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                                                                       EU NEWS YOU CAN USE
European Commission in Ireland

  Top News

  European Commission’s Winter 2021 Economic
  Forecast: Ireland's GDP growth is projected at
  3.4% in 2021
  Ireland's overall GDP growth is projected at 3.4% in 2021 and
  in 2022, growth is projected to reach 3.5% on the back of
  strong private consumption, exports, and a recovery in
  investment, according to the European Commission’s Winter
  2021 Economic Forecast released this week. The analysis
  points out that the government extended income subsidy
  schemes until end-March will continue cushioning the
  economic impact of the pandemic. Limited possibilities to
  spend, combined with income support imply that household
  savings will continue to accumulate at a historically brisk
  pace, which should boost consumption once restrictions are
  lifted.
  Read more...

  President von der Leyen addresses European
  Parliament on the EU Vaccines Strategy
  In a speech to the European Parliament this week on the
  state of play of the EU's COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy,
  President von der Leyen said: "A total of 26 million doses of
  vaccine have been delivered in Europe since December. Over
  17 million people have been vaccinated. And we will work as
  hard as we possibly can to meet our big target, which is to
  vaccinate 70% of the adult population of Europe by the end
  of the summer. Nevertheless, the fact is that today we are not
  where we want to be in combating the virus. We were late in
  granting authorisation. We were too optimistic about mass
  production. And maybe we also took for granted that the
  doses ordered would actually arrive on time. We must ask
  ourselves why, and what lessons we can draw from it."
  Read more...

  European Parliament approves Recovery and Resilience Facility
  The European Commission has welcomed this week's approval by the European Parliament of the Recovery
  and Resilience Facility (RRF) Regulation. This paves the way for the RRF to come into force in the second
  half of February. Member States will then be able to officially submit their national recovery and resilience
  plans, which will be assessed by the Commission and adopted by the Council. The Recovery and Resilience
  Facility is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU, the EU’s plan for emerging stronger from the coronavirus
  crisis. It will make €672.5 billion in loans and grants available to support reforms and investments in
  Member States.
  Read more...

  Other news

  EU emergency number 112 marks 30th
  anniversary
  This year marks the 30th anniversary of the EU number for

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the EU number for
emergency communications, ‘112'. In 2019, Europeans called
‘112' close to 150 million times, which represents 56% of all
emergency calls. Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the
internal market, said: "All citizens should be aware of the
single EU number and Member States should ensure that the
latest available technology is used to efficiently respond to
callers in distress."
Read more...

New EU analysis reveals divergent population
growth, decline and ageing across Europe
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has
published a new report on the Demographic Landscapes of
EU territories, moving beyond traditional country-level
analysis to explore Europe's demographic change in detail,
right down to individual neighbourhoods. The report finds
that Europe's population is getting older but also, that not all
places are ageing equally. Findings also show that the gap
between regions of population growth and regions of
population decline is set to widen in the coming decades.
Read more...

EU proposes new Agenda for the Mediterranean
The European Commission this week adopted a joint communication proposing an ambitious and
innovative new Agenda for the Mediterranean. The new Agenda includes a dedicated Economic and
Investment Plan to spur the long-term socio-economic recovery in the Southern Neighbourhood. High
Representative Josep Borrell said: "25 years after the Barcelona Declaration and 10 years after the Arab
Spring, challenges in the Mediterranean – many of which resulting from global trends – remain daunting.
To address these challenges, we need to renew our mutual efforts and act closely together as partners, in
the interest of all of us".
Read more...

New EU programme to support vaccination
efforts in Eastern Partnership countries
The European Union in partnership with the World Health
Organization (WHO) has launched a new €40 million
programme to provide critical assistance to ensure safe and
effective vaccination in the six Eastern Partnership countries:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of
Moldova and Ukraine. The programme includes key logistical
support for the vaccine supply chain management, training
of health managers and medical staff, and vaccination data
and safety monitoring, among others.
Read more...

Antitrust: Commission accepts commitments by
Aspen to reduce prices for six off-patent cancer
medicines by 73% addressing excessive pricing
concerns
The European Commission has made commitments offered
by pharmaceutical company Aspen legally binding under EU
antitrust rules. Aspen has to reduce its prices in Europe for
six critical cancer medicines by 73% on average. In addition,
Aspen has to ensure the continued supply of these
off-patent medicines for a significant period. Executive
Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said: “Aspen's
commitments will save European health systems many
dozens of million Euros and will ensure that these crucial
medicines remain available.”
Read more...

State aid: Commission publishes additional State aid guiding template on support to
digitalisation of news media under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
The European Commission has this weekpublished an additional State aid guiding template to assist
Member States in the design of their national recovery and resilience plans in line with EU State aid rules,
with respect to support to the digitalisation of news media.
Read more...

