EU News Radio

“Get out and vote” urges EU Ireland boss

The head of the European Commission’s Representation in Ireland is urging people to go out and vote in the upcoming European elections. Both local and European elections will be held here on June the seventh (7^th). Barbara Nolan was speaking ahead of Europe Day (Thursday 9th May) which marks the anniversary of the nineteen fifty (1950) 'Schuman declaration' which set out the beginning of European integration and co-operation.

Out words: the world

Dur: 00:35

Celebrations to mark Europe day tomorrow – EU

People across the EU will celebrate Europe Day tomorrow with a range of activities planned. Europe Day is held on the ninth of May every year. It marks the anniversary of the nineteen fifty (1950) 'Schuman declaration' which set out the beginning of European integration and co-operation. Barbara Nolan, who heads the European Commission’s Representation in Ireland, says EU membership has been transformative for the country.  

Out words: Irish society

Dur: 00:13

2004 enlargement shows EU an “enabler of peace” - Cox

The 2004 expansion of the European Union from fifteen to twenty five member states was “transformative”. And it shows the EU has been an “enabler of a sustained peace and reconciliation on the continent of Europe”. That’s according to the former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox. He was President of the Parliament when the EU welcomed in ten new member states twenty years ago today.

Out words: that peace

Dur: 00:18

Ireland gained from ’04 EU enlargement – Pat Cox

Ireland gained a lot from the 2004 EU enlargement which brought ten more countries into the bloc. That’s according to the former president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox. Today (May 1) marks the twentieth anniversary of the largest expansion in the EU’s history. Back then, ten states from Eastern and Central Europe along with Cyprus and Malta joined the Union. Ireland benefited from their membership according to Pat Cox.

Out words: own economy

Dur: 00:17

“Big Bang” EU enlargement “transformative” – Pat Cox

Twenty years ago tomorrow, ten countries from Eastern and Central Europe along with Malta and Cyprus, joined the EU. It was the biggest enlargement in the bloc’s history increasing its membership from fifteen (15) to twenty five (25) countries. Back in 2004, Irish man Pat Cox was the President of the European Parliament. Twenty years on, he says that EU expansion was “transformative”.

Out words: European history

Dur: 00:29

20th Anniversary EU enlargement tomorrow – Pat Cox

Tomorrow (May 1) marks the twentieth anniversary of the biggest enlargement of the European Union. In 2004, ten countries from Central and Eastern Europe along with Malta and Cyprus, joined the bloc increasing its number from fifteen (15) to twenty five (25). Irish man Pat Cox was the president of the European Parliament at the time. He remembers the celebrations to welcome in the new member states  

Out words: strengthened by it

Dur: 00:28

EU VP slams killings of aid workers and journalists in Gaza.

The EU’s foreign policy chief today strongly condemned the killings of aid workers and journalists in the Gaza Strip. Josep Borrell was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He told MEPs, at least two hundred and forty nine (249) aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October the seventh. And he said people “were also appalled” by the number of journalists and media workers who’ve been killed by strikes in Gaza.

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Out words: being informed

Dur: 00:15

Israeli ground offensive on Rafah would be “catastrophic” – Borrell

The EU’s foreign policy chief has warned against an Israeli ground operation in Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip. Speaking in the European Parliament today, Josep Borell said such an action would have catastrophic consequences.

Out words: saying that  

Dur: 00:16

EU needs “more specificity” on Ireland’s energy efficiency targets

The European Commission is calling for more specific information from Ireland on how it will achieve its national energy efficiency targets. Under Ireland’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan, it’s set a range of policies and measures to achieve greater energy efficiency by 2030.  However, Matthew Baldwin, the deputy director-general of the European Commission’s energy department, says more clarity is needed on how those measures will be achieved.

Out words: ambitious targets

Dur: 00:41

Ireland needs to “up its ambitions” on climate/energy targets – EU

Ireland needs to “up its ambitions” if it’s going to meet national and EU energy targets. That’s according to a senior official with the European Commission’s Energy department (DG ENER). The EU's 2030 climate target is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% relative to 1990. The goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Under Ireland’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan, a target of increasing reliance on renewables from thirty percent (30%) to seventy percent (70%) by 2030 has been set.  However, the European Commission’s Matthew Baldwin says more clarity is needed on how those renewable targets will be achieved.

Out words: for 2030

Dur: 00:20