with EU values including human oversight, privacy, and non-discrimination.

Commissioner Vestager says tomorrow’s vote will be historic.

Out words: trust it

Dur: 00:42

World Oceans Day marked in Limerick – Marine Institute

World Oceans Day (8^th June) was marked today in Limerick at the Oceans 23 conference that’s been taking place all week at the University there.

The international event is a forum for global maritime professionals to find out how they can innovate and better protect the world’s oceans.  Paul Connolly, CEO of the Irish Marine Institute, says there are enormous opportunities for Ireland when it comes to the ocean that surrounds us.

Out words: the ocean

Dur: 00:42

Covid virus remains “a threat” – EMA

The Covid 19 virus is still widely circulating and new variants are emerging. The virus is and will remain a threat, especially for the most vulnerable.  That’s according to Marco Cavaleri, the head of Health Threats and Vaccines Strategy with the European Medicines Agency.

Speaking today he said that while the emergency phase of the pandemic “is over”, EMA’s work on it continues.

Out word: than vaccination

Dur: 00:30

Covid vaccines saved almost 20m in 1st year – Cooke EMA

The European Medicines Agency accelerated vaccine approvals and collaborated internationally in “unprecedented ways” to help roll out the largest immunisation programme in European history. That’s according to Irish woman Emer Cooke who heads up the EU agency that evaluates and monitors medicines within the European Union and wider European Economic Area.

She was talking about the work involved in rolling out Covid 19 vaccines during the pandemic. Speaking earlier today, she described what that entailed.  

Out words: million lives

Dur: 00:22

“Solidarity fatigue” could hamper integration of Ukraine refugees

Solidarity is “alive and kicking in the EU” and people receiving Ukrainian refugees “opened their homes and their hearts en masse”. They’re some of the findings of a report on the integration in the EU of people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to the report, support remains high for Ukrainian refugees but it says that goodwill shouldn’t be taken for granted. And that other forces are at work feeding social discontent and populism. The report warns there’s a danger “solidarity fatigue” is beginning to set in in some Member States with underlying problems such as housing shortages or scare childcare capacities.

The report, which was launched today, was spearheaded by former Dutch Deputy Prime Minister, Lodewijk Asscher.

Out words: receiving societies

Dur: 00:37