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The EU wants member countries to reach HPV vaccination of 90% for girls by 2030 and significantly increase the rate for boys (Stock image)

EU pushes for higher uptake of cancer-preventing vaccines

The European Commission is recommending measures EU countries should adopt to increase the uptake of two vaccines that prevent viral infections that can cause cancer, it has said.

Health • 01 Feb 24

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the omission of rape was a 'kick in the teeth for campaigners across Europe'

Rape not part of EU directive on violence against women

The European Union's first directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence will not include the crime of rape, after a number of countries including Ireland, could not agree on a legal definition.

Europe • 18 Jan 24

Charles Michel made the comments in an interview with Belgian newspaper De Standaard published yesterday

EU's Michel to run in European Parliament election

EU Council President Charles Michel will run in the election for European Parliament in June and will leave his post mid-July if he gets elected.

World • 07 Jan 24

A huge EU flag in support of Georgia's EU membership bid in Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgians march for EU ahead of candidacy decision

Georgian non-governmental organisations have staged a pro-European Union march in the capital Tbilisi, a week ahead of the bloc's decision on granting the country membership candidacy status.

World • 09 Dec 23

Europe's ambitious AI rules come as companies like OpenAI continue to discover new uses for their technology

EU reaches deal on landmark rules governing AI

Europe reached a provisional deal on landmark European Union rules governing the use of artificial intelligence including governments' use of AI in biometric surveillance and how to regulate AI systems such as ChatGPT.

EU • 11 Dec 23

Viktor Orban has been proclaiming for weeks that Kyiv is not ready to begin EU accession negotiations

Orban demands EU skip decision on Ukraine talks

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has demanded that a summit of European Union leaders next week avoid any decision on Ukraine's coveted goal of getting a green light for membership talks even as the country fights Russia's invasion.

Ukraine • 06 Dec 23

Ursula von der Leyen said she recognised that many staff members were affected by the crisis 'on a personal level' (file image)

EU chief 'to engage' with staff over Middle East stance

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has written to staff saying she is "ready to engage and listen to your concerns" over the conflict in the Middle East, following a letter signed by over 800 Commission officials last week protesting against her allegedly unequivocal support for Israel.

Middle East • 23 Oct 23

Ursula von der Leyen said Europe stood with Israel and its right to defend itself (File pic)

Hamas attacks are 'an ancient evil' - Von der Leyen

The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has described the Hamas attacks in Israel as "an ancient evil".

World • 11 Oct 23

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (R) and Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the summit in Granada

Poland and Hungary clash with EU over migration reform

A furious row over planned changes to Europe's migration rules has overshadowed an EU summit, although supporters of the reform have vowed opposition from Poland and Hungary would not derail it.

Ireland • 06 Oct 23

Labour leader Keir Starmer also outlined a desire to renegotiate an improved trade deal with the EU

Border poll not even on the horizon in NI, says Starmer

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer has said the prospect of a referendum on Irish unification is "absolutely hypothetical" and "not even on the horizon".

Ireland • 06 Oct 23

President Michael D Higgins is greeted by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal

President calls for climate action at meeting in Porto

President Michael D Higgins is in Portugal to attend an annual meeting of EU presidents known as the Arraiolos Group.

Ireland • 06 Oct 23

Ursula von der Leyen addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Von der Leyen defends track record ahead of elections

Ursula von der Leyen has defended her track record as European Commission chief, saying she had promoted - and would continue to stand for - a fair transition to green energy, a strong geopolitical union and fair competition with the world.

Europe • 13 Sep 23

Apple bows to EU and unveils iPhone with USB-C charger

Apple has unveiled its new iPhone lineup, with its Lightning charger ports replaced on the newest models by a universal USB-C charger after a tussle with the European Union.

World • 12 Sep 23

A boy checks the damage inside a house in the occupied West Bank Jenin refugee camp

EU envoy blasts Israel over deadly Jenin raid

A European envoy has blasted Israel over the "proportionality" of the force it uses, as international envoys toured Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank following this week's deadly raid.

EU • 08 Jul 23

The draft legislation seeks to restore 20% of ecosystems in Europe by 2030

EU vote on nature restoration legislation postponed

Voting on key nature restoration legislation in the European Parliament's Environment committee has been postponed until 27 June.

Politics • 15 Jun 23

Minister of State James Browne attended the meeting in Luxembourg where the deal was reached

Ireland yet to adopt EU asylum seeker hosting deal

Ireland has welcomed an agreement on a long-stalled revision of the EU's rules to share the hosting of asylum seekers more equitably, but has yet to decide if it will opt in.

Politics • 09 Jun 23

Leo Varadkar is attending the European Political Community Summit near Chisinau, Moldova

Ireland to consider joining undersea cable mission

The Taoiseach has said the Government will give strong consideration to joining any EU- or NATO-led mission to enhance the protection of undersea cables in the light of suspicions over Russian mapping of the seabed off the Irish coast.

Ireland • 01 Jun 23

Retail investor fees are 40% higher than those institutional investors pay

EU lays out plans to reduce retail investor commission

The European Union has set out plans to cut how much retail investors pay banks and insurers for financial products to encourage investment and make its capital market deeper and more efficient.

Business • 24 May 23

Valdis Dombrovskis, an executive vice-president of the European Commission, said 'we are living in a very different world to 30 years ago', when the rules were adopted

EC proposes sweeping reforms of EU fiscal rules

The European Commission has proposed sweeping reforms of the EU's fiscal rules when they are reinstated next year, after they were suspended during the Covid pandemic.

European Commission • 26 Apr 23

While the European Commission aims to bring down the cost of medicines, it does not have the power to set prices in the European Union (Stock image)

EU unveils reforms to make medicines cheaper

The EU has unveiled a long-awaited proposed reform of legislation governing pharmaceutical drugs to make them cheaper, prevent shortages and boost new antibiotic production.

Health • 26 Apr 23

Polish farmers protest near the border with Ukraine in Hrubieszow

Unilateral bans on Ukraine grain 'not possible' - EC

The European Commission has said unilateral action by member states on banning Ukrainian cereals is "not possible" under EU trade rules.

Ukraine • 17 Apr 23

In talks in Beijing, which also involve EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron said the West must engage China to help end the crisis in Ukraine

Macron calls on Xi to reason with Russia for peace

French President Emmanuel Macron urged China's Xi Jinping to reason with close ally Russia and help end the Ukraine war, while Mr Xi responded by saying he hoped the two sides could hold peace negotiations as soon as possible.

Ukraine • 06 Apr 23

A rapid shift to renewable energy is crucial if the EU is to meet its climate change goals

EU aims for 42.5% of energy from renewables by 2030

European Union negotiators have struck a political deal on more ambitious targets to expand the use of renewable energy by 2030, an important pillar of the bloc's plans to fight climate change and end the use of Russian fossil fuels

Climate Change • 30 Mar 23

Officials in the European Commission's veterinary office will carry out an audit of the facilities before the new system under the Windsor Framework can become fully operational

NI ports audit ahead of new EU-UK trade arrangements

The EU has said that new light touch arrangements for the movement of retail food consignments from Britian to Northern Ireland will not be fully implemented until inspection facilities at Northern Ireland ports have been completed and audited.

Northern Ireland • 28 Mar 23

Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair speak to the media in Dublin Castle to mark the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in Dublin (File photo)

Ahern, Blair withdraw from Good Friday Agreement event

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, have both pulled out of an event in the European Parliament next week marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

World • 22 Mar 23