The European Union (EU) has approved a trade deal with a bloc of South American countries, opening up a big new market for European producers but likely drawing backlash from farmers. The Mercosur trade deal has for years been a contentious flashpoint between efforts to expand the union’s global influence and the powerful farming lobby […]
Continue ReadingThe Government has decided not to back a significant European Union trade deal with a South American bloc in a move that risks damaging relations with Brussels but preserves Coalition stability. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the decision, which came after speculation that the Coalition could change course and back the Mercosur agreement, was due to […]
Continue ReadingThe British government may be saying as little as possible to upset Donald Trump but it is still frantically reassessing the UK’s place in the world, with implications for Ireland, North and South. Much of this has manifested itself as a fresh debate over Brexit, directly and indirectly connected to defence. The UK wants to […]
Continue ReadingEuropean leaders are pushing for “legally binding” assurances that western allies would jointly guarantee Ukraine’s security from a future Russia attack, as a core element of any peace deal to end the brutal conflict. A Paris summit of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, attended by the leaders of Europe’s major powers, plus US officials, […]
Continue ReadingIrish doctor Lorraine Nolan has taken over as head of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), the Lisbon-based organisation that provides independent research and analysis on all aspects of drug use. Elected to the position last June, Dr Nolan succeeds Belgium’s Alex Goosdeel, who led the organisation for a decade. She is the organisation’s fourth […]
Continue ReadingChina is keen on expanding economic and trade co-operation with Ireland while aiming for mutually beneficial results, Chinese president Xi Jinping has told the Taoiseach in Beijing. The Chinese leader positioned stronger bilateral ties between Dublin and Beijing as a way to also boost relations with the European Union. Mr Xi emphasised mutual respect and […]
Continue ReadingIreland’s upcoming presidency of the council of the European Union will cost the State over €293 million, with €125 million being allocated to An Garda Síochána alone. Ireland will hold the EU presidency from July until December 2026, and for six months will have an opportunity to lead the policy agenda of the EU. Over […]
Continue ReadingItalian prosecutors said on Saturday they had arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through charities based in Italy, in an operation coordinated by anti-mafia and anti-terrorism units. The suspects are accused of “belonging to and having financed” the Palestinian group, which the European Union designates as a terrorist organisation, prosecutors in the northern […]
Continue ReadingClothes destined for Europe could soon require digital passports to prove their green credentials, opening a new era of transparency for the world’s $1.7 trillion fashion industry. Consumers will be able to scan QR codes or electronic tags to see the garments’ digital product passports (DPPs) and check if a fashion brand’s green claims are […]
Continue ReadingPresident Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine told reporters on Tuesday that he was ready to pull his troops back from areas of the eastern Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control and turn them into a demilitarised zone as part of a possible peace deal with Moscow. The offer was the closest Zelenskiy has come to addressing […]
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