The European Commission this week disbursed to Ireland the first payment for €324 million in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). In a statement, President von der Leyen said: "Today Ireland is receiving its first payment under Europe's Recovery Plan, Next Generation EU. €324 million in European investment for railways, clean tech and digitising schools. This is happening because of Ireland's impressive progress on its reform agenda. Even in a very difficult international environment, Ireland has overcome immense challenges and now your economy is again on the rise".

Ireland is classed as a "strong innovator" with a performance at 113.2% of the EU average in 2024 putting it in 7th place on this year's European Innovation Scoreboard. Denmark took the top spot with a score of 135.7% of the EU average and is one of four countries classed as "innovation leaders" (along with Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands). Ireland's highest scores were in the areas of human resources where it came in overall first place for the share of population with a tertiary qualification. It was below the EU average however for the share of population engaged in lifelong learning. Ireland also scored very highly for attractive research systems, linkages and employment impacts but came in second lowest for R&D expenditure in the public sector.

The European Commission this week made commitments offered by Apple legally binding under EU antitrust rules. The commitments address the Commission's competition concerns relating to Apple's refusal to grant rivals access to a standard technology used for contactless payments with iPhones in stores (‘Near-Field-Communication (NFC)' or ‘tap and go'). Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager said: "It is safe and convenient to pay with your phone. Apple has committed to allow rivals to access the 'tap and go’ technology of iPhones. Today’s decision makes Apple’ commitments binding. It opens up competition in this crucial sector".

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the award of 100 new Proof of Concept Grants, in the first round of the 2024 competition. Two Irish researchers are among the 100 - Padraig Cantillon-Murphy from UCC and Eoin Casey from UCD. Proof of concept grants – each worth €150,000 – aim to help researchers bridge the gap between the discoveries stemming from their frontier research and the practical application of the findings, including early phases of their commercialisation. They are open only to researchers who currently hold, or have previously been awarded, ERC frontier research grants.

Europe's new heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 6, made its inaugural flight from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on Tuesday of this week. Ariane 6 is the latest in Europe's Ariane rocket series, taking over from Ariane 5, and featuring a modular and versatile design that can launch missions from low-Earth orbit and farther out into deep space. Commissioner Thierry Breton said the launch was "a crucial step to ensure Europe’s autonomous access to space".

New Eurostat figures show that the EU's population reached 449.2 million people on 1 January 2024, up from 447.6 million on 1 January 2023. The increase can be largely attributed to the increased migratory movements post-COVID-19 and to the influx of displaced persons from Ukraine who received temporary protection status in EU countries. In terms of size, Germany at 83.4 million had the largest population while Malta at 0.6 million had the lowest. Ireland had the 9th lowest population in the EU at 5.34 million.

At a time when migration is one of the most pressing issues on the international agenda – and one of the most polarising – Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), will reflect on why it is important to change the global narrative – from one that is highly politicised to one that captures the potential and rich benefits of this global phenomenon. This IIEA online event takes place at 12 noon on Friday 12 July.

This panel discussion will look at what the next steps might be for the EU following the European Parliament elections, which took place in June. The panellists will look at where we are in the various post-election processes, as regards to appointments to the top EU jobs, the formation of the parliamentary groups, and the formation of the new Commission. Speakers include: Professor John O’ Brennan from Maynooth University and Director of the Maynooth Centre for European and Eurasian studies; Frances Fitzgerald, former government minister and MEP; and Marian Harkin TD and former MEP. This hybrid event will take place at 1pm.

In his remarks to the IIEA Édouard Philippe, former Prime Minister of France, will analyse the role of France and the EU in adapting to global upheavals. In his address, he will underscore France's pivotal role in Europe, especially in promoting peace and economic cooperation, while addressing current challenges such as shifting global power dynamics, waning multilateralism, and defense policy alignment. He will also highlight the necessity of a united Europe to effectively respond to these issues. This hybrid event takes place at 1.15 pm on Wednesday 17 July.

On Tuesday lunchtime 30 July Dr Alexander Vindman, former director for European Affairs on the White House’s National Security Council, will address a hybrid IIEA event on "The Russia-Ukraine War: Its Causes, Conduct, and Geopolitical Context". In his address to the IIEA, Dr Vindman will examine the Russia-Ukraine War: Past, Present, and Future. He will discuss the roots of the war and its conduct to date, highlighting the conflict’s effects on European security, the trans-Atlantic alliance, and broader geopolitics. Dr Vindman will also provide analysis on how the war is likely to unfold and conclude.