|
EU NEWS YOU CAN USE
|
European Commission in Ireland
|
|
|
![](http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/representations-germany-eu-aktuell/images/banner2.jpg)
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow1.png) |
In this issue
- 7 September
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/pix.png) |
|
|
|
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow2.png) |
|
![](http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/representations-germany-eu-aktuell/images/banner3.jpg) ![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow2.png) |
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow1.png) |
Top News
|
Save the date! President Juncker to deliver State of the European Union speech to the European Parliament next Wednesday
|
President Juncker will deliver his annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament on Wednesday morning 13 September at 8 a.m. Irish time. The speech comes against the backdrop of a changing political and economic landscape and the EU response to ensure a secure, prosperous and inclusive future of Europe. In his address, Mr Juncker will speak about the Future of Europe and the white paper published earlier this year by the Commission. The speech will be followed by a debate in the European Parliament. It will be broadcast live on the link below. The hashtag to follow the event on social media is: #SOTEU
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Brexit: EU publishes paper on Ireland
|
Today the European Commission published its much-anticipated "guiding principles" for negotiations with the UK for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Drawn up in close cooperation with the Irish authorities, EU Chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the main aim was to minimise the impact that Brexit will have on Ireland. He said everything must be done to avoid a hard border between the UK and the Republic and he made it clear that it's now up to the British to come up with solutions to the challenges of Brexit on the island of Ireland.
"And any plans by the British to exploit its border and customs arrangement with the Republic of Ireland will not happen," he said, as he warned the UK not to use Ireland as a free pass into the single market.
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
New mandatory car emissions tests from 1st September
|
As of 1 September 2017, new car models have to pass new emissions tests in real driving conditions ("Real Driving Emissions" – RDE) as well as an improved laboratory test ("World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure" – WLTP) before they can be driven on European roads. This follows last year's revelations that the Volkswagen group used technical devices to cheat emissions tests. EU Enterprise Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska said: "A quick shift to zero emissions vehicles is in all our interest given the public health and environmental risks at stake."
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Real progress on the question of the Common Travel Area: Michel Barnier following 3rd round of Brexit negotiations
|
At a press conference following the third round of Brexit negotiations last week Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, expressed his concern at the lack of progress in the negotiations: "Time is passing quickly and with each day that goes by, we are getting closer to the United Kingdom's withdrawal, on 29 March 2019 at midnight.
The fundamental question for which we need an answer is whether on this day, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union in an orderly manner, with an agreement, or whether the United Kingdom will leave the European Union with no deal, the consequences of which we have already explained." On Ireland, he said that discussions were fruitful: "... we made real progress on the question of the Common Travel Area, on the basis of guarantees by the United Kingdom, and we clarified, in a constructive manner, what remains to be done, particularly with regards to North-South cooperation in the Good Friday Agreement."
|
Read more...
|
|
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow2.png) |
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow1.png) |
Other news
|
Eurofound report shows big gaps in hours worked and annual leave across the EU
|
Irish people work 90 hours more per year than the EU average. That's one of the key findings in a new report from the EU's Dublin-based agency EUROFOUND. The study also found that Irish workers, on average, only get 20 days holidays each year compared to 25.7 days for citizens of the other first 15 EU member States.
Eurofound report shows big gaps in hours worked and annual leave across the EU. People typically work much longer hours and enjoy fewer public holidays in the newer EU member states than the older ones. On average, for example, workers in the older EU member states enjoyed 25.7 days statutory leave per year compared to an average of 21.6 days in the newer member states. Ireland was one of the outliers among the older EU states.
The largest gap was between workers in Estonia and Hungary and those in France at 240 hours per year.
|
Read more...
|
|
|
EIB unveils €300m Irish company lending programme and new Ibec partnership
|
Companies across Ireland will benefit from a new €300 million long-term lending programme announced by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Dublin this week. The new company financing scheme marks the first ever direct lending by the EIB to Irish midcap firms. New cooperation with Ibec was also formally agreed that will further build on the strengthened commitment of the European Investment Bank to support private sector investment in Ireland.
|
Read more...
|
|
Five Irish researchers awarded ERC starting grants
|
Five Irish researchers are among the 406 early-career researchers who were this week awarded European Research Council starting grants. Each grantee will receive up to 1.5 million to help them set up their own research teams and pursue ground-breaking ideas. Two of the Irish grantees are based in Ireland (Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons). The remainder are based elsewhere in Europe.
|
Read more...
|
|
ECJ annuls General Court judgment confirming €1.06bn fine imposed on Intel
|
The Court of Justice has set aside the judgment of the General Court which had upheld the fine of €1.06 billion imposed on Intel by the Commission for abuse of a dominant position. The case is referred back to the General Court in order for it to examine the arguments put forward by Intel concerning the capacity of the rebates at issue to restrict competition. By decision of 13 May 2009, the Commission imposed a fine of €1.06 billion on Intel, the US- based microchip manufacturer, for having abused its dominant position on the market for x86 central processing units (CPUs), in infringement of the competition rules of the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA).
