Tony Connelly

Europe Editor

Patricia Reilly's role in Ursula Von der Leyen's cabinet will be coordination and oversight-based

Patricia Reilly to join Von der Leyen cabinet

Irish EU official Patricia Reilly will join Ursula von der Leyen's cabinet on 1 March as the Commission President's advisor on agriculture and health.

Politics • 25 Feb

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas (R) pictured speaking alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar

Israel criticises EU over US resolution on Ukraine

Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar has criticised European Union member states for not backing the US resolution at the United Nations which failed to mention Russia's aggression in invading Ukraine or condemn the invasion, RTÉ News understands.

Middle East • 24 Feb

Israeli tanks and bulldozers take positions yesterday evening in the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees, in the occupied West Bank

Wording in EU statement may allow for OTB, Govt believes

Ireland has secured language in a key EU communique which the Government believes will support its handling of the Occupied Territories Bill and possibly ease the bill's potential conflict with EU law.

Politics • 24 Feb

Election posters, including of the Volt party and the far-right AfD hang from lampposts in Berlin

Germany votes amid geopolitical upheaval

Germany goes to the polls tomorrow amid a period of unprecedented national and geopolitical upheaval.

Analysis and Comment • 27 Feb

Friedrich Merz is frontrunner to be the next Chancellor of Germany

Campaigning at final stages in German snap election

Campaigning is reaching the final stages in the German snap election, with the leader of the CDU - and frontrunner to be the next Chancellor - pledging to restore Germany to a leadership role in Europe.

Europe • 21 Feb

RTÉ News understands that Taoiseach Micheál Martin made the offer during a video conference with other EU leaders

Ireland could provide peacekeepers to Ukraine if required

Ireland could provide peacekeepers to Ukraine if it was required under a UN-mandated ceasefire agreement, it has emerged.

Ireland • 19 Feb

French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen after the meeting

Ukraine 'deserves peace through strength' - von der Leyen

Ukraine "deserves peace through strength", the European Commission President has said amid a difference of opinion about the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine following an informal summit of European leaders in Paris.

Ukraine • 18 Feb

Donald Trump held phone calls with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday this week

Trump, Putin and Ukraine: The great betrayal?

Europe's big fear has been that Donald Trump would return to the White House, cozy up to Vladimir Putin and throw Ukraine under a bus, writes RTÉ News Europe Editor Tony Connelly.

Analysis and Comment • 15 Feb

The European Commission said its work programme this year will focus on boosting competitiveness, enhancing security, and bolstering economic resilience

EU Commission to focus on economy, security this year

The European Commission has set out its work programme for 2025, with an emphasis on simplification and reducing the administrative burden of EU rules.

Europe • 12 Feb

EU trade ministers will take stock of President Trump's executive order to hit all steel and aluminium products entering the US with tariffs (Stock image)

Trump readies reciprocal tariffs as trade war fears mount

Donald Trump's trade advisers are working on plans for the reciprocal tariffs the US president has vowed to impose on every country that charges duties on US imports, ratcheting up fears of a widening global trade war.

Europe • 12 Feb