The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) has just celebrated its first year in action. During this time, STEP has pooled the investment firepower of 11 EU programmes, mobilising over €15 billion to support Europe's competitiveness in three strategic sectors: digital technologies and deep-tech innovation, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies. EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin said: "In only one year, STEP has demonstrated that the EU budget can be more agile. Project holders can benefit from more streamlined support and access to EU funding, focussing on the strategic technologies the EU needs to develop".

Ahead of today's special Summit on Ukraine and European defence, President von der Leyen wrote to EU leaders outlining the ReArm Europe Plan, a set of proposals to help Member States to quickly and significantly increase expenditures in defence capabilities. Introducing the Plan, the President said: "Europe is ready to assume its responsibilities. ReArm Europe could mobilise close to €800 billion for a safe and resilient Europe. We will continue working closely with our partners in NATO. This is a moment for Europe. And we are ready to step up".

President von der Leyen and the College of Commissioners were in New Delhi on 27-28 February to deepen relations with the largest democracy in the world. The President and the College met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government to discuss how to take the EU-India Strategic Partnership to the next level. This visit marks a significant step forward in the relationship. It will contribute to shape the new EU-India Strategic Agenda that President von der Leyen announced in her Political Guidelines and that will be presented in the coming months.

The 2026 edition of the European Capital of Smart Tourism and the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions were launched this week. The European Capital of Smart Tourism, open to cities with a population of over 100,000, recognises European cities with outstanding tourism destinations achievements in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation and cultural heritage and creativity. Meanwhile the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competition, open to destinations with a population of between 25,000 and 100,000, recognises emerging sustainable tourism destinations across Europe. The application period closes on 30 May 2025, at 4pm (Irish time).

The Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland is one of the four winners of the 2024 EU Award for Gender Equality Champions in research and innovation which were announced this week in Brussels. The RCSI won the award in the 'Inclusive Gender Equality Champions' category where it demonstrated a deep understanding of how different forms of discrimination can intersect and exacerbate each other by explicitly addressing the intersections of gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability. Each award winner receives a prize of €100,000.

This year's edition of the EURES seasonal online recruitment event 'Seize the Summer' takes place on 20 March, with job opportunities in Tourism, Entertainment, Hospitality or Catering industries in 11 European Countries: Ireland, Austria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and The Netherlands. The event is funded and supported by the European Labour Authority and EURES and it is free of charge. Jobseekers can now register for the event on the event’s website (link below) and apply for any available jobs.

The European Commission has published a call for the expression of interest for the establishment of a reserve list of candidates for the selection of external members of the Audit Progress Committee (APC). The APC assists the College of Commissioners in fulfilling its obligations under the Treaties and other statutory instruments by ensuring the independence of the Internal Audit Service, monitoring the quality of internal audit work, and ensuring that audit recommendations, including with regard to the reliability of the EU consolidated accounts, are properly taken into account by Commission departments and receive appropriate follow-up. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2025, 11 am (Irish time).

On Wednesday lunchtime, 26 March, Eurofound is hosting the launch event for its 50th anniversary campaign at the European Parliament Office in Dublin. This event will bring together up to 70 distinguished stakeholders, including Government representatives, MEPs, the European Commission, trade unions, employers, and key think tanks as well as academic institutions. It will be an opportunity to reflect on how social and employment policy has evolved over five decades, and to discuss Europe’s future direction and policy responses to emerging challenges. It will also be a chance to highlight Ireland’s role in shaping Europe ahead of its 2026 chairing of the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Register at the link below.

A new report from the Critical Medicines Alliance, a consultative mechanism bringing together relevant stakeholders from EU Member States, presents key findings and recommendations relating to the supply chains for critical medicines. On the main industrial challenges, the Report notes an overreliance on a limited number of geographical locations for the provision of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and raw materials, the erosion of the EU manufacturing base and the lack of competitiveness and investment in the European industry. It recommends investment in EU strategic projects and also calls for financial support, relying on a combination of EU funding programmes and national State aid.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to express their views on the functioning of the competition rules applicable to vertical agreements in the automotive sector. These rules include the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (‘MVBER') and the Supplementary Guidelines (‘SGL'), both as amended in April 2023, as well as the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (‘VBER') and the Guidelines on vertical restraints, as far as they apply to the automotive sector. All interested parties can submit their comments by 23 May 2025.

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss competitiveness and to follow up on the special European Council held on 6 March to address recent developments in Ukraine and the next steps on defence.The next multiannual financial framework (MFF), migration, the latest developments in the Middle East, multilateralism and other global issues are also on the agenda.

On Thursday 13 March, the South East Energy Agency will host the European Climate Pact National Conference in collaboration with the European Commission Representation in Dublin. The Conference aims to improve networking, engagement, collaboration between the Climate Pact Community, European Commission Representation in Ireland, and Country Coordinator (SEEA), to deliver the Climate Pact in Ireland. It will feature presentations on various climate thematic areas and panel discussions, with about 40 participants from NGOs, Dept. of Environment, Climate & Communication (DECC), Local Authorities (LAs), energy agencies, and Climate Pact Ambassadors in attendance. This event takes place from 9 am to 3:15 pm in Europe House, 12-14 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.

On Thursday evening 13 March, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland will host the second in a series of talks on a number of issues: health policy and implementation; social housing; and children’s rights. The talks series is curated by Catriona Crowe, Curator of First Thought Talks at the Galway Arts Festival. This second talk will look at Health Policy and Implementation. Speakers at this talk will include: Sara Burke, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Health Policy and Management, TCD and Dimitra Pantelli, Programme Manager, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. It will be moderated by Alex White, Director of Institute for International and European Affair. This event takes place at Europe House, 5 Balfe Street, Dublin 2.

Ministers will be invited to react to the first package of simplification procedures, the so-called Omnibus simplification package, which the Commission presented on 26 February (see Top News). Also on the agenda: the competitiveness compass and the clean industrial deal and an exchange of views on industrial policy and the carbon border adjustment mechanism.

Strengthening the full implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons necessitates a balanced implementation of all of its three pillars: nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and peaceful nuclear uses. However, the current geopolitical situation has exacerbated significant challenges in all of these three pillars. In an address to the IIEA, EU Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Ambassador Stephan Klement will discuss efforts to address those challenges, and will reflect upon regional non-proliferation crises and his experience as a negotiator in the Iran nuclear negotiations.

On the agenda: competitiveness; cooperation in the field of taxation; decluttering tax legislation; the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine; G20 meetings; the Recovery and Resilience Facility; and, the state of play of legislative proposals in the field of financial services.

Daily agendas for this plenary session can be found at the link below.

On the agenda: a policy debate on ways to mitigate labour and skills shortages as a result of population ageing; the European Semester autumn package; Directive 79/7 on equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security; and an informal debate on the right to disconnect.

On the agenda: macroeconomic developments in the euro area; fiscal policy coordination: stocktaking and challenges going forward; follow-up from the February G7 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors; developments in crypto-asset activities and markets and their implications for the euro area and the European economy; and, preparation of the March Euro Summit.

On Monday 10 March, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath will hold a Youth Policy Dialogue focused on democratic empowerment and engagement. The Dialogue will bring together 30 young participants from across the EU in Dublin. Together with the Commissioner, they will discuss their engagement in democratic processes, including during elections. The Dialogue will be moderated by Hajar Yagkoubi, former Dutch Youth Representative to the United Nations, and Jochem Jordaan, Founder of De Kiesmannen, an organisation dedicated to increasing civic engagement among young people.