EU News Radio

€169m EU fund for Midlands launched – Hackett

A multi-million euro EU fund to support areas in the wider Midlands region to make the transition to a zero-carbon economy was launched today in county Longford.

The EU Just Transition Fund was set up to help regions and communities across the EU that are most negatively affected by the transition to climate neutrality.

In Ireland the fund is focused on areas most impacted by the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat. The region is set to receive up to eighty four and a half million euro (€84.5m) from the Fund over the period up to 2027. And Government match funding will bring the total up to one hundred and sixty nine million euro (€169m).

Minister Pippa Hackett, who attended today’s launch at the Corlea Trackway visitor centre in Kenagh, says the Fund will lead to exciting opportunities for the wider Midlands region.

Out words: opportunity there

Dur: 00:25

Stormont Brake should only be used on “very rare occasions”– Šefčovič

The European Commission’s Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič says the Windsor Framework’s controversial Stormont Brake should only be used on “very rare occasions”. He made the comments during an online address this afternoon to the Oireachtas Committee on EU affairs.  

The Stormont Brake is a mechanism which gives the Northern Ireland Assembly the power to object to changes to EU laws that apply in Northern Ireland. However, the Brake can only be applied if 30 Members of the Assembly from at least two parties, notify the UK Government of their objection to certain EU laws which apply in Northern Ireland.

But today Commissioner Šefčovič told the Committee members, “extensive consultations” with relevant stakeholders, should ensure the Brake is rarely applied.

Out words: do that

Dur: 00:26

Ireland joins Ostend Declaration on offshore wind acceleration – Varadkar

Ireland is signing up to ambitious goals to harness offshore wind energy from the North Seas including the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today joined leaders of six other EU countries along with Norway and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen at the North Sea Summit in Ostend, Belgium. They’re supporting the Ostend Declaration which aims to accelerate the development of offshore wind in the North Seas.

Speaking in Ostend this afternoon, the Taoiseach said the attendance of government leaders and companies at the summit shows a shared commitment to accelerate the transition to a green energy future. And to harnessing what he called the “immense potential of offshore renewables”.  

Out words: and biodiversity

Dur: 00:18

Ireland supports ambitious North Seas wind energy goals – Von der Leyen

Ireland is supporting ambitious goals to accelerate the development of offshore wind in the North Seas, including the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today joined leaders of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway at the North Sea Summit in Ostend, Belgium. The outcome of the summit is the ‘Ostend Declaration’ which aims to deliver on the North Seas’ offshore wind ambitions.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen also attended today’s summit. She said she strongly welcomes the Ostend Declaration.  

Out words: these targets

Dur: 00:15

Situation in Sudan “very fluid”– Tánaiste Martin

The Tánaiste Micheál Martin says Ireland is doing everything it can to help evacuate Irish citizens from Sudan.

Mr Martin was speaking ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg today where EU Ministers will discuss the situation in the African state. The Tánaiste paid tribute to both the Spanish and French authorities for evacuating multiple nationalities including Irish citizens, from Sudan.  

Out words: from Sudan

Dur:  00:38

EU cracks down on Crypto-assets – McGuinness LONG

The EU is putting in place “comprehensive tailored rules” for crypto assets in the European Union.  

That’s according to Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness who made the comments today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.  She was speaking ahead of a vote there tomorrow on the first EU rules to ensure the traceability of crypto-asset transfers and  to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and other crimes.

The legislation aims to ensure that crypto transfers can always be traced and suspicious transactions blocked. The so-called “travel rule”, already present in traditional finance, will in future cover transfers of crypto assets. This rule requires that information on the source of the asset and its beneficiary travels with the transaction and is stored on both sides of the transfer.

Here’s Mairead McGuinness.

Out words: financial services

Dur: 00:35

 

 

 

EU cracks down on Crypto-assets – McGuinness SHORT

The EU is putting in place “comprehensive tailored rules” for crypto assets in the European Union.  

That’s according to Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness who made the comments today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.  She was speaking ahead of a vote there tomorrow on the first EU rules to ensure the traceability of crypto-asset transfers and  to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and other crimes.

The legislation aims to ensure that crypto transfers can always be traced and suspicious transactions blocked. The so-called “travel rule”, already present in traditional finance, will in future cover transfers of crypto assets. This rule requires that information on the source of the asset and its beneficiary travels with the transaction and is stored on both sides of the transfer.

Here’s Mairead McGuinness.

Out words: of money  

Dur: 00:25

China needs to “respect” EU’s trading rules – von der Leyen

There is an “urgent need to rebalance” the EU’s relationship with China on the basis of transparency, predictability and reciprocity.

That’s according to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. She made the comments this morning during a debate in the European Parliament on the EU’s China Policy. MEPs have been discussing the EU’s response to the growing global challenges stemming from a more assertive China.

President von der Leyen said the EU does not want to cut important ties with China which is a vital trading partner.

Out words: national security

Dur: 00:28

EU chief warns China on “any unilateral change” of Taiwan status quo

The President of the European Commission this morning again warned China not to make any moves on Taiwan especially by military force. Ursula von der Leyen made the comments during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the EU’s China Policy.

MEPs have been discussing the European Union’s response to the growing global challenges stemming from a more assertive China. President von der Leyen’s remarks followed her recent trip to China with the French president Emmanuel Macron.

Out words: of force

Dur: 00:18

EU Boss to visit Belfast next week

The President of the European Commission will travel to Belfast next week to participate in an event to mark the twenty fifth anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a keynote speech on Wednesday at a conference organised by Queen’s University Belfast to mark the anniversary. European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer this morning said the final details of her programme are still being worked on.

Out words: in time

Dur: 00:15