EU NEWS YOU CAN USE

The European Commission has proposed a 10-Point action plan for stronger European coordination on welcoming people fleeing the war against Ukraine. It includes measures such as creating an EU registration platform for exchanging information on beneficiaries of temporary protection and national protection statuses, as well as a mapping of reception capacity and accommodation to match the offers of Member States. It also includes the development of a common anti-trafficking plan to prevent trafficking and exploitation.

The European Commission and the Government of Canada have announced the launch of a global campaign to raise funding in support of people fleeing the invasion of Ukraine, in partnership with international advocacy organisation Global Citizen. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the international community on behalf of his citizens who have been displaced by the war, saying: “On 9 April, the biggest online event ‘Social Media Rally' will support people who were forced to flee Ukraine. I'm inviting everybody: musicians, actors, athletes, businessmen, politicians, everybody. Everyone who wants to join this movement and ‘Stand Up for Ukraine'.”

As part of the ‘Stand Up For Ukraine' campaign, the European Commission is launching a new donation system to help match in-kind donations from the private sector with the needs of refugees and internally displaced people in Ukraine, Moldova and neighbouring EU Member States. The Commission is in direct contact with Ukrainian and neighbouring civil protection authorities and receives continuous updates on urgently needed items on the ground such as medicines, vaccines, medical equipment, tents, beds, etc.

President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden met last Friday morning (25 March) in Brussels. They committed to working together to support Europe's energy security for the coming winters and to sustainably reduce Europe's energy dependency on Russia by investing in the clean energy transition. The United States will strive to ensure additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) volumes for the EU market of at least 15 bcm in 2022 with expected increases going forward. In parallel, the Commission will work with the governments of EU Member States to accelerate review and permit procedures for LNG infrastructure.

The European Commission this week proposed new rules to make almost all physical goods on the EU market more friendly to the environment, circular, and energy efficient throughout their whole lifecycle from the design phase through to end-of-life. The Commission also presented a new strategy to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable, to tackle fast fashion, textile waste and the destruction of unsold textiles, and ensure their production takes place in full respect of social rights. European consumption of textiles has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change.

The European Commission has proposed to update EU consumer rules to help consumers take informed and environment-friendly choices when buying products. Consumers will have a right to know how long a product is designed to last for and how, if at all, it can be repaired. In addition, the rules will strengthen consumer protection against untrustworthy or false environmental claims, banning ‘greenwashing' and practices misleading consumers about the durability of a product.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, the prolongation and modification of an existing Irish risk equalisation scheme to compensate insurers for the provision of private medical insurances. Under the scheme, private health insurers, whose customers have a higher risk profile than the market average, continue to obtain payments from a Risk Equalisation Fund. The Fund will be financed via a duty imposed on all private health insurers. In practice, the state-owned insurer, VHI Insurance, is expected to be a net beneficiary of the scheme, while its competitors are expected to be net contributors.

The European Commission has approved a €50 million Irish scheme to support the beef sector affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Framework and the aid will take the form of direct grants. The measure will be open to farmers and companies active in the beef sector in Ireland. The aim of the scheme is to address the liquidity needs of the beneficiaries and to help them continue their activities during and after the pandemic.

The European Commission and the United States have have agreed in principle on a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, which will foster trans-Atlantic data flows and address the concerns raised by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Schrems II decision of July 2020. Under the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, the United States is to put in place new safeguards to ensure that signals surveillance activities are necessary and proportionate in the pursuit of defined national security objectives, establish a two-level independent redress mechanism with binding authority to direct remedial measures, and enhance rigorous and layered oversight of signals intelligence activities to ensure compliance with limitations on surveillance activities.

The European Commission is proposing to review the geographical indications (GIs) system for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. Among the measures proposed: a shortened and simplified registration procedure; better online protection; possibility to include sustainability clauses; and empowering GI producers’ groups. Ireland currently has 16 products that are registered and protected across the EU ranging from meat and fish products to Irish poitín and the Waterford blaa.

Together with partnering organisations, the European Commission this week launched the Destination Earth initiative to help tackle climate change. Supported with an initial €150 million of EU funding, the goal is to develop a highly accurate digital model of the Earth that will help monitor, model and predict natural and human activity, and develop and test scenarios for more sustainable development.

