Information on this meeting will be available at the link below.

The European Commission has launched a consultation inviting all interested stakeholders to comment on its draft State aid Framework accompanying the Clean Industrial Deal (‘CISAF'). The CISAF will accompany the Clean Industrial Deal by setting out how Member States can design State aid measures to support its objectives, building on the experience with the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (‘TCTF') transition provisions (i.e. sections 2.5, 2.6 and 2.8 TCTF). The consultation is open until 25 April 2025.

The EU and the Republic of Korea have concluded negotiations for a landmark Digital Trade Agreement (DTA). This ambitious Agreement reflects the EU's commitment to setting high-standard digital trade rules, while connecting further the digital economies of the EU and Korea. The deal provides binding rules that build consumer trust; ensure predictability and legal certainty for businesses, as well as trusted data flows; while removing and preventing the emergence of unjustified barriers to digital trade.

According to the results of a screening (‘sweep') of online traders selling second-hand goods carried out by the Commission and national consumer protection authorities, nearly half of second-hand online traders fail to correctly inform consumers of their return rights. Consumer authorities checked 356 online traders and identified 185 (52%) as potentially in breach of EU consumer law. Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, said: "Second-hand goods play a crucial role in a circular economy. It is important that all traders, including those dealing in second-hand goods, uphold consumer rights".

Ahead of International Women's Day last Saturday, the European Commission set out its Roadmap for Women's Rights, and presented the 2025 Report on Gender Equality. With the Roadmap, the Commission reaffirms and reinforces its commitment to empower women and girls and fully realise a gender-equal society across Europe and the world. Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib said: "This Roadmap for Women’s Rights is our guiding light, our vision for a world where women and girls can lead, thrive and live up to their full potential, free from violence and discrimination".

New Eurostat figures show that 3.67 million babies were born in the EU in 2023, a 5.4% decrease from the 3.88 million in 2022. This is the largest annual decline recorded since 1961. The total fertility rate in 2023 was 1.38 live births per woman in the EU, down from 1.46 in 2022. Bulgaria had the highest total fertility rate in the EU (1.81 live births per woman), followed by France (1.66) and Hungary (1.55) while Malta (1.06), Spain (1.12) and Lithuania (1.18) had the lowest. In Ireland, the fertility rate in 2023 was 1.5 live births per woman, down from 1.96 in 2003 and from 2.11 in 1990. Meanwhile, the mean age of women giving birth to their first child is increasing - with Ireland having the second highest (31.6 years) in the EU in 2023.

Earlier this week, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, held a Youth Policy Dialogue in Dublin focused on democratic empowerment and civic engagement. Thirty young participants from across the EU, including 9 from Ireland, took part. Commissioner McGrath said the Dialogue "comes at a really important time because we are preparing a new European Democracy Shield so I want to listen to all of the young people here today. Their views really matter and will be taken on board as we bring forward our plans to strengthen democracy within the European Union and to step up the engagement and the involvement and participation of young people in democracy throughout the European Union".

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Irish author Sheila Armstrong is one of 13 writers who have been shortlisted for the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) 2025. She was shortlisted for her novel "Falling Animals" (published by Bloomsbury). Sheila has already been shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards, the Society of Authors Awards, the Kate O’Brien Award, the Edge Hill Prize, and the RSL Ondaatje Prize. The 2025 EUPL Prize winner and the two special mentions will be revealed on 16 May 2025 at the Prague Book Fair.

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group are partnering with Europe's national promotional banks (NPBs) and international financial institutions (IFIs) to develop new financing opportunities for affordable and sustainable housing across Europe. EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said: "Today we are kicking off the work with the EIB, national promotional banks and international financial institutions towards a pan-European investment platform to attract more public and private funding for housing. And, together with the European Parliament, we will consult intensively with Member States, cities, regions and all stakeholders to deliver the European Affordable Housing Plan".

