The European Commission this week gave a positive assessment of Ireland's modified recovery and resilience plan (RRP), which includes a REPowerEU chapter. The plan is now worth €1.15 billion (in grants) and covers 11 reforms and 19 investments. The Commission has simultaneously endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Ireland's first payment request for €324 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The payment request covers important steps in the delivery of nine reforms and ten investments that will drive positive change for citizens and businesses in Ireland in the areas of energy efficiency of public buildings, sustainable transport, rehabilitation of peatlands, carbon taxation, supporting digitalisation in schools and business, skills (including green and digital skills), healthcare and anti-money laundering.

According to the results of the Spring 2024 Standard Eurobarometer poll, published this week, respondents in Ireland and Denmark (both 80%) are the most optimistic about the future of the EU. On average across the EU, 62% of people surveyed were optimistic about the future of the EU with sentiment lowest in France at 46%. The survey also shows that 66% of Irish people continue to have a positive view of the EU (up 2 percentage points since the previous survey in Autumn 2023) and second highest overall after Portugal at 68% (up 4 points). The EU average was 44% (unchanged).

The new Environmental Crime Directive entered into force on Monday, 20 May. It contains a comprehensive and up-to-date list of environmental offences addressing the most serious breaches of environmental obligations. EU Member States will have to ensure that these breaches constitute criminal offences in their national law. The new directive also introduces several new offence categories, such as unlawful ship recycling, unlawful water abstraction, serious breaches of EU chemicals and mercury legislation, serious breaches related to dealing with fluorinated greenhouse gases, and serious breaches of legislation on invasive alien species.

The rules on establishing a European Digital Identity entered into force on Monday of this week. They pave the way for all EU citizens and residents to benefit from a personal European Digital Identity Wallet in 2026. The Wallet will consist of a mobile app issued in each Member State. It will allow EU citizens and residents to use online services, share digital documents such as a mobile driving license or an ePrescription, open bank accounts or make payments in full control of personal data all over Europe.

The European Commission has welcomed the formal decision taken in this week's General Affairs Council to use the proceeds from immobilised Russian assets for Ukraine. Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: "I welcome the formal decision taken today in the Council which will allow the extraordinary revenues from assets of the Russian Central Bank immobilised under sanctions following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, to be used to the benefit of Ukraine. The EU has chosen a way forward that is legally sound, and flexible so that support can adjust to Ukraine's most pressing needs. Speed remains of the essence and the Commission will continue making all efforts to allow the first payment to be made already in July.”

Consumers across the EU will soon have more stable energy prices thanks to major reforms of the EU electricity and gas markets adopted this week. At the same time, the EU will boost the development of hydrogen and other decarbonised gases. Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said: "Once largely dependent on Russian supplies, Europe is now moving on to the electricity and gas markets of the future, where there is no space for Russian gas and where renewables, clean gases and hydrogen have a central role".

The European Commission has welcomed the recommendations made at last weekend's final session of the European Citizens' Panel on tackling hatred in society. The 150 European citizens who took part in the Panel addressed 21 recommendations to the European Commission and to national authorities aimed at combatting hatred in all its forms and fostering mutual respect. The input gathered from the Panel will be considered by the College of Commissioners and will support the European Commission's future work on tackling hate speech and hate crime.

The European Commission this week adopted a Communication on the European Health Union, which highlights the strides made in EU health policy over the last four years, for the benefit of citizens in the EU and worldwide. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic showed that EU solidarity, collaboration and decisive action are the way forward. The EU Vaccines Strategy ensured all EU citizens had equal access to vaccines, the EU Digital COVID Certificate enabled the safe re-opening of economic and social activity, and SURE helped 31 million workers overcome the economic impact of the pandemic.

New rules to ensure the EU takes greater responsibility for its waste entered into force last Monday, 20 May 2024. The new Waste Shipments Regulation sets out stricter rules on the export of waste to non-EU countries. The Regulation will also increase traceability and facilitate the shipments of waste for recycling in the EU and beyond.

The European Court of Justice has just published its Annual Report 2023 | The Year in Review. The Year in Review, available online, is the main publication covering the activity of the institution and the case-law of its two courts throughout the past year. It provides a synthesis of the judicial, institutional and administrative activity of the Court of Justice and of the General Court.

