The European Commission this week proposed a package of initiatives to put mental health on a par with physical health and to ensure a new, cross sectoral approach to mental health issues across the EU. With 20 flagship initiatives and €1.23 billion in EU funding from different financial instruments, the Commission will support Member States in putting people and their mental health first. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said: "We need to break down stigma and discrimination so that those in need can reach out and receive the support they need. It is ok not to be ok, and it is our duty to ensure that everyone asking for help has access to it."

New EU rules for rail passenger protection take effect from this week. The new rules improve protection for rail passengers faced with delays, cancellations and missed connections. They also make dedicated places for assembled bicycles mandatory for all new trains ordered after 7 June 2025, as well as for trains undergoing major upgrades from this date.

The destruction of Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine has led to devastating humanitarian and ecological consequences. Ukraine has requested EU assistance in the form of equipment and machinery for relief efforts. The EU is already channelling aid via its Civil Protection Mechanism thanks to first offers from Germany, Austria and Lithuania. The EU is also in direct contact with the Ukrainian emergency services to monitor the exact needs on the ground, and stands ready to coordinate further assistance into Ukraine based on emerging needs.

According to the EU's Earth observation programme, Copernicus, Ireland is currently at "extreme" risk of forest fires along with a large part of the UK, Northern France, Belgium and a number of other regions in Northern Europe. Copernicus provides up to date information on the current fire season in Europe and in the Mediterranean area. Its Fire Weather Index is mapped in 6 classes (very low, low, medium, high, very high and extreme).

In a new report published this week, the European Commission has identified 18 Member States at risk of not meeting the 2025 preparing for re-use and recycling targets for municipal and all packaging waste and the 2035 landfilling target. Ireland is one of eight countries identified as being at risk of missing the municipal waste target. According to the report, "Ireland is on track to meet the 2025 recycling target for all packaging waste, and is considered likely to meet the 2035 target for the landfilling of municipal waste. However, the country is at risk of missing the 2025 target for the preparing for re-use and recycling of municipal waste".

The European Commission this week presented an EU Action Plan on the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic migration routes. The goal is to support Member States to strengthen migration management along this route, preventing irregular departures and saving lives, while working closely with key partner countries. Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said: "This plan outlines proposals on anti-smuggling measures, better border management, returns processes, and legal pathways."

New EU rules on access to electricity metering and consumption data were this week adopted by the European Commission. The rules will bring benefits for European consumers, businesses and the market. Consumers will, for example, be able to get easy access to their metering data and also give permission for data on their energy consumption or generation to be used by third parties in ways which benefit them such as getting a tailor-made estimation of what contract would be best and cheapest to meet their energy needs.

The European Commission this week proposed an annual EU budget of €189.3 billion for 2024. The budget will be complemented by an estimated €113 billion in payments for grants under NextGenerationEU, the EU's post-pandemic recovery instrument. Their combined firepower will keep driving Europe's ongoing economic recovery and create jobs, while strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy. EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said: "The 2024 EU budget has been tailored to keep supporting the green and digital transition of the Union and remains one of the most powerful tools delivering added value to people’s lives."

The European Commission this week adopted a Joint Communication setting out a New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Communication proposes a stronger and modernised strategic partnership, through reinforced political engagement, boosting trade and investment, and building more sustainable, fair and inter-connected societies through Global Gateway investments.

The European Commission this week authorised Arexvy, the first vaccine to protect adults aged 60 years and older, against the lower respiratory tract disease caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This decision marks an important step and has been particularly awaited in light of the increased RSV infections in the EU last winter. The vaccine will help strengthen the immune response to the virus.

OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office, this week published its annual report for 2022. This shows that, in 2022, OLAF recommended the recovery of €426.8 million to the EU budget and prevented the loss of €197.9 million from the EU budget. It also concluded 256 investigations and opened a further 192. In addition it helped to seize 531 million illicit cigarettes and 14.7 million litres of illicit wine, beer and spirits.

