EU Commissioner for Crisis management Janez Lenarčič was in Dublin today (Thursday) for the presentation of the results of the ‘Futureproof-IE' report together with the Tánaiste Micheál Martin. The report focuses on Ireland's implementation of the EU Disaster Resilience Goals. Its main goal is to help Ireland's risk assessment methodology to better assess emergent risks. The Commissioner also discussed global humanitarian issues with the Tánaiste including the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He also had meetings with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, and with stakeholders from Irish humanitarian NGOs.

At last weekend's European Council, EU leaders discussed the critical humanitarian situation in the Middle East. They expressed their deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid. They called for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and immediate measures to prevent further population displacement and provide safe shelter to the population.

The European Commission this week presented proposals for a European degree that would be automatically recognised throughout the EU. It would be awarded jointly and on a voluntary basis by a group of universities across Europe and would be based on a common set of criteria agreed at a European level. The Commission also put forward proposals to improve quality assurance processes and automatic recognition of qualifications in higher education and to make academic careers more attractive and sustainable.

Ireland this week submitted a request to the European Commission to add a REPowerEU chapter to its Recovery and Resilience plan. Ireland has also requested to transfer part of its share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, amounting to €150 million, to the Plan. Together with Ireland's REPowerEU grants allocation (€90 million), these funds make the total REPowerEU chapter worth €240 million in grants and the EU contribution to Ireland´s recovery plan worth €1.15 billion.

The European Commission this week published a report outlining the good progress made so far under the EU's long-term rural vision, highlighting positive outcomes delivered since 2021 and presenting ideas for future work. Key achievements of the long-term vision to date include: launching a rural revitalisation platform for areas facing demographic and economic challenges; starting 60 rural research and innovation projects with a budget of €253 million contributing directly to rural areas; and, launching the Rural Toolkit to ease access to EU funding for rural areas and optimal combination to EU funding for rural areas.

The new EU Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition entered into force this week. This means that before purchasing a product consumers will get better and more harmonised information on its durability and reparability. In addition, companies will no longer be able to state that they are ‘green’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ if they cannot demonstrate that they truly are. The Directive will apply from 27 September 2026.

Cleaning service provider Derrycourt Cleaning Specialists has become the first Irish company to have its Indoor Cleaning Services awarded an EU Ecolabel. Derrycourt’s road to sustainability began when they prioritised the use of sustainable cleaning products compliant with strict EU Ecolabel criteria. Over a 2-year period, the premises of around 600 clients switched to being cleaned with EU Ecolabel products which now account for over over 80% of detergents used. The EU Ecolabel can be awarded to routine professional cleaning services performed indoors in commercial, institutional and other publicly accessible buildings and private residences, but it excludes disinfection activities.

At their second Digital Partnership Council, which took place this week in Brussels, the EU and the Republic of Korea reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate in key digital technologies for the benefit of citizens and economies. They took stock of the progress achieved since the first digital partnership council and agreed to continue cooperation on semiconductors, 5G and beyond, quantum technology, platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as cybersecurity. To facilitate the implementation of joint projects, the Commission and the Republic of Korea concluded the negotiations for associating the country to Horizon Europe, the EU's funding programme for research and innovation.

85% of Irish people judge the quality of life in their region to be rather or very good, just above the EU average of 82%, according to a new Eurobarometer survey on public opinion in EU regions. However, this figure was down by an average of just over 6 percentage points since 2021 in all 3 Irish regions (Northern and Western, Southern, Eastern and Midlands). People living in Finland (96-100%), Austria (92-98%) and Luxembourg (95%) were the most likely to say that the quality of life in their region is rather or very good. The survey also showed that 76% of Irish respondents say that they are rather or very likely to vote in the upcoming European elections with the share rising to 80% in the Southern region.

Average hourly labour costs were estimated to be €31.8 in the EU and €35.6 in the euro area in 2023 according to Eurostat. The figures show that the highest hourly labour costs in 2023 were in Luxembourg (€53.9), Denmark (€48.1) and Belgium (€47.1) while the lowest were in Bulgaria (€9.3), Romania (€11.0) and Hungary (€12.8). Average hourly labour costs in Ireland in 2023 amounted to €40.2, up from €38 in 2022. Labour costs include wages and salaries and non-wage costs such as employers' PRSI.

In his address to this online IIEA event, Damian Boeselager MEP will discuss the prospects of Pan-European Politics in a year of elections around the world, with a particular focus on his experience in his first term as a Member of the European Parliament. Mr Boeselager will discuss his perspectives on EU Enlargement, the rising popularity of far-right political parties in some member states, and questions regarding defending the rule of law as some of the key issues ahead of the 2024 European Parliament Elections.

On Tuesday morning 9 April, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) is organising an informative webinar to learn more about the 10th edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital). Applications are open and the deadline for submissions is 18 June 2024. Participants will learn about 'The European Rising Innovative City' that targets towns and cities with a population of more than 50,000 and less than 250,000 inhabitants, and 'The European Capital of Innovation' category open for cities with more than 250,000 inhabitants.

On Wednesday lunchtime 10 April, Renate Schroeder, Director of the European Federation of Journalists, will address an online IIEA event on "Media Freedom and Pluralism in Europe: Threats, Challenges, and Opportunities". In her address, Ms Schroeder will discuss developments in media freedom and pluralism over Europe in recent years, including some examples of unprecedented attacks against media freedom and pluralism that threaten democracy. She will assess the lessons that can be learnt by the media sector, civil society, policymakers, and other stakeholders in this regard.

On Thursday morning 11 April, Creative Europe Ireland will host a webinar on the Culture Moves Europe Mobility Award for Creatives and on Residency Hosts funding. The webinar will showcase successful Irish case studies for both individual artists and residency hosts funded by Culture Moves Europe.

On Monday afternoon 15 April, Professor Larry M. Bartels, Professor of Political Science at Law at the Vanderbilt University, will address an IIEA event on "Democracy Erodes from the Top: Misperceptions about the Populist Challenge". In his address, he will discuss his new book Democracy Erodes from the Top: Leaders, Citizens and the Challenge of Populism in Europe. Professor Bartels challenges the narrative of a populist “wave” in contemporary European public opinion. He argues that electoral support for right-wing populist parties has increased only modestly, driven by populist entrepreneurs, the failures of mainstream parties, and media hype.

The EU Road Safety Conference takes place at the RSE in Dublin on 16 April 2024. The conference is an opportunity to engage with EU Member State authorities and all stakeholders on the progress being made with implementing the Safe System approach and with achieving the goal of halving road deaths by 2030. In particular, it will allow participants to assess the state of play of road safety in the EU as we approach the mid-point of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework. It will also offer a forum for analysis and exchange between senior EU policy makers and the wider European road safety community. Speakers include: Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission. Jack Chambers, Minister of State for Transport, and Georges Gilkinet, Belgian Minister for Transport.

The South East Technological University (SETU) is hosting an Ireland South European Parliament candidates’ hustings event on Friday 19 April at 11.15 am on the Cork Road campus of SETU. Speakers include Billy Kelleher MEP, Grace O’Sullivan MEP and Professor Niamh Hourigan with more to be confirmed. This event is open to students and staff of SETU, as well as to the wider public. It is being organised by Gerry Arthurs, Lecturer in International Relations and Politics, SETU, and member of the Team Europe Direct speakers network in Ireland.