Tony Connelly

Europe Editor

Palestinian flags raise over a tower in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank

Leading Palestinian figure hails 'history being made'

A leading Palestinian figure has hailed the recognition of Palestine by a raft of countries as a historic day of jubilation for the Palestinian people.

Middle East • 22 Sep 25

EU Commissioner Michael McGrath will meet political and business leaders, as well as consumer organisations in both countries

EU Commissioner McGrath on visit to South Korea, Japan

Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath is on a visit to South Korea and Japan as the European Union continues to seek to strengthen alliances in the wake of US President Donald Trump's aggressive approach to global trade.

Business • 15 Sep 25

US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Are tariffs actually working for Donald Trump and the US?

Are the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump working, or has the flurry of horse-trading that followed mean things have more or less stayed the same for industries in European countries?

Clarity • 14 Sep 25

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives her annual State of the Union address

EU chief delivers combative speech amid mounting pressure

On the eve of the first State of the European Union speech of her second term, those close to Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged it was a critical moment.

Analysis and Comment • 13 Sep 25

Murphy elected president of ECA for second time

Tony Murphy, Ireland's member of the European Court of Auditors (ECA), has been elected president of the court for a second time, with a fresh three-year term beginning 1 October.

Europe • 11 Sep 25

The letter also calls on the 13 member states which have not yet done so to join 147 UN members in recognising the State of Palestine (file image)

Ex-EU ambassadors call for suspension of EU-Israel deal

Over 300 former EU and member state ambassadors, as well as former EU officials, have written a joint letter calling on the EU to immediately suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to impose targeted sanctions on members of the Israeli government.

Europe • 10 Sep 25

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and France's President Emmanuel Macron speak during a press conference following the Coalition of the Willing Summit, at the Elysee presidential Palace, in Paris

What form could Ukraine's security guarantees take on?

The dynamics between the Trump administration and Europe on Ukraine have shifted, with the meeting of the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' in Paris this week representing an important inflection point.

Analysis and Comment • 07 Sep 25

EU Commissioner Michael McGrath said the European Commission had set out a robust bilateral safeguard mechanism for EU farmers (file image)

McGrath urges 'open mind' on Mercosur trade deal

Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has urged member states to keep an open mind on the EU Mercosur trade agreement "based on the facts".

World • 03 Sep 25

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg

EU chief's plane hit by suspected Russian GPS jamming

The European Commission has confirmed that President von der Leyen's plane was subject to suspected Russian GPS jamming as it attempted to land in Bulgaria yesterday.

Europe • 01 Sep 25

Two soldiers watch as a car passes by them in Lebanon

Harris seeks EU support for Lebanon army training mission

The Tánaiste is to propose a new initiative to support southern Lebanon, which could see EU countries work together in the coming months to train, equip and build up the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Middle East • 29 Aug 25