Kevin Barrett to be appointed ‘chef de cabinet’ for EU commissioner Michael McGrath
Position is a commissioner’s point person on high-level policy debates within European Commission
European Commission
Read the latest news, analysis, and features on the European Commission, one of the key institutions of the European Union
No free lunch for Burnham if he is at the table for UK-EU reset talks
Europe letter: Starmer’s departure offers UK government a chance to ‘reset the reset’ in autumn EU deal
Road deaths are not inevitable. Stop referring to them as ‘accidents’
We should be furious that road safety campaigns focus on high-vis clothing while our streets become increasingly dangerous
‘Thank you, dear Keir’: European leaders pay tribute to Starmer as EU-UK summit postponed
Outgoing British PM helped boost security for Continent, says Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission approves €15m aid for Irish fishing and aquaculture companies
Scheme is aimed at counteracting increased fuel prices against backdrop of conflict in Middle East
How will Ireland try to make its mark during its stint with the EU presidency?
Irish Ministers and diplomats will chair EU-level discussions and broker compromises between the other 26 countries from July 1st until the end of this year
EU’s failure to act on Israel undermines its credibility, Taoiseach says in Brussels
European Commission expected to bring forward options on restricting trade with illegal West Bank settlements
Social media ban for under-16s fails to address tech companies’ responsibility
A blanket ban could lead young people into greater danger on less regulated or entirely unregulated sites
Taliban’s growing partnership with Russia could have significant consequences
Russia has signed a military agreement with Afghanistan that could allow Moscow to extend its influence and shape regional security
Anthropic scrambles after Trump administration freezes its top AI models
Export controls on Fable and Mythos raise doubts over how US will police the most powerful AI systems
Where do parties stand on Aughinish Alumina and links to Russian military supply chain?
Three months on from revelations and there is no clear response to deeply uncomfortable situation around Co Limerick plant
Aughinish Alumina complained to EU about ‘lack of access to public funds’
Co Limerick plant told European Commission officials last year half of its alumina was exported to Russia, minutes show
Six-day week the new normal for Irish officials in Brussels as EU presidency looms
Ireland prepares to steer EU’s unwieldy machinery through turbulent geopolitics
Green motives are great, but climate agenda must also appeal to broader constituency
‘Utility-based mentality’ can get previously reluctant industries on board, says Elina Bardram
EU plans to ban Russian soldiers from bloc in fresh sanctions on Moscow
Banks, crypto firms and Kremlin oil reserves also targeted in 21st set of measures since full-scale invasion of Ukraine
EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI agents
Emergency action aimed at protecting competition in rapidly expanding market for autonomous agents
Russia sanctions having an impact, top Irish diplomat says amid Aughinish Alumina pressure
Estonian foreign minister has called for a ban on alumina exports, like those from Limerick, to be included in next round of EU sanctions
Ukrainian foreign minister calls for swift conclusion to Irish Aughinish Alumina investigation
Kaja Kallas visits Dublin on Tuesday for talks in advance of Ireland’s EU presidency
Simon Harris insists investment savings plan is aimed at ‘middle Ireland’
Minister for Finance reiterates he will cut taxes in budget
Ireland’s range anxiety: Denmark has a similar population, look at the amount of EV chargers there
Average build time for an EV charging point on an Irish site ‘is typically taking between two and three years’, says Tesla
Balkans summit: EU must pick up pace of enlargement negotiations, says von der Leyen
French and German governments pitch idea for gradual integration of candidate countries into EU decision-making process
Wilful ignorance is not an acceptable dodge when it comes to Aughinish Alumina
Irish neutrality is rightly questioned when governments do utmost to prevent ban on alumina exports to Russia
An Post chief joins call for EU to delay €3 customs charge for small parcels
Some 19 postal operators call for six-month delay in July 1st introduction of new customs charge
Europe is finally flexing its innovation muscles
The new EU tech sovereignty package shows a welcome shift from defensive regulation
EU is taking Ireland to court over failure to stop illegal peat extraction
Clear evidence of illegality is not being acted on, says Brussels
Trump’s unlikely tariff lever: a 1930s law on forced labour
Fresh US tariffs based on American law aimed at combatting forced labour
