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European Commission in Ireland

In this issue - 1 June
Top News Other news		Agenda Public consultations

Commission options for deeper integration of Europe's Economic and Monetary Union

The Commission has published a reflection paper setting out possible ways to deepen Europe's Economic and Monetary Union. Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said: "The euro is already a symbol of unity and a guarantee of stability for Europeans. We now need to make it a vehicle for shared prosperity. Only by reversing economic and social divergence in the euro area will we be able to defeat the dangerous populism that this fuels. The time has come to complete the journey we started at Maastricht towards a genuine economic and monetary union, with strong institutions and democratic accountability."

Commissioner Moscovici speaking at the press conference about the reflection paper

BurrenLIFE wins best-ever EU award

BurrenLIFE project has just received a special "Best-Ever" award from the European Commission, recognising it as the best ever LIFE project in the 25 year history of the programme. BurrenLIFE won their prize in the Nature and Biodiversity Category. The awards were presented during Green Week to exceptional LIFE projects from the programme's 25-year history, at the Green Awards ceremony in Brussels on 30 May.

Representatives of Burren LIfe receiving their award from Commissioner Vella

Almost two-thirds of Irish people have never smoked: EU Poll

An EU wide poll shows that Ireland (63%) has the highest share of respondents who have never smoked. Ireland has also seen the second largest rise in the numbers who don't smoke compared to 2006, up 11 percentage points. France (42%) has the lowest share of people who have never smoked with the EU average being 53%. Ireland has also seen one of the largest falls in the numbers of people who smoke: 19% of Irish people currently smoke, down 10 percentage points on 2006, and joint 3rd lowest in the EU. Across the EU, 26% of people currently smoke, down 6 percentage points on 2006.

European Solidarity Corps: €340 million to enable 100,000 placements by 2020

The Commission has proposed to allocate a budget of €341.5 million for the next three years for the European Solidarity Corps. The Solidarity Corps allows young people between the ages of 18 and 30 to take part in a wide range of solidarity activities across the EU. Since its launch on 7 December 2016, more than 30,000 young people have joined the European Solidarity Corps. The European Solidarity Corps will now also provide participants the opportunity to set up their own solidarity projects or to volunteer as a group.

Free public Wi-fi

The EU institutions have agreed on grants for installing free public Wi-Fi hotspots in local communities across the EU. Local public authorities, municipalities or groups of municipalities will be able to apply for grants to install free wifi in public places like parks, markets or stations (where it does not already exist). A grant in the form of vouchers will be used to purchase and install state-of-the art equipment, i.e. local wireless access points, while the public authority will cover the running costs of the connection itself. The three EU institutions will ensure that €120 million shall be assigned to fund equipment for public free Wi-Fi services in 6,000 to 8,000 municipalities in all Member States.

Young people using wifi in a public park

Other news

Ireland has largest share of families with 3 or more children

New Eurostat figures show that more than a quarter (27%) of Irish families have three or more children, the highest in the EU where on average only 13% of families have three or more children. Ireland (41%) also has the highest share of households with children compared to an EU average of about 30%. Germany and Finland (both 22%) have the lowest shares of households with children while Bulgaria (5%), Portugal (6%), Spain and Italy (both 8%) have the lowest shares of families with three or more children. On average almost half of EU families (47%) have only one child, while 40% have two children.

Success for Code of Conduct on online hate speech

One year ago, the European Commission and four major social media platforms announced a Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech. It included a series of commitments by Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft to combat the spread of such content in Europe. A new evaluation report shows that these social media platforms are now more than twice (59%) as likely to remove content that includes illegal hate speech as before (28%). The report also reveals a large rise in the speed at which notifications were reviewed since the Code of Conduct was adopted.

New rules to block tax avoidance

New EU rules to prevent tax avoidance via non-EU countries were adopted this week by the European Council. The agreed rules will stop companies from escaping tax by exploiting the mismatches between Member States' and non-EU countries' tax systems ("hybrid mismatches"). Under the new rules, the mismatches will now include third countries. The new rules will come into force on 1 January 2020, with a longer phasing-in period of 2022 for one provision (Art. 9a).

€44 million humanitarian funding for Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan

The EU Commission has announced humanitarian assistance of over €44 million to help people in need in South-West and Central Asia. €25.5 million will help internally displaced people in Afghanistan who have had to flee conflict or been injured, as well as returning Afghan refugees. Humanitarian organisations working in Iran will receive close to €10 million to help them complement efforts to provide for the basic needs of Afghan refugees and their families, with emphasis on education of children, protection, food, water, health and sanitation. Organisations in Pakistan will benefit from funding of about €7 million, which will notably help Pakistanis who have been displaced by internal conflict and also help provide essential services for Afghan refugees.

