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Ireland will get over €1 billion of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve

Ireland to receive biggest share of EU Brexit fund

Ireland is set to receive the biggest share of the €5 billion EU Brexit fund, after a provisional agreement was reached today.

Business • 17 Jun 21

The Commission did not specify which banks were excluded

EU excludes major banks from bond sales

The European Union has excluded some of the biggest investment banks with past involvement in breaches of antitrust rules from syndicated debt sales backing its up to €800 billion Covid-19 recovery fund, the EU executive said.

Business • 15 Jun 21

Until now privacy complaints against Facebook by any European citizens have had to be referred to the Irish Data Protection Commissioner

ECJ: Privacy complaints can bypass Irish commissioner

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that privacy complaints against US tech giants do not only have to be taken to the Irish data protection commissioner but instead can be handled by any of the national data protection authorities across the EU.

EU • 15 Jun 21

EU's commitment to Good Friday Agreement 'unwavering'

Paolo Gentiloni, EU Commissioner for Economy, has said the EU's commitment to the Good Friday Agreement is "unwavering".

Business • 14 Jun 21

UK is considering extending the current grace period without the consent of the EU

NI Protocol row overshadows G7 summit agenda

Brexit tensions between Britain and the European Union exploded into an open war of words today, with both sides accusing the other of sowing disharmony at the Group of Seven summit.

Brexit • 13 Jun 21

Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Mass (file image)

Germany urges EU to end individual state's veto rights

"We can no longer be held hostage by those who paralyse European foreign policy through their vetoes," Heiko Maas said, accusing those doing so of "playing with Europe's cohesion".

World • 07 Jun 21

Bad faith and brinkmanship: NI Protocol on the edge

A clear-sighted discussion of technical issues is being poisoned by allegations of bad faith, hypocrisy, and even an accusation that the UK is playing footsie with potential loyalist violence during the marching season.

Analysis and Comment • 05 Jun 21

The reforms broadly seek to embed a stronger climate and environmental component into how CAP money is spent

IFA says current CAP reform proposals 'unacceptable'

The Irish Farmers' Association has warned that the current CAP reform proposals are unacceptable as negotiations in Brussels over new requirements for farmers are expected to stretch into a third day.

Agriculture • 27 May 21

Sweden's state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell

Sweden tops EU Covid-19 rates but deaths among lowest

For the first time this year, Sweden's incidence rate of coronavirus cases has topped European Union figures, the EU's health authority said today, but associated deaths are among the lowest.

Coronavirus • 20 May 21

EU member states will decide whether they will accept proof of vaccination to waive travel restrictions

Fully-vaccinated passengers can enter EU for holidays

EU member states have agreed to allow fully-vaccinated passengers from outside the EU to enter the bloc this summer for holiday purposes.

Coronavirus • 19 May 21

The change is applicable for unopened vials

More flexible storage conditions for Pfizer vaccine

The European Medicines Agency has approved more flexible storage conditions for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, which is expected to help with the roll-out of vaccination in Ireland and other EU countries.

Coronavirus • 17 May 21

Overall, Ireland's economy is projected to grow by 4.6% in 2021 and 5.0% in 2022

EU forecasts Irish economic rebound

The Irish economy is expected to rebound in the second half of this year as lockdown restrictions ease and the vaccination rollout takes effect, with consumer spending expected to increase sharply, according to the EU's latest economic forecast.

Ireland • 12 May 21

EU asked in court today for a symbolic compensation of €1 for what it deems a breach of contract by AstraZeneca

EU willing to give AstraZeneca more time for deliveries

The European Union is willing to see its Covid-19 vaccine contract with AstraZeneca fulfilled three months later than agreed, providing the company delivers 120 million doses by the end of June, a lawyer representing the bloc said today.

Coronavirus • 11 May 21

Micheál Martin and Ursula Von der Leyen at the EU summit in Porto today

EU agrees deal for up to 1.8bn extra Pfizer doses

The EU has concluded a deal with Pfizer-BioNTech for up to 1.8 billion extra doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, according to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

World • 08 May 21

E171 is used in sweets, chewing gum, white sauces and cake icing (stock image)

Additive used in sweets and cakes not safe: EU watchdog

The EU's food watchdog has said that a widely-used additive, known as the artificial colouring E171 on food labels, should "no longer be considered safe" for consumption.

World • 06 May 21

Michel Barnier was accused by the DUP of being the 'puppet' of the Irish government

Michel Barnier reveals 'frustrations' with DUP in talks

Michel Barnier has revealed his frustration at the role that both the DUP and hardline Brexiteers played in hampering the quest to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland as he negotiated two Brexit treaties over a gruelling four-year period.

Brexit • 05 May 21

'Faithful implementation is essential', Ursula von der Leyen said

'Faithful implementation' needed as EU-UK deal approved

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed the European Parliament's approval of the post-Brexit trade deal with Britain, adding that its faithful implementation was crucial.

Brexit • 28 Apr 21

EU governments have faced fierce criticism over the bloc's joint vaccine procurement efforts

Vaccine doses for 70% of adults in EU 'by mid-July'

The European Union will have enough Covid-19 vaccine doses to cover 70% of its adult population by mid-July due to higher production within the bloc, a senior official said today.

Coronavirus • 20 Apr 21

Officials on both sides have stressed that the exercise will be long and highly technical

Officials look at making NI Protocol 'less burdensome'

EU and UK officials will explore ways in which the Northern Ireland Protocol can be made less burdensome by taking a more risk-based approach to the most sensitive issues, RTÉ News understands.

Brexit • 16 Apr 21

The EU green and digital plan totals €750bn

EU to borrow €150bn a year to finance green plan

The European Commission plans to borrow around €150bn annually until 2026 to finance the bloc's unprecedented plan to make its economy greener and more digitalised, making it the biggest debt issuer in euros.

Business • 14 Apr 21

Turkey says furniture met EU's demands

Turkey's foreign minister has responded to a diplomatic mishap in which only one of two visiting European Union chiefs were given a chair at a meeting in Ankara, saying the seating was arranged in line with the bloc's demands.

World • 08 Apr 21

EMA says the 'benefit-risk remains positive' for the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

EMA: Blood clots should be listed as AZ jab side effect

Europe's drug regulator has found a possible link between the Oxford/AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine and rare blood clotting issues in adults.

Coronavirus • 07 Apr 21

Charles Michel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ursula von der Leyen in Ankara yesterday

Von der Leyen snubbed at EU-Erdogan talks

A diplomatic faux pas that left European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen without a chair as male counterparts took their seats at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stirred controversy in Brussels.

World • 07 Apr 21

China insists the camps are training centres

EU agrees on China sanctions over Uighur crackdown

EU member states have agreed to impose sanctions on four Chinese officials and one state-owned entity over Beijing's crackdown on the Uighur minority, European diplomats have said.

World • 17 Mar 21

Ursula von der Leyen described the pandemic as the 'crisis of the century'

EU chief threatens tougher vaccine export curbs

The European Commission has warned that it could restrict exports of Covid vaccines outside the EU if there is no reciprocal openness by other vaccine-producing countries when making vaccines available for Europeans.

Coronavirus • 17 Mar 21