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	EU NEWS YOU CAN USE
European Commission in Ireland

In this issue - 22 September
Top News Other news		Agenda

EU 27 agree way forward in Bratislava

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker took part in the informal meeting of the EU 27 Heads of State or Government in Bratislava last Friday (16 Sept). The meeting agreed a Declaration and Road Map, which set out clear priorities for action over the next 12 months. Speaking alongside Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, and European Council President, Donald Tusk, following the meeting, President Juncker welcomed the firm backing that EU leaders have given to the new initiatives he announced in last week's State of the Union speech, in particular, the unanimous support for the measures on the EU's Digital Single Market. These measures would contribute to Europe's "modernisation, economic growth and creation of new jobs", said the President. EU leaders also endorsed the Commission's proposals to expand the Investment Plan for Europe.

Volkswagen commits to EU-wide action plan to address the diesel emissions issue

Commissioner Jourová met yesterday with Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Member of the Board of Management of the VW group, following her discussion with 31 consumer organisations in Brussels two weeks ago. Volkswagen committed to an EU-wide action plan to bring the affected cars back into conformity. Volkswagen agreed to inform the customers by end 2016 and to have all cars repaired by autumn 2017. Commissioner Jourová said: "Volkswagen committed to an EU-wide action plan today, which is an important step towards a fair treatment of consumers in the EU. I will closely monitor this commitment and continue to work with consumer organisations, authorities and Volkswagen." This is an important first step, which the Commission will be closely monitoring.

"Roaming is for travellers" says European Commission

The Commission has announced a revised draft for roaming rules and said that: "Roaming is for travellers. The new draft (rules) allow operators to check usage patterns to prevent the "Roam like at Home" mechanism from being abused." This new mechanism will be based on the principle of residence or stable links European consumers may have with any EU Member State. Examples of "stable links" include work commuters, expats who are frequently present in their home country or Erasmus students. Europeans will pay domestic prices when they call, text or go online from their mobile devices and will have full access to other parts of their mobile subscription (e.g. monthly data package).

Julian King appointed new EU Commissioner for Security Union

The European Council has, by common accord with President Jean-Claude Juncker, appointed Julian King as the new EU Commissioner for Security Union. The appointment applies for the remainder of the current term of office of the Commission which ends on 31 October 2019. Julian King is a British national and has been UK ambassador to France since January 2016. He replaces Jonathan Hill who resigned on 25 June 2016.

Commission opens 2 new State aid investigations (Luxembourg, Poland)

The European Commission has announced that it has opened up two new in-depth State aid investigations, where tax treatment may have been used to give unfair advantages to particular companies. One investigation is into Luxembourg's tax treatment of GDF Suez (now Engie) a French electric utility company, and the other is into Poland's treatment of certain retail companies which may have given them selective advantage.

Other news

BT Young Scientist winners take third prize in EU Contest for Young Scientists

The winners of Ireland's BT Young Scientist 2016, Diana Bura and Mari Louise Fufezan, have taken 3rd prize in the EU Contest for Young Scientists. Their project looked at the effects of enzymes used in animal feed additives on soil. Overall, 45 young scientists from across Europe won prizes this week for their outstanding science projects. EU Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas said: "This year's winners were picked in a tough competition involving 138 young researchers ... It is reassuring to see that Europe has so many bright young minds, and I hope to see many of them in a few years' time as part of the next generation of top scientists."

Irish teenagers drink and smoke less than European peers

The newly published European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs 2015 (ESPAD) shows that Irish 15-16 year olds smoke and drink less than the European average for their age group. Only 35% of Irish 15-16 year olds had drunk alcohol in the 30 days prior to the survey (compared to a European average of 48%) and only 13% had smoked (compared to an average of 21%). However, use of inhalants (11% compared to a European average of 7%) and new psychoactive substances (7% compared to a European average of 4%) was slightly higher among Irish 15-16 year olds. They were also more likely to have engaged in gambling with 16% having gambled for money at least once and 11% more frequently compared to European averages of 14% and 7% respectively. Overall, boys were more likely to have engaged in dangerous behaviour than girls. The 2015 ESPAD survey is based on information provided by over 96,000 15-16 year old students from 35 European countries, including 24 EU member states.