|
Read more...
|
|
Renewable energy potential in North Sea and Irish Sea
|
A new EU study on the development of offshore renewable energy in the Irish and North Seas examines several possible plans for wind farms, energy storage facilities, and an electricity grid that would extend over the territorial waters of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Plans are already underway to create a North Sea Wind Power Hub, an artificial island that would link offshore wind farms and transmit the energy they generate to neighbouring countries.
|
Read more...
|
|
European Consumer Centre Ireland publishes its Annual Report 2016
|
The European Consumer Centre (ECC) Ireland has published its Annual Report 2016 which shows that air travel is once again the most common area of cross-border consumer complaint. Also in the top five consumer complaints for 2016 are car rental, electronic products, furniture, hotels and accommodation. In 2016, ECC Ireland dealt with 4,337 total contacts from consumers (cross-border complaints and requests for information) which represents a significant increase of almost 24% on the number of contacts handled in 2015. Complaints actively pursued by ECC Ireland and requiring further assistance from the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) came to 719.
|
Read more...
|
|
ECJ dismisses Slovakia’s and Hungary’s challenge to Council’s migrant relocation decision
|
The European Court of Justice has dismissed the actions brought by Slovakia and Hungary against the provisional mechanism for the mandatory relocation of asylum seekers. The Court holds in that connection that Article 78(3) TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) enables the EU institutions to adopt all the provisional measures necessary to respond effectively and swiftly to an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of displaced persons.
|
Read more...
|
|
EU to launch global Alliance for Torture-Free Trade
|
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström has announced that the EU will launch an international Alliance for Torture-Free Trade. The initiative – a joint effort with Argentina and Mongolia – aims to end the trade in goods used for capital punishment and torture and will be formally launched on 18 September during United Nations General Assembly week in New York. Commissioner Malmström said: "The EU's own laws in this field have had positive results, but producers of these goods try to get around such legislation. The more countries that sign up to cooperate, the more effective we will be.",
|
Read more...
|
|
UCD in EU-funded research on rheumatoid arthritis
|
UCD was one of the partners in a major EU-funded project into the causes and development of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain and swelling, especially in joints and affects about 1% of the EU population. The "BTCURE" project sets out to show how immune and inflammatory reactions develop from a point where no symptoms are present, but the body is having autoimmune reactions, to when non-specific symptoms appear, and then further into the full-blown disease causing pain and joint damage. Results will feed into new ways to diagnose and treat the disease before the immune system’s over-active antibodies do irreversible harm.
|
Read more...
|
|
World Vision Ireland part of EU-funded Ebola vaccine project
|
World Vision Ireland is one of three partners in an EU-funded Ebola vaccine trial in Sierra Leone. The project is employing a combination of low-tech and high-tech community engagement strategies to ensure the right person takes an Ebola trial vaccine at the right time. Today, 450 adults and 96 adolescents are successfully enrolled in a two-stage vaccine trial. The EBODAC project, which comes to an end in November, has been granted over €20m in EU funding.
|
Read more...
|
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow2.png) |
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow1.png) |
Agenda
|
Friday 8 September: Seminar - The Common Law and Brexit: A New Frontier, UCD, Dublin
|
A Joint Seminar of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, The Society of Legal Scholars and UCD Sutherland School of Law on the Common Law and Brexit will take place on Friday afternoon, 8 September. The seminar takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the William Fry Theatre, UCD Sutherland School of Law, Dublin. It will be chaired by Professor Conor Gearty (LSE). The Panel will include: Mr. Conleth Bradley SC, Dr. Catherine Donnelly BL, Ms. Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC and Mr. Garrett Simons SC. Anyone interested in attending should register at the link below.
|
Read more...
|
|
Wednesday 13 September: President Juncker to deliver his annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament
|
At 8 am (Irish time) on Wednesday 13 September, President Juncker will deliver his annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament. The speech comes against the backdrop of a changing political and economic landscape and the EU response to ensure a secure, prosperous and inclusive future of Europe.
|
Read more...
|
|
Thursday 14 September: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels
|
The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course on the link below.
|
Read more...
|
|
Friday 15 September, Eurogroup meeting, Tallinn (Estonia)
|
The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course at the link below.
|
Read more...
|
|
Saturday 16 to Friday 22 September: European Mobility Week
|
There are a number of events taking place around Ireland to mark European Mobility Week from 16 to 22 September. For info on events taking place in counties Cork, Dublin, Meath and Westmeath, click on the link below.
|
Read more...
|
|
Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 September: EU stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2017
|
The European Commission Representation in Ireland will host a stand at the “The National Ploughing Championships” in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly from Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 September 2017.
|
Read more...
|
|
Friday, 22 September to Friday 6 October: Photographic exhibition "The Quiet Land of Erin", Europe House, Dublin 2
|
The European Commission Representation in Ireland and the Lithuanian Embassy in Ireland will host a photographic exhibition "The Quiet Land of Erin“, by photographer Daiva Mikuckaitė. The exhibition will be open to the public at Europe House, 12-14 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays from Monday 25 September to Friday 6 October. It will also be open to the public on Culture Night, 22 September, from 5 to 10 pm.