European Union and China tooling up for trade war that could hurt both
Global Briefing: It may prove difficult for the EU to reconcile the enthusiasm of member states led by France with the reticence of Germany and Spain
Meta scores a rare win on EU regulation
EU’s general court rules Facebook Marketplace should not be regulated under bloc’s Digital Markets Act
Ireland’s reliance on US multinational tax take ‘poses risks’, European Commission warns
Corporate tax receipts from US companies well in excess of what could be explained by their domestic economic activity in Republic
Government ‘made aware’ of errors in Aughinish Alumina export data
CSO figure showing 83% of Limerick-based operation’s exports go to Russia ‘not accurate’, says Minister
Brian Hayes: Banks need smarter regulation to boost Europe’s competitiveness
European and Irish banks today are fundamentally different institutions from those that existed before the financial crisis
EU’s six big economies seek move on capital market union despite Irish worries
Ireland and Luxembourg fear negative impact on domestic financial sectors
EU agrees plan to unblock €16bn in frozen funds to Hungary
New Hungarian government commits to rush through structural and anti-corruption reforms before end of August
Nato vows to defend ‘every inch’ of its territory as Russian drone strikes in Romania
Russia’s ‘reckless behaviour is a danger to us all’, says Nato secretary general Mark Rutte
EU sanctions on Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina would be ‘self-defeating, says Taoiseach
Micheál Martin denies Government had been threatened not to impose sanctions on company or that it had lobbied EU
Higgins won’t attend Ireland v Israel and says claim sport and politics do not mix is ‘spurious’
Former president praised Ireland’s Séamus Coleman for his remarks about it during the week
EU fines China’s Temu €200m for failing to prevent sale of illegal goods
Online retailer becomes second company to be punished under EU’s Digital Services Act after Elon Musk’s X
ECB summons banks to urge them to fix flaws exposed by latest AI models
Supervisor to stress seriousness of risks to financial system at hastily arranged meeting
Volodymyr Zelenskiy says proposal of associate EU membership for Ukraine is ‘unfair’
Germany’s Friedrich Merz suggested interim step of associate membership without voting rights
Fertiliser prices in Ireland spiked by 15.3% towards end of last year
Irish farmers hit with price rise double the EU average as European Commission proposes package of measures to ensure supplies
Ireland’s population grew by 1.6% last year, EU figures show
Ireland is one of only seven EU countries where birth rate continues to exceed death rate
UK’s ‘generational ban’ on tobacco will give Dublin a headache
Effect will be to raise the current age limit of 18 by one year every year, until smoking dies out with the last of its adherents
Public to be asked for input as first Nature Restoration Plan takes shape
New round of public consultation starts soon as pressure grows to save nature from its monumental struggle
Ministers bringing it all back home with EU meetings
A number of Ministers are seeking to host European presidency gatherings in their local constituencies
Irish diplomats warned over tobacco lobbyists; AI in primary schools
Early Edition with Andrew McNair
Irish diplomats were warned about ‘approaches’ from Big Tobacco
Warning issued by senior Irish official to more than 280 diplomatic staff in Brussels
EU will prevent sale of goods for use in Russia’s military, says bloc’s sanctions official
Group of MEPs demand EU stop export of aluminium products to Russian defence industry
Russia and China may exploit Iran fallout to increase global leverage, EU ministers are warned
Officials advised developing world could face ‘significant food shortages and price increases’ before year’s end
EU plans to force companies to buy parts from non-Chinese suppliers
Proposed rules seek to target chemicals and industrial machinery makers
Two in five of us had problems with holiday car-hire last year, says watchdog
Consumers urged to check reviews, read rental agreements and shop around for the right service
Snapchat: ‘I’ve seen so much stuff. I would block them after but the damage was done’
Snapchat remains a firm favourite among Irish youngsters but has been the subject of numerous controversies, mostly linked to user privacy, child safety and moderation
Is Michael McGrath the EU’s Big Tech whisperer?
The EU’s justice commissioner has spent more time meeting US tech giants than tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen has
Mayo firm must repay €100,000 after over-claiming EU grant funding
Coastal Zone Services Ltd received €549,959 in funding through grants from funding body for scientific research and innovation in the bloc
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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