Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union activated the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time, providing millions of forcibly displaced Ukrainians with immediate access to residence, work, education, and essential services across EU Member States. With the Directive set to expire in March 2028, discussions are emerging over whether…
With record temperatures across Europe in recent weeks, and hotter summers yet to come, the urgent need for government action on climate change has become even clearer. This Just the Facts provides an overview of key EU measures both to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects, the unequal risks of excessive heat, and where Ireland and its Presidency programme stand on climate action. Introduction June 2026 will…
On 10 June, the Irish government launched the programme and priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will begin on 1 July and end on 31 December 2026. The programme is entitled “Ní neart go cur le chéile – Strength with unity”. The priorities are centred around three distinct pillars: competitiveness,…
The Single Market is the EU’s most powerful economic asset – yet barriers to cross-border trade, services and innovation remain. Divergent national regulations and slow implementation of legislation can impact both businesses and consumers. The One Europe, One Market Roadmap, signed by the EU institutions in April 2026, sets out a programme of legislative and policy measures to address these gaps by the end of 2027. However, responses to the One Europe, One Market Roadmap have exposed some tensions between the…
“The language of Europe is translation” – Umberto Eco Multilingualism is a founding principle of the EU, reflecting its cultural and linguistic diversity. Under this policy, the EU aims to ensure that all citizens have access to EU information in their own languages, thus enabling engagement and promoting transparency and equality between Member States. Currently, the EU has 24 official languages, with Irish…
Household savings across the EU are estimated at €10 trillion – at a time when Europe requires significant investments to meet global challenges. The European Commission’s proposed Savings and Investment Union (SIU) seeks to expand investment opportunities for citizens while strengthening access to finance for European businesses. This Just the Facts outlines the key features…
Key takeaways Number of voters on voter list: 8.2 million Voter turnout: a record level of over 77% (up from 63% in 2022) Péter Magyar’s centre-right, pro-European Tisza party won 54% of the vote – significantly ahead of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party at 37%. With this, Tisza has secured a supermajority of two-thirds, which is sufficient to reform key laws…
March 2026 saw elections held in two EU member states: Slovenia and Denmark. In Slovenia, the incumbent centre-left Freedom Movement led by Prime Minister Robert Golob secured a narrow margin over the right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party under Janez Janša. Meanwhile, in Denmark, the incumbent Social Democratic government under Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suffered its worst…
After 25 years of negotiation, the long-awaited EU- Mercosur trade deal looks to be on the brink of enactment. The deal brings together two of the largest trading blocs in the world and creates a free trade area of over 700 million people, covering more than 20% of global GDP. In this Just the Facts…
“Europe always begins at ground level in our regions” – Roberta Metsola, address to the European Committee of the Regions, October 2025 EU cohesion policy aims to reduce regional disparities and promote development across the Union. Through instruments such as the European Regional Development Fund and the Just Transition Fund, it supports areas including infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, social policy and civil society. In July 2025, the European Commission proposed reforms to cohesion funding under the EU’s next long-term budget by merging several instruments, delivered through National…