European Union to host Brussels V Conference on Syria
15 March 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the Syrian uprising. The situation in Syria and the region
remains highly critical, with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the deterioration of the
economies across the region over the last year further exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation inside
Syria and the conditions for Syrian refugees and their host communities in neighbouring countries. On 29
and 30 March, the European Commission will host (virtually) the fifth Brussels Conference on “Supporting
the future of Syria and the region”.
Read more...

Virtual visits for schools and universities to the
Committee of the Regions
The European Committee of the Regions – the EU's assembly
of regional and local representatives – is offering school and
university groups virtual information visits. This is an
opportunity to find out more about how the Committee
operates and about the role of the regions in shaping the
content of European Union legislation. To book a virtual visit,
click on the link below.
Read more...

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme: Four Irish projects selected
Four out of forty-three doctoral and post-doctoral projects, selected by the European Commission last
week for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 2020 programme co-funding, are Irish. The four projects are
run by UCD, the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the Royal College of Surgeons and UCC. This puts
Ireland in third place after Spain and France for the number of projects selected under this round. In total,
almost 1,200 excellent scientists from across Europe will be supported to carry out their research in a wide
range of disciplines, from health to computer science, advanced manufacturing, energy, rural development
or prehistory.
Read more...

Non-EU citizens more likely to overburdened by housing costs
Non-EU and other EU citizens living in Ireland are far more likely to be over-burdened by housing costs
than Irish people. This means that they spend over 40% of their disposable income on housing costs. This
is the case for only 3% of national citizens, 3rd lowest in EU. However, it rises to 10% for citizens of other
EU countries and 17% for non-EU citizens living in Ireland. On average across the EU in 2019, 9% of
national citizens spent over 40% of their disposable income on housing costs, compared with 19% for
citizens from other EU countries and 25% for non-EU citizens.
Read more...

Disabled people in Ireland at higher risk of poverty
About 38% of Irish people with a disability (aged 16 or over) were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in
2019, fifth highest share in Europe, according to new Eurostat figures. The at risk of poverty and social
exclusion rate for Irish people with no disability was about 16%. On average across the EU, 28.4% of people
with a disability were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared with 18.4% of those with no activity
limitation. In all EU countries, people with a disability were at greater risk of poverty or social exclusion
with Denmark and Slovakia having the lowest differences.
Read more...

Agenda

Friday 12 February: Online workshop for translators – translation tools and machine
translation
On Friday 12 February, the European Commission, Dublin City University (DCU) and the ADAPT Centre for
Digital Media Technology will hold a special online workshop for Irish language translators.
Representatives from DCU and from ADAPT will speak about the courses available at the university and the
projects currently underway. A European Commission translator will run the practical part of the event
through Irish and will speak about the ways in which European Commission translators use translation
tools and machine translation.
Read more...

Monday 15 February: Video conference of the Eurogroup
On the agenda: macroeconomic developments and policy prospects in the euro area; the international role
of the euro; and, solvency of the corporate sector – state of play.
Read more...

Tuesday 16 February: Informal video conference of Economic and Finance ministers
Ministers will have an exchange of views on the current economic situation and outlook based on the
European Commission's winter forecast. The presidency will provide an overview of the state of play
regarding the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ministers will exchange views on the priorities of national
recovery and resilience plans. The Commission will brief the ministers on the issuance of SURE bonds in
2020 and lessons learnt. SURE is the European instrument for temporary support to mitigate
unemployment risks in an emergency, launched as part of the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more, click on the link below.
Read more...

Wednesday 17 February: EMI event - An Electric
Future for Ireland and Europe - In Conversation
with ESB CEO, Pat O'Doherty
On Wednesday morning 17 February, European Movement
Ireland will host an online event: "An Electric Future for
Ireland and Europe - In Conversation with ESB CEO Pat
O‘Doherty". This event will look at the electric future for
Ireland and Europe including electricity’s innovative role in
facilitating a green recovery and meeting the climate
commitments of the EU’s Green Deal. Pat O’Doherty is the
Chief Executive of ESB, Ireland’s leading energy company
which has operations spanning electricity generation,
transmission and distribution and supply. He has recently
been appointed as President of Eurelectric, the federation for
the European electricity industry.
Read more...