The deadline for entries for the 2025 National Student Media Awards is fast approaching. The Awards include a European Commission Award for Journalism Relating to European Issues, which is presented to the best article on the topic of EU affairs published in a student publication. The winner of this Award will receive a cash prize of €1,000. Entries must be in by 12 March 2025.

The European Commission has published a Call for Evidence seeking feedback on the main objectives, scope and context of the upcoming Guidelines regarding the implementation of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (‘FSR'). This is a first step towards the publication of the Guidelines by 13 January 2026, as mandated by the FSR. The Guidelines will contribute to legal certainty, transparency and predictability in the Commission's enforcement of the FSR. The Call for Evidence will be available for feedback on the Commission's “Have your say” portal until 2 April 2025.

The EU institutions are looking for highly qualified English (EN), Danish (DA), German (DE), Estonian (ET), Croatian (HR), Dutch (NL), Romanian (RO) and Slovenian (SL) language lawyer-linguists/legal revisers. Recruited officials (grade AD 7) will work at the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union or the European Commission. The deadline to apply for one of these positions is 10 April 2025.

The European Commission and the European cross-industry social partners have signed a new Pact for European Social Dialogue which will strengthen the role of social partners in shaping labour market, employment, and social policies. The Pact establishes a long-term framework with concrete actions to be taken by the Commission and social partners to strengthen, expand the scope of social dialogue, and promote a stronger consultation of social partners. President von der Leyen said: "With the signing of the European Pact for Social Dialogue we put the social partners and the social dialogue at the heart of European decision-making".

On the agenda: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; EU-US relations; Iran; the latest developments in the Middle East and the wider region; and, current affairs.

The eighth summit between the leaders of the EU and South Africa will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, on 13 March. The President of the European Council, António Costa, together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU. South Africa will be represented by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The leaders will discuss the EU-South Africa bilateral relations, focusing on how to further cooperation on: trade and investment; the green and digital transitions; security and defence; energy; research and development; critical raw materials; and, skills and education.

On Tuesday 25 March at 11 am, the University of Limerick's EU Student Career Ambassador Orlaith Curtin will host an online Zoom event with 3 guest speakers: Jason Gavin, Interpreter at the EU Commission, Patrick Lavelle, Policy officer in the Secretariat General of the EU Commission, and Fatima Gonzalez Gomez, Project Adviser at the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. This event offers a great opportunity to meet online with EU staff, ask questions and receive firsthand insights into what it's like to work for the EU. See below the link to the Zoom event - Passcode: 6IrmWd.

The European Union needs skilled people to respond to new challenges and stay competitive. But as job requirements change, many workers struggle to keep up, and businesses cannot find the right talent. These skills and labour gaps are hindering European competitiveness. That is why the European Commission presented, this week, a plan to: deliver higher levels of basic and advanced skills, provide opportunities for people to regularly upskill, facilitate recruitment by businesses across the EU and, attract, develop and retain top talent in Europe. Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu said: "The Union of Skills is our strategy to help people stay ahead in a rapidly changing world and keep Europe competitive and fair".

The Commission has proposed to prolong EU gas storage obligations until the end of 2027 to ensure security of energy supply and help stabilise the European gas markets. At the same time, for the upcoming storage filling season of summer 2025, the Commission will provide more flexibility to Member States by taking into account the specific developments on the gas market. This will help them fill their facilities throughout the season at optimal purchase conditions.

The European Commission has put forward an Action Plan to boost the global competitiveness of the European automotive industry. The sector is at critical turning point, challenged by rapid technological changes and increasing competition. With a focus on clean mobility, digitalisation and supply chain resilience, the Plan will provide €1.8 billion for the development of a secure and competitive supply chain for battery raw materials and €1 billion for connected and autonomous vehicles and batteries. The Plan is complemented by the Decarbonise Corporate Fleets Communication highlighting best practice examples and encouraging Member States to take further actions to green corporate fleets, which account for around 60% of new car registrations.