A new report from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) shows that population growth remains one of the key drivers of greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, there is a mismatch in population growth rates and levels of greenhouse gas emissions across countries. The main emitters are regions where the population has already stopped or slowed down growing. Meanwhile, most of the global population growth is happening in the world regions that currently have the lowest emissions and that are the least responsible for past emissions. The richest 10% of the world's population are currently responsible for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions, while the bottom 50% in terms of wealth emit only 12%.

In 2020, the EU and Irish NGO Concern teamed up in a 3-year programme to provide a comprehensive assistance package to children in need across Africa. The support ranged from emergency food treatment to nutrition education to parents, as well as cash support to upskilling medical staff and upgrading medical facilities. The programme, called Enhanced Responses to Nutrition Emergencies (ERNE), has since reached more than 1.2 million people in Ethiopia, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The European Commission this week published the 2023 EU Justice Scoreboard, an annual overview providing comparative data on the efficiency, quality, and independence of justice systems among the EU Member States along with a Eurobarometer survey. Among the standout points for Ireland: 73% of Irish people rate the independence of courts and judges as fairly or very good, 7th highest in the EU; general government expenditure on law courts is 3rd highest in Ireland in terms of Euro per inhabitant (150) but 3rd lowest as a percentage of GDP (0.18%); Ireland has the lowest number of judges per inhabitant at 3.3 per 100000 inhabitants.

According to the European Parliament's Spring 2023 Eurobarometer report, 87% of Irish people are satisfied with the EU’s support for Ukraine, joint second highest in the EU with Sweden (87%) and Finland (87%). Satisfaction was highest in The Netherlands at 90% and lowest in Slovakia at 45% while the EU average was 69%. The survey also showed that Irish people were the second most likely to say that they were interested in the upcoming European elections at 66%, well above the EU average of 56%. Satisfaction with the way democracy works in their country (86% versus an EU average of 56%) and with the way democracy works in the EU (82% versus an EU average of 54%) was also very high in Ireland.

According to a new survey from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, over 20% of Irish respondents reported feeling lonely most or all of the time, compared to an EU average of 13%. Ireland is followed by Luxemburg, Bulgaria and Greece. The lowest levels of loneliness were observed in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Croatia and Austria (all below 10%). The survey also shows that young people have a higher incidence of loneliness than older generations.

Three years on from the publication of the Farm to Fork strategy, the European Commission Representation in Ireland is hosting a panel discussion with leading experts in biodiversity and agro- ecosystems. Speakers will include: Senator Pauline O'Reilly, Chair of the Green Party Ireland; Dr. James Moran, Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Biology at Atlantic Technological University; and Henry Walsh, Galway IFA Environment Representative. The event will be moderated by Tim Hayes, Head of Communications, European Commission Representation in Ireland. It takes place in Galway Library from 5.30 to 6.45pm and can be attended either in person or online.

On Monday lunchtime 12 June, José Manuel Campa, Chairperson of the European Banking Authority will deliver a keynote address to the IIEA. José Manuel Campa is the current Chairperson of the European Banking Authority. After studying law and economics at the University of Oviedo and earning his PhD in economics from Harvard University, Mr Campa taught finance at New York University and the IESE Business School and consulted for a number of international organisations including the World Bank, the IMF, the Bank for International Settlements, and the European Commission.

On Wednesday lunchtime, 14 June, the Deputy Military Advisor to the UN Under Secretary General for Peace Operations, Major General Maureen O’Brien, will address an IIEA hybrid event on "Advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda". While there have been landmark achievements since the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda was established through the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, there is a need for honest reflection on remaining challenges and the way ahead. Major General O’Brien will discuss the essential next steps that the international community must take to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, both on the ground and in international policy.

The European Commission Representation in Ireland, in cooperation with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland, is hosting a discussion on how the EU has advanced and supported equality and rights for LGBTI+ people and families. Speakers include: Maria Walsh, MEP; Lord (Michael) Cashman, former MEP; Cian O'Callaghan, TD; Mayor Emer Murphy, South Dublin County Council; and Sara Philips, Co-Chair, TGEU. The event will be chaired by Dr. Gráinne Healy. An introduction will be given by Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland. The discussion will be followed by a reception.