A new Eurobarometer on Europeans and their languages shows that, despite having a very positive attitude to language learning, only 40% of Irish people speak a second language well enough to have a conversation in it, considerably below the EU average of 59% and 4th lowest in the EU. English continues to be the mostly commonly spoken second language (47%) for Europeans, followed by French (11%) and German (10%). For Irish people, the most commonly spoken additional languages are Irish (16%) and French (12%). The survey also shows that English is the mother tongue for 83% of people in Ireland followed by Irish at 4%. Meanwhile, 3% of people surveyed in Ireland spoke Polish as a first language followed by 1% each for French, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Lithuanian and Slovak.

86% of Irish companies consider cyber security to be a high or very high priority, the highest share in the EU where the average is 71%, according to a new Eurobarometer published this week. However, only 29% of them have provided employees with training or awareness raising about cyber security during the past 12 months. The survey also showed that 24% of Irish companies found it difficult to find and hire staff with the right skills in cyber security, 3rd highest in the EU and well above the EU average of 12%. And only a third (34%) of Irish employees working in the area of cyber security have a formal qualification or certified training or are working towards one.

In recent years, Europe and much of the world have suffered the largest inflation shock in decades. Central banks have responded with large and rapid increases in interest rates. In his presentation to the IIEA, Philip Lane, Chief Economist of the European Central Bank, will discuss the inflation outlook in the Eurozone at a time when hopes of a return to price stability are rising. This online event takes place at 1pm.

Against the backdrop of increased geopolitical tensions, the relationship between the EU, its Member States, and China has continued to remain of significant importance. As the United States' relationship with China has deteriorated, the EU has increasingly sought to chart its own course vis a vis China, seeking partnerships where beneficial while ensuring its own interests are looked after. In this IIEA discussion, Finbarr Bermingham, Senior Europe Correspondent for the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post, will reflect on the present state of the EU's relationship with China, its challenges and opportunities, and will explore what the future holds for the EU-China Relationship.

On Thursday evening 30 May, European Movement Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office are hosting an in-person event, ‘EU Election Town Hall – Ireland Dublin Constituency.’ Moderated by Journalist, Author and Broadcaster Flor MacCarthy, this event will see journalists and academics discuss topics such as the role of the European Elections, the impact of the European Parliament in our daily lives, and the role of voters in shaping our future. The format of the event will be a panel discussion followed by a Q and A session with audience members, including MEP candidates. Speakers will include: Prof Gavin Barrett, Professor in UCD Sutherland School of Law and Jean Monnet Professor of European Constitutional and Economic Law, UCD; John Lee, Execuitve Editor, Daily Mail Group Ireland; Prof Gary Murphy, School of Law and Government, DCU; and, Alison O’Connor, Columnist, Sunday Times. The event takes place from 7-8 pm at Odyssey Room, The Alex Hotel, 41-47 Fenian St, Dublin, D02 H678.

We are delighted to announce that, for the first time ever, the European Commission Representation in Ireland will be at the Bord Bia Bloom Festival in Dublin's Phoenix Park. We've teamed up with award-winning designers Liat and Oliver Schurmann to create a spectacular sustainable garden inspired by the European Green Deal. Click on the link below for a sneak preview of the European Commission garden.

In his address to the IIEA, former President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, will discuss current global developments and how these relate to the European challenges of our time. In Mr Van Rompuy’s opinion, these challenges include democracy, leadership, strategic autonomy, deindustrialisation, immigration, and potential institutional changes. In his remarks, he will also discuss growing individualisation within the European Union and how this affects our societies and politics.

The European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland is hosting a one-hour webinar on EU basics from 12 noon to 1pm on Thursday 13 June. The webinar will offer an introduction into how the European Union works and what role it plays in our lives. Each webinar will start with a presentation followed by a Q&A for participants. There is no prior knowledge required. The topics covered range from the EU’s law making process, to areas where the EU makes rules and where it does not, to how half a century of EU membership have influenced Ireland. Anyone interested to participate can register via the links below.

The European Parliament has launched a call for expression of interest with a view to establishing a database of candidates interested in future vacancies as Proof-readers/Language editors within the Directorate-General for Translation (DG TRAD) based in Luxembourg. Applicants must be citizens of one of the Member States of the European Union; have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national laws concerning military service; and produce the appropriate character references as to their suitability for the performance of the duties.