EU NEWS YOU CAN USE

In an address this week to the European Parliament Plenary, President von der Leyen presented the sixth package of sanctions, as well as the EU relief and reconstruction efforts. She said: "We now propose a ban on Russian oil. This will be a complete import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined. We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion, in a way that allows us and our partners to secure alternative supply routes and minimises the impact on global markets. This is why we will phase out Russian supply of crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year."

The Conference on the Future of Europe Plenary session met for the last time on 28 & 29 April when it agreed to a set of 49 detailed proposals covering a wide range of subjects from climate change to health, migration and the EU in the world. This follows a year long series of discussions, deliberations and collaboration by citizens from across Europe, on the kind of Europe they would like to live in. Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica said: "Our engaged and inspiring citizens have shown us the direction they wish Europe to take. Now it is our task, of the EU Institutions, to make it happen."

The European Commission this week launched the European Health Data Space (EHDS), a health-specific data sharing framework establishing clear rules, common standards and practices, infrastructures and a governance framework for the use of electronic health data by patients and for research, innovation, policy making, patient safety, statistics or regulatory purposes. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the European Health Data Space "places the citizens at its centre, empowering them with full control over their data to obtain better healthcare across the EU."

The European Commission has announced a new aid package of €200 million to support displaced people in Ukraine, in the context of the International Donor's Conference convened jointly by Poland and Sweden. Close to 8 million people, two-third of whom are children, have been internally displaced since the beginning of Putin's war in Ukraine. More than 5.3 million have left Ukraine to seek shelter in the EU and neighbouring countries.

The European Commission this week informed Apple of its preliminary view that it abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices. By limiting access to a standard technology used for contactless payments with mobile devices in stores (‘Near-Field Communication (NFC)' or ‘tap and go'), Apple restricts competition in the mobile wallets market on iOS. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "In our Statement of Objections, we preliminarily found that Apple may have restricted competition, to the benefit of its own solution Apple Pay. If confirmed, such a conduct would be illegal under our competition rules."

The winners of the 'Aistritheoirí Óga 2022' (Young Translators) contest were announced at an award ceremony in Dublin last week. Five secondary school students made the list - one from each of the four provinces in Ireland, who translated from English to Irish, and one who was selected for her excellent translation from French to Irish. This year's winners come from Carlow, Galway, Kerry, Roscommon and Tyrone. Cainnear Nic Réamoinn from Coláiste Chroí Mhuire in Galway was awarded the overall prize for the best translation in the country.

Vice Admiral Hervé Bléjean, Director General of the European Union Military Staff, will address an IIEA webinar on the Strategic Compass for EU Security and Defence on Friday morning, 6 May. In his address, Vice Admiral Hervé Bléjean will discuss the main points of the compass, and the primary security challenges which face the EU.

Join us online for our hybrid Europe Day event organised in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland and the EU agency, Eurofound. 2022 is the European Year of Youth and this event will reach out to the local community to bring together up to 100 young people aged 16-29, as well as an online audience from around Ireland, to learn, listen and engage on key issues and opportunities for young people in the EU. The Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D. and Ciarán Cuffe MEP, will open this hybrid event at Eurofound’s conference centre, which will be moderated by Harry McCann, Member of the European pool of young journalists. The Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland, Ms Larysa Gerasko, is also among the speakers. For details of this and other Europe Day events, click on the link below.

To celebrate Europe Day 2020 and to mark the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, singer Jeanette Byrne will be performing a selection of songs by legendary French chanteuse Edith Piaf at Blanchardstown Library on Monday 9 May at 6.30pm. This event is organised by the Europe Direct Blanchardstown. It is free to attend but places are limited and advance registration is required.

Europe Direct Blanchardstown Library is hosting a workshop on sustainable fashion on Tuesday evening, 10 May. Participants will learn how to recycle and repurpose old clothes using visible mending and patch making. The event is free to attend but places are limited and advance registration is required.

Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on 20 May 2022. This coincides with a time of turmoil and a series of challenges to multilateralism on our continent. In this address to the IIEA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and incoming Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney TD, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić will discuss the Council of Europe’s role in responding to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and offer a preview of Ireland’s Presidency.

Yordanka Ivanova, Legal and Policy Officer in the European Commission in the unit responsible for AI Policy Development and Coordination, will address an IIEA webinar on "The Artificial Intelligence Act". In her address to the IIEA, Ms Yordanka Ivanova will outline the thinking underpinning the AI Act proposal and she will discuss the latest developments and debates in relation to the proposed Act.

The European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) initiative rewards the best achievements in sustainable tourism and green transition practices in smaller destinations. The competition is open to destinations with a population of between 25,000 and 100,000. The deadline for applications is 1 June 2022 at 4 pm (Irish time). Ireland already has a number of European Destinations of Excellence with the most recent winner being Strandhill, Co Sligo.

The European Capital of Smart Tourism competition is an EU initiative which recognises outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation as well as cultural heritage and creativity. The competition is open to cities with a population of over 100,000. The deadline for applications is 1 June 2022 at 4 pm (Irish time).