Car emissions and safety: Stricter rules agreed

The European Council this week approved the Commission's proposal for a Regulation to ensure that car manufacturers comply strictly with all EU safety, environmental and production requirements. This will mean more independent vehicle testing and more checks on cars already in circulation. There will also be greater EU supervisory powers over national authorities, test centres and manufacturers, including Commission fines on manufacturers. It also includes an obligation on car manufacturers to grant relevant authorities access to their emissions software protocol.

EU-supported Irish film “The Killing of a sacred Deer” wins at Cannes

An Irish-UK co-production supported by EU-funding, “The Killing of a sacred Deer”, won Best Screenplay at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The film, which was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starred Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman, received €237,000 in Creative Europe Media funding. Ed Guiney, producer of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer”, spoke about the story behind the film and the role of MEDIA in supporting films: “I think what we’ve built through MEDIA of the last 20 years is a real strong community, real strong cross community of filmmakers and people who want to work together, and it’s so important to preserve that, so important for our Culture, and for our future.” Another Creative Europe Media co-funded film, “The Square” was crowned with the Festival's Palme d’Or.

Eight Irish organisations get Creative Europe funding

Creative Europe 2014-20, the European funding programme for the culture and audio-visual sectors, has just announced funding for eight Irish organisations with a combined direct Irish grant allocation of just under €624,000. The organisations are: West Cork Music; Wexford Festival Trust; The National Print Museum; Fidget Feet; Cork Midsummer Festival; Glucksman Art Gallery; Limerick Institute of Technology; and Dublin City University. Since the start of the Programme in 2014, over €2.1 million has been granted directly to Irish organisations.

Agenda

Friday 2 June: Seminar on the European Semester 2017 Recommendations for Ireland and Europe, Chartered Accountants House, Dublin

On Friday 2 June 2017 the European Commission Representation in Ireland, in cooperation with the Institute of International and European Affairs, will host a Seminar on “Inclusive Growth – Recommendations for Ireland and Europe”. It will take place at Chartered Accountants House, 47-49 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 starting at 12.30 p.m. The seminar will focus on the recently published 2017 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) where the Commission sets out its economic policy guidance for Ireland and other Member States for the next 12 to 18 months. To register for this event, please email: reception@iiea.com stating you wish to attend the "CSR Seminar event" in the subject line of your email.

Thursday 1 and Friday 2 June: EU-China Summit, Brussels

The 19th bilateral summit between the EU and China will take place on 1-2 June in Brussels. The aim will be to advance on the strategic partnership between the EU and China. Trade, climate change and migration will be among the issues to be covered during the summit. It will also be an opportunity to discuss foreign policy and security challenges. European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will represent the European Union. China will be represented by Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

Wednesday 7 June: Free Seminar on EU Funding for Culture, Youth, and Civil Society Projects, Galway

The Creative Europe Desk Ireland is organising a free seminar about funding opportunities from Creative Europe Culture, Erasmus+, and Europe for Citizens. The seminar takes place in the Galway 2020 Community Hub on Wednesday 7 June starting at 11 a.m. For more information, click on the link below.

Wednesday 7 June: Debate: The Future of Europe – An economic and social dialogue, Mansion House, Dublin 2

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organising a debate in Dublin to hear Irish civil society's views on the five scenarios for the future development of Europe outlined by Jean-Claude Juncker in the European Commission's White Paper on the Future of Europe. Participants in the debate include representatives of employers' and workers' organisations and other civil society players. The debate will take place on 7 June, at The Oak Room, Mansion House, Dawson Street, in Dublin.

Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 June: EU Development Days, Brussels

The 11th edition of the European Development Days, Europe's leading forum on Development Cooperation, will take place on 7-8 June in Brussels. The two-days event will feature high-level speakers, including representatives from European and International institutions, as well as several Heads of State or Government from European Member-States and partner countries. This year, the European Development Days will focus on the theme "Investing in Development".

Thursday 8 and Friday 9 June: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Luxembourg

The agenda for this meeting will be available shortly on the link below.

Thursday 8 and Friday 9 June: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, Luxembourg

The agenda for this meeting will be available shortly at the link below.

Monday 12 June: Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Luxembourg

The agenda for this meeting is available at the link below.

Friday 30 June: Social Media Safety and Awareness Talk, Sligo Central Library

Sligo Europe Direct Information Centre is hosting a Social Media Safety and Awareness Talk on Friday 30 June at 7 pm in Sligo Central Library, Stephen Steet, Sligo. The event is aimed at parents and guardians who want more information on the safety aspects of social media for minors in their care. Anyone interested in attending should call 071 9111670.

Public consultations

Public consultation on EU blood, tissues and cells legislation

The Commission seeks to gather views on the extent to which the 2002 Directive setting standards of quality and safety for human blood and the 2004 Directive setting standards for human tissues and cells, have met their original objectives and whether they remain fit for purpose. The consultation of citizens and stakeholders will run until 21 August 2017.

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