Asylum applications up in the EU in the second quarter but down in Ireland

According to new Eurostat figures, 306,000 people applied for asylum in the second quarter of 2016, up 6% on the first quarter. Almost 60% of them came from Syria (90,500), Afghanistan (50,300) and Iraq (34,300). An overall majority of them (61% or 186,745 people) applied for asylum in Germany. The next highest numbers went to Italy (27,000, or 9%), France (17,800, or 6%), Hungary (14,900, or 5%) and Greece (12,000, or 4%). In relative numbers Germany also received the highest number at 2,273 applications per million inhabitants. Less than 1% (or 450 people) applied for asylum in Ireland in the second quarter or 96 per million inhabitants. This represents a drop of 6% on the first quarter. The largest numbers applying in Ireland came from Pakistan (16%), Zimbabwe (12%) and Albania (9%).

A spotlight on energy use

Did you know that Ireland had the 6th lowest share of renewables in energy consumption in the EU in 2014? Or that Ireland was the second least energy intensive economy in the EU in 2014, i.e. it used the second lowest amount of energy relative to its overall economic size (based on GDP)? Or that Ireland is the fourth most dependent country on energy imports? Eurostat's new digital publication "Shedding light on energy in the EU - A guided tour of energy statistics will answer these and a lot more questions.

Agenda

Friday 23 September: Debate with representatives of the Irish civil society on the European Pillar of Social Rights, Dublin

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), represented by three of its Irish members, David Croughan (Employers' Group), Jack O'Connor (Workers' Group) and Séamus Boland (Various Interests Group) will be taking part in a debate with representatives of the Irish civil society on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The meeting will take place at The National Economic and Social Council, in Dublin, on 23 September, at 9.00 a.m.. In addition to EESC members, Graham Stull, European Semester Officer at the European Commission Representation in Ireland, will participate. The outcome from this national debate will feed into the EESC opinion on this issue.

Saturday 24 September: Free taster language classes, Blanchardstown

The Europe Direct Information Centre, Blanchardstown Library and the European Commission Representation in Ireland will host the European Day of Languages 2016 on 24 September. The event will be a Language Café offering 9 languages: Irish, French, German, Spanish and Italian as conversation and Polish, Romanian, Lithuanian and Latvian as Taster Classes. Teachers from the Ambassade de France, Gaelchultúr, Goethe Institut, Instituto Cervantes, Instituto Italiano di Cultura, Embassy of Latvia, Embassy of Lithuania, Embassy of Poland and Embassy of Romania have kindly agreed to participate. It will start at 2pm and refreshments will be served afterwards.

Tuesday 27 September: 3rd Atlantic Stakeholder Conference - Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Atlantic Area, Dublin

The 3rd annual Atlantic Stakeholder Conference, which takes place in Dublin, is the central hub for stakeholders of the Atlantic Strategy to make valuable contacts and explore areas for cooperation, share information and good practices, promote and identify interesting project ideas as well as funding opportunities and partnerships for their projects. Speakers include Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Thursday 29 September: Competitiveness Council, Brussels

EU Competition Ministers will meet in Brussels on Thursday 29 September.

Friday 30 September: Conference on Investing in Ireland's Infrastructure, Dublin

The European Commission Representation in Ireland and the European Movement Ireland are hosting a half-day conference on Investing in Ireland's Infrastructure. The conference will take place on Friday 30 September in the Chartered Accountants House, 47-49 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, from 9 am to 1 pm. The keynote speaker will be the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, and Ireland's new vice-president at the EIB, Andrew McDowell will also speak. The event is free to attend. Register in advance at: rsvp@europeanmovement.ie.

Friday 30 September: Environment Council, Brussels

EU Environment Ministers will meet in Brussels on Friday 30 September.

Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 October: Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, Brussels

On 5 October, the European Union and the government of Afghanistan will co-host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. This conference will gather up to 70 countries and 30 international organizations and agencies. It will provide a platform for the government of Afghanistan to set out its vision and track record on reform. For the international community, it will be the opportunity to signal sustained political and financial support to Afghan peace, state-building and development. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, High Representative Federica Mogherini and Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation, will represent the European Union.

Thursday 6 October: The European Investment Plan and Economic Policies – What’s in it for the South East’s SMEs and entrepreneurs?, Waterford

The Waterford Europe Direct Information Centre, in association with the Waterford Chamber of Commerce and supported by the European Commission Representation, are organising a lunchtime session on the European Investment Plan in Waterford (Central Library, Lady Lane) on Thursday 6 October starting at 12.45 p.m.

Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 October: EU Code week

There are lots of activities taking place around Ireland to mark EU Code Week 2016 from 15 to 23 October. The idea behind the Week is to make programming more visible, to show young, adults and elderly how you bring ideas to life with code, to demystify these skills and bring motivated people together to learn. The initiative was launched in 2013 by the Young Advisors for the Digital Agenda Europe.

This is the Newsletter of the Representation of the European Commission in Ireland.
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