Category Archives: Just The Facts

European Council Summit 14-15 December 2017

On Thursday 14 December, the European Council met in Brussels to discuss security and defence, social issues, education and culture, along with climate change and Jerusalem.  On Friday 15 December, leaders met in an EU27 format to review the Article 50 negotiations, as well as to hold a Euro Summit.  Security and Defence  The European Council Summit was opened with the launching of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) by the 25 participating EU leaders.  The main aim of PESCO is that participating “EU Member States work more closely…

Being in the EU is in Ireland’s national interest

On 10 May 1972, ‘What do I do’ by Sandie, Joe and the Dixies was top of the Irish charts, the day the public voted on whether Ireland should join the European Economic Communities (EEC).  Across the country, 70.9% of the electorate cast their ballot which, to this day, remains the highest percentage turnout for any Irish referendum. By a resounding  83% , Irish people answered ‘Yes to Europe’.  There and then, it was clear what Ireland should do.  …

EU and UK Documents and Position Papers on Brexit

Ahead of the third round of Brexit negotiations next week, EM Ireland has sought to provide a comprehensive list of the EU and UK documents and position papers, as well as Irish government documents, which have been released to date.  Introduction  On 29 March 2017, the UK invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, formally beginning the process of its withdrawal…

Just The Facts: Abolition of roaming charges in the EU, June 2017

On Thursday 15 June, a new EU Regulation relating to roaming charges for mobile phone users within the European Union (EU) and the wider European Economic Area (EEA) came into effect which largely abolishes roaming charges.  This follows a number of previous EU Regulations aimed at reducing roaming charges.  The new ‘roam like at home’…

Just the Facts: UK General Election, June 2017

A parliamentary election took place in the United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday, 8 June 2017.  The Conservative Party had held a majority since the previous election in May 2015.  Conservative Party leader, Theresa May, served as Prime Minister since July 2016 following the resignation of former Prime Minister David Cameron after the UK’s vote to…

French Presidential Elections 2017

Presidential elections took place in France over the course of two rounds in as many weeks, with the first round of voting taking place on Sunday, 23 April 2017.  Outgoing President, François Hollande, had held the Presidency since May 2012, but chose not to stand for re-election.  Voters went to the polls once again in the run-off on Sunday, 7 May,…

Just the Facts: Special European Council on Article 50 Negotiations, 29 April 2017

On Saturday 29 April 2017, the EU27 leaders met in Brussels for a Special European Council where they adopted guidelines for the Article 50 negotiations on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.  The guidelines outline the framework for the negotiations, setting out the broad EU principles for the talks, which will be conducted…

Just The Facts: The Rome Declaration

On Saturday 25 March 2017, the leaders of 27 EU Member States met in Rome, Italy, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.  At the ceremony, EU leaders adopted the Rome Declaration on the future of Europe in which they pledged to make the EU “stronger and more resilient, through even greater…

60 years on from the Treaty of Rome

60 years ago this Saturday, the leaders of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, West Germany, the Netherlands and Italy gathered in the Palazzo dei Conservatori to sign the Treaty of Rome; it was the Treaty which created the European Economic Community (EEC), which itself paved the way for the European Union (EU).  As they sat in this grandest of locations, surrounded by 16th century frescoes atop the…

Brexit – ‘All EU need to know’: Article 50 explained

What is Article 50? Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (EU) gives any EU Member State the right to leave the Union. Simply put, triggering Article 50 is the EU’s equivalent of starting divorce proceedings. It’s a little like the leader of a country saying that it no longer sees a future together…