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Monday 25 September: General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course at the link below.
|
Read more...
|
|
Tuesday 26 September: Panel Debate on the EU Investment Plan, Blanchardstown Library
|
Blanchardstown Europe Direct Information Centre is holding a panel debate on the EU Investment Plan on Tuesday evening (7 pm), 26 September. The panel includes Professor John O'Brennan of NUI Maynooth, Dr Mary Murphy of UCC, and Andrea Carroll of the South Dublin Chamber. Further information is available on the link below.
|
Read more...
|
|
Thursday 28 September: Promoting and Financing Energy Efficiency in Ireland and the United Kingdom, Clontarf Castle, Dublin
|
The European Commission, in partnership with the UN Environment Finance Initiative, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is organising a regional Conference on Promoting and Financing Energy Efficiency in Ireland and the United Kingdom, which will take place in Dublin on Thursday, 28 September 2017, from 9 am to 4.30 pm.
|
Read more...
|
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow2.png) |
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow1.png) |
Public consultations
|
Public consultation on improving cross-border access to electronic evidence.
|
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on improving cross-border access to electronic evidence. Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourová, already presented three legislative options to improve access to e-evidence at the last Justice Council (8/06). Based on the discussion between Justice Ministers and input of the public, the Commission will prepare a legislative proposal. Commissioner Jourová said: "It is our duty to keep Europeans safe and make sure that criminals are brought to justice. Crime knows no borders, criminal investigations often do. We will change that. The online world cannot serve as safe haven for criminals." The consultation is open until 27 October 2017.
|
Read more...
|
|
Public consultation on the EU food supply chain
|
The European Commission has launched an EU-wide public consultation on how to make the EU food supply chain fairer. Farmers, citizens and other interested parties are invited to share their views on the functioning of the food supply chain through an online consultation that runs until 17 November.
|
Read more...
|
|
Public consultation on post-trade services across financial markets
|
The Commission has launched a public consultation on how to improve post-trade services used in financial transactions, including clearing, settlement and collateral management. The consultation aims to get stakeholders’ views about the current state of post-trade markets, the main trends and challenges faced by post-trade services providers and their users, and to determine the existence and scale of remaining or new barriers, the risks associated with such barriers and the best ways to address them. It is open until 15 November 2017.
|
Read more...
|
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow2.png) |
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow1.png) |
Competitions
|
2018 EU young translators competition just launched
|
The 11th edition of the Juvenes Translatores competition was launched this week in Brussels. 'EU 60' – the 60th anniversary of the signature of the Treaty establishing the European Community' will be the theme of the texts which young translators from across Europe will have to translate. The competition is open to 17-year-old secondary school pupils across Europe. Schools have until 20 October 2017 to register for the competition.
|
|
EU Women Innovators Prize 2018 just launched!
|
The European Commission has launched the fifth edition of the EU Prize for Women Innovators which will be awarded to women entrepreneurs who successfully brought their outstanding innovations to market. The 1st prize is €100.000, 2nd and 3rd prizes of €50.000 and €30.000 respectively and a special prize of €20.000 will be dedicated to the Rising Innovator Award. EU Research The contest is open to women across the EU or from countries associated to Horizon 2020 who have founded or co-founded their company and benefitted from public or private research and innovation funding. Applications have to be submitted by 15 November 2017 and the winners' names will be announced on International Women's Day on 8 March 2018. In 2016 Irish woman, Dr Sarah Bourke, CEO of Skytek Ltd, won 3rd prize.
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Euro Video Challenge
|
The European Central Bank's Euro Video Challenge invites young people aged 18-30 to make a short video (max. 2 minutes and 20 seconds) that explains economics in an entertaining way that's related to the ECB's activities.
The top prize is €4,000 plus a trip to Lyon (France) to attend the award ceremony at the economics conference “Les Journées de l’économie” on Thursday, 9 November 2017. The deadline to enter the competition is 24 September 2017.
|
Read more...
|
|
|
European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) Awards
|
The European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) Awards are open. The aim is to identify candidates and showcase outstanding achievements in three categories: companies; apprentices and practitioners in apprenticeships (teachers/trainers). The deadline for recommending candidates is 22 September 2017.
|
Read more...
|
|
![](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/templates/generic-newsletter/images/shadow2.png) |
|
This is the Newsletter of the Representation of the European Commission in Ireland.
If this Newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to receive it directly you can subscribe here.
You can unsubscribe from this newsletter from your profile or by contacting us at this address: Functionnal mailbox.
|
|