During a turbulent year that has tested solidarity among EU Member States, the State of the Union address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament will be watched keenly by citizens across Europe and further afield. This Just the Facts examines the importance of this annual event in the EU’s…
With anti-LGBTI+ laws and rhetoric coming to the fore in some EU Member States, it is clear that LGBTI+ rights remain deeply divergent across the EU. In this Just the Facts, we examine the chequered legal landscape for LGBTI+ people across the EU. Introduction: What protections exist under EU law? Article 21 of the EU…
Pharmaceuticals, a high-tech industry reflecting the new modern Ireland, and fisheries, an important traditional industry – while these industries lie at opposite ends of the economic scale, both will be greatly impacted by the outcome of Brexit negotiations. In this Just the Facts we explore how the two industries are now preparing for all outcomes.…
As part of our ongoing Just the Facts publications in relation to the nomination and appointment of officials to the EU institutions, such as one here on the College of Commissioners, in this Just the Facts we look at the appointment of European Commissioners and the steps involved in appointing a new European Commissioner. Introduction:…
COVID-19 has had an unparalleled impact on the way in which we work, a survey by Eurofound – a European Union agency focused on research and information and based in Ireland – found that 43% of Irish people began telecommuting during the COVID-19 pandemic. At EM Ireland, our working environment has changed considerably since the…
While we were unable to meet in person over the last few months, we at European Movement Ireland have held and taken part in a number of webinars on various aspects of the EU. Here in this EMI Blog, we’ll be taking a look at three of those events and exploring some of the common…
EU leaders have had much to contend with in 2020 – coordinating efforts to deal with the economic fallout of a global pandemic and tackling democratic backsliding in EU countries, with a backdrop of a retreating US from the global stage and complicated relations with Russia and other states. Amidst this, it may seem that…
Introduction With the approval of the Programme for Government (PfG) by Fianná Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party, the three parties now enter a coalition government, over 20 weeks after the general election on 8 February 2020. Since then, the EU has come under pressure with regard to its response to Covid-19, the stalling of…
Introduction With Portuguese Minister of Finance Mário Centeno announcing in June 2020 that he will not seek a second terms as president of the Eurogroup, the 19 finance ministers of the EU’s single currency began searching for his replacement. What does the role of President of the Eurogroup involve and who are the three candidates…
Introduction: Overhauled by Covid-19 Back in February 2020, the EU was unable to reach agreement on the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The key issues that shaped the debate then were the loss of the UK’s contribution to the MFF of around €75 billion, climate change and migration. Now, following an unprecedented period of…