Thursday 18 February: IUA Future of Ireland
Webinar: Ireland in a changing Europe with
Commissioner Mairead McGuinness
On Thursday 18 February at 12 noon, Commissioner for
Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets
Union, Mairead McGuinness will deliver the keynote address
at an IUA (Irish Universities Association) webinar on the
Future of Ireland. Commissioner McGuinness will address the
topic "Ireland in a Changing Europe". The Commissioner will
be joined for a panel discussion by: Mary Harney, former
Tanaiste, Andrew McDowell formerly Vice-President of the
EIB (European Investment Bank), and Aidan Regan of UCD.
Anyone interested in attending this free event should register
in advance at the link below.
Read more...

Friday 19 February: Informal video conference of Ministers for Education
Information on this meeting will be available at the link below.

Read more...

Monday 22 February: Foreign Affairs Council
Information on this meeting will be available at the link below.
Read more...

Monday 22 February: Informal video conference of Agriculture and Fisheries
ministers
Information on this meeting will be available at the link below.
Read more...

Tuesday 23 February: Online discussion - the
EU Vaccines Strategy
The European Commission Representation in Ireland, in
co-operation with European Movement Ireland, is hosting an
online event on 'The EU Vaccines Strategy’ on Tuesday
morning, 23 February. The keynote speaker at the event will
be John Ryan, Director for Public Health in the Commission’s
Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety. The event
will be moderated by Andy Klom, Acting Head of the
Commission Representation in Ireland. To attend this free
event, register in advance at the link below.
Read more...

Tuesday 23 February: General Affairs Council
Information on this meeting will be available at the link below.
Read more...

Thursday 25 February: Online workshop - A Celebration of Europe for Citizens,
organised by The Wheel
The Europe for Citizens programme is coming to a close after seven years of funding projects across the
European civil sector. To mark the occasion, The Wheel is holding a special celebratory event online on
Thursday afternoon, 25 February. They will be joined by special guest, Minister of State for European
Affairs Thomas Byrne TD, along with a host of Irish beneficiaries for this special event celebrating the
impact of this programme.
Read more...

Thursday 25 and Friday 26 February: Video conference of the members of the
European Council
On 25 and 26 February, the members of the European Council will meet via video conference to discuss the
current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, preparedness for health threats, security and defence, and
relations with the Southern Neighbourhood. On Covid-19, EU leaders will take stock of the epidemiological
situation. They will continue working to coordinate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing in
particular on the production and rollout of vaccines and the movement of persons.
Read more...

Public consultations

Fighting child sexual abuse: detection, removal and reporting of illegal content
online
The European Commission published in July 2020 the EU Strategy for a more effective fight against child
sexual abuse. The Strategy sets out a comprehensive response to the growing threat of child sexual abuse
both offline and online, by improving prevention, investigation, and assistance to victims. The purpose of
the present open public consultation is to gather the necessary evidence from citizens and stakeholders to
inform the preparation of EU legislation to tackle child sexual abuse online. It is open until 15 April 2021.
Read more...

VAT rules for financial and insurance services
 The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather views on the current VAT rules
 for financial and insurance services, and to seek ideas on possible improvements. The public consultation
 will run until 3 May 2021. Contributions will feed into the review of the relevant provisions of the VAT
 Directive and to a future legislative proposal.
 Read more...

 Environmental crime
 The European Commission has launched a public consultation on environmental crime. A recent evaluation
 of the Environmental Crime Directive, which aims to protect the environment through criminal law,
 appropriate sanctioning and cross-border cooperation, found that it did not meet its objectives. The
 results of this public consultation will feed into the review of the EU rules on environmental crime. The
 consultation is open until 4 May 2021.
 Read more...

 Combating gender-based violence – protecting victims and punishing offenders
 The European Commission has launched a consultation to gather the views of the public on the measures
 taken by the EU Member States to address gender-based violence against women and domestic violence.
 The purpose of the consultation is to inform the Commission’s work on further measures for improved,
 coordinated prevention of and protection against this kind of violence. It is open until 10 May 2021.
 Read more...

 Competitions

 2021 REGIOSTARS Awards competition
 launched
 The European Commission has launched the 14th edition of
 the flagship REGIOSTARS awards competition that rewards
 the best projects financed under Cohesion policy.
 Beneficiaries of all Cohesion policy-funded projects are
 encouraged to submit their application on five thematic
 categories: ‘Smart Europe: increasing the competitiveness of
 local businesses in a digital world'; ‘Green Europe: green and
 resilient communities in rural and urban settings'; ‘Fair
 Europe: fostering inclusion and anti-discrimination'; ‘Urban
 Europe: promoting green, sustainable circular food systems
 in functional urban areas'; ‘Topic of the year: enhancing
 green mobility in the regions in the European Year of Rail
 2021'. The competition will be open until 9 May 2021.
 Read more...

This is the Newsletter of the Representation of the European Commission in Ireland.
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