The European Commission has published a list of EU laws that prohibit or restrict certain goods and substances from the EU. Controlled goods exist in many key priority areas such as the protection of health and life of humans, animals or plants, the protection of the environment, the protection of consumers and the protection of industrial and commercial property. The list will help customs and other authorities tasked with enforcing controls at EU borders to identify and access the applicable legislation more easily.

A new Eurobarometer survey reveals 85% of Irish respondents are pro-vaccination (vaccinated & received a booster or would like to receive one), 5% are vaccine hesitant (may consider getting vaccinated/vaccinated but refuse booster) and 6% are against vaccination. The survey also shows that 82% of Irish people agree that the benefits of Covid vaccines outweigh the risks while 80% believe vaccines authorised in the EU are safe and 74% agree vaccines are the only way to end the pandemic. The survey also shows a large majority of Irish respondents are satisfied with government and EU handling of the vaccination strategy.

New figures from Eurostat estimate that average hourly labour costs were €33.5 in Ireland in 2021, up from €32.4 in 2020. The Euro Area average was €32.8 while the EU average was €29.1. The lowest costs were recorded in Bulgaria (€7.0) and Romania (€8.5), and the highest in Denmark (€46.9), Luxembourg (€43.0) and Belgium (€41.6). The two main components of labour costs are wages & salaries and non-wage costs (e.g. employers' social contributions).

On Thursday evening 31 March, European Movement Ireland will host Ireland's Conference on the Future of Europe at The Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin, 23 O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin 1. This unique opportunity is aimed at those between the ages of 18-30 to discuss and vote on ideas that have been put forward by the people of Ireland about what Europe might look like in the future. Speakers include Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD.

On Friday 1 April, Frances Fitzgerald MEP and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland will host a webinar on "Rare Diseases in Ireland & the EU – Finding Innovative Solutions". This webinar will provide speakers and those in attendance to have a cutting-edge and solutions-focused discussion on the opportunities and challenges in the rare diseases landscape in Ireland and the EU.

The European Commission Representation in Ireland, in co-operation with European Movement Ireland, is hosting an online event, ‘Launch of the 2022 Eurobarometer Report for Ireland’ on Wednesday morning, 6 April. The key findings from the report will be presented by Luke Reaper, Managing Director, Behaviour & Attitudes and author of the Report. This will be followed by a Q&A session with participants. The event will be moderated by Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland.

This virtual event, which is co-organised by the IIEA and Enterprise Ireland, will provide an overview of the benefits of trading and doing business in the EU Single Market and will discuss the funding opportunities the EU provides for Irish SMEs. Speakers include: Frances Fitzgerald MEP; Robert Schroder, Head of External Communications for the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA); Daniela Angione, Research and Grants Officer, Innopharma; Anne Lanigan, Regional Director for the Eurozone, Central and Eastern Europe, Enterprise Ireland; Sonia Neary, CEO of Wellola; and Margaret Rae, Founder of Konree Innovation.

On Friday lunchtime 8 April, Pawel Herczynski, Managing Director for Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Crisis Response in the CSDP and Crisis Response services at the European External Action Service (EEAS), will address an IIEA webinar on "The Future of EU and NATO Defence Cooperation". As the EU faces an increasingly diverse threat spectrum, Mr Herczynski will discuss the ways in which the EU is cooperating with other multilateral organisations, such as NATO, to enhance Europe’s security.

In recognition of Poland's essential role in supporting refugees fleeing the invasion of Ukraine, the Stand Up For Ukraine pledging event, convened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau will take place in Warsaw on 9 April. Artists from around the world have already joined the campaign - including Bono, Madonna, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Adam Lambert, Céline Dion or Alanis Morissette, to name just a few.

The European Commission this week announced three new calls to make the New European Bauhaus (NEB) a reality on the ground. The support is intended specifically for citizens, cities and towns to take the New European Bauhaus project deep into their communities. The first and second calls focus on citizen engagement activities and co-creation of public spaces with citizens. The third and last call provides technical assistance to small and medium-sized municipalities.

Applications for the first EU organic awards have now been launched and are open until 8 June 2022.. The awards aim to raise awareness amongst the wider public about organic production and its benefits by putting the spotlight on innovative and sustainable projects. There are 7 different categories and 8 awards. Award winners will receive a non-financial recognition award and greater public visibility for your project.