Podcasts about eu commissioners

A new era of defence readiness.James Copnall, presenter of the BBC's Newsday speaks to Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, about the need for Europe to be able to defend itself.In an interview recorded before the Nato summit on 24/25 June 2025, Mr Kubilius, a former Prime Minister of Lithuania, says peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted and that Europe can no longer rely on American military backing. Therefore, defence readiness must be a priority, meaning increased spending commitments from Nato members, and a unified, quick and clear approach across Europe to building defence capabilities. This, he believes, is the only way to deter the threat of further Russian aggression.But some Nato member states may struggle to meet the proposed increased spending target of 3.5% of GDP on defence. A few still haven't met the current goal of 2%, set more than a decade ago. However, other European nations are already boosting spending to 5% including countries living in close proximity to Russia, such as Poland, Estonia and Lithuania. Overall, Europe still only accounts for 30% of Nato's total military spending, a figure that has prompted US President Trump to demand a much greater contribution from European members.Thank you to the Newsday team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: James Copnall Producers: Lucy Sheppard, Ben Cooper and Owen Clegg Editor: Nick HollandGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Andrius Kubilius. Credit: John Thys/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

What will it take to finally wean Europe off Russian gas? Can renewables help with grid stability? And is the EU making a mistake subsidising hydrogen? This week on Cleaning Up, Michael Liebreich sits down with EU Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen to dissect the continent's energy transformation. In this wide ranging interview recorded at the Berlaymont building in Brussels — the home of the European Commission — Liebreich and Jørgensen delve into critical topics including reducing dependency on Russian energy, the economics of renewable technologies, the role of nuclear power, and the contentious economics of green hydrogen. Jørgensen defends the EU's ambitious climate goals while addressing concerns about cost, competitiveness, and political pushback against the green transition. Leadership Circle:Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live. Discover more:Sierra Leone special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-5QjSfy2SMDecarbonizing the last few percent: https://mliebreich.substack.com/p/decarbonizing-the-last-few-percentLessons from Spain: https://mliebreich.substack.com/p/lessons-from-spainEU Hydrogen Strategy: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/eus-energy-system/hydrogen_en  

Democracy is at the heart of the EU's and Member States' political foundations. Yet in an increasingly volatile global landscape— marked by the rise of authoritarianism, foreign interference, and disinformation— it cannot be taken for granted. The digital public sphere is particularly vulnerable to manipulation: recently, we have seen influencers being paid to promote certain political candidates and AI-generated fake news flooding social media platforms. Beyond external threats, there is a growing sense of disengagement among citizens from democratic participation. How can the EU address these challenges? One of the European Commission's priorities for 2025 is the European Democracy Shield, which is envisaged as a tool to combat digital propaganda, develop media literacy and support free and independent media and civil society. In his address to the IIEA, Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, speaks about the European Commission's plans to protect European democracy, in particular, through the European Democracy Shield.  About the Speaker: Michael McGrath assumed the role of EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection on 1 December 2024, as a member of the European Commission under the leadership of President Ursula von der Leyen. Commissioner McGrath has specific responsibility for upholding the rule of law, protecting democracy and fundamental rights, tackling disinformation, improving criminal justice cooperation and strengthening the rights of victims of crime. His broad portfolio also includes improving EU competitiveness through the reform of company law and civil law. He has responsibility for consumer protection policy and for ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation across the EU. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner McGrath served as Ireland's Minister for Finance from 2022 to 2024, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2020 to 2022, and was an elected member of the Irish Parliament from 2007 to 2024.

The EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef shared with Euronews his concerns about potential budget cuts to Erasmus, following reports that some member states had proposed reductions in the 2025 annual budget.Although the budget was ultimately slightly increased, Micallef acknowledged ongoing discussions about the possible impact of the EU's shifting priorities—particularly toward defence and competitiveness—on future funding for cultural and youth initiatives like Erasmus in the 2028 long-term budget.The commissioner emphasized the EU's commitment to strengthening the Erasmus Plus Programme, highlighting its four-decade legacy of fostering European identity among millions of young people.Radio Schuman also brings you to key debates at the European Parliament as well as the situation of affordable housing in the EU.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalists and production assistants Eleonora Vasques and Lauren Walker, audio editing by David Brodheim. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Union said it would start collecting retaliatory duties on some imported US goods next week, as EU trade ministers agreed they preferred negotiations to remove tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump over retaliation. EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The European Union said it would start collecting retaliatory duties on some imported US goods next week, as EU trade ministers agreed they preferred negotiations to remove tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump over retaliation. EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

Donald Trump last night announced a raft of new tariffs as part of his ‘Liberation Day'. Among those tariffs announced were 10% worldwide tariffs and 20% on the EU. We ask how how will companies change in response to tariffs. All to discus with Founder, Clonakilty Whiskey Michael Scully along with Mairead McGuiness, Fine Gael, former Vice President of the European Parliament and EU Commissioner.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD has today announced the final 10 research teams to receive Grow Phase funding under the National Challenge Fund - a €65 million competitive programme which aims to deliver solutions for major environmental and societal issues. Minister James Lawless said: "I am delighted to announce the final 10 research teams to become finalists as part of the National Challenge Fund - a competition-based funding programme. These teams are working on innovative, solution-focused projects that will have a real and positive impact across society, the economy, and the environment. They are exemplars of the positive impact research and innovation funding can deliver. I look forward to seeing these research teams progress their projects over the next year as they continue to support Ireland's digital transformation and green transition." €6 million funding for National Challenge Fund The National Challenge Fund, a programme funded by the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, has supported 96 teams to identify problems related to Ireland's Green Transition and Digital Transformation and collaborate directly with those stakeholders most affected by them to create real and tangible solutions. Today's announcement sees 10 teams become finalists in this competitive funding model. The teams selected today will have the opportunity for additional funding in the final phase of the programme, where prize funding of €2 million will be on offer to the most competitive teams under each Challenge. Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO, Research Ireland, said: "This announcement marks a key milestone for the National Challenge Fund as the final 10 research teams receive Grow Phase funding becoming finalists in this fast-passed funding programme. I wish all the finalist teams success as they continue to work towards delivering their ambitious solutions to key national challenges." EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, said: "I am delighted to see such innovative examples of the potential that EU funding can bring as the last cohort of National Challenge Fund teams progress to the finalist stage of this funding programme. These teams' work will help address some of the most pressing challenges for society and help ensure a just transition for all as Ireland and the European Union continue our journey to a carbon neutral future. I look forward to following their progress in the next phase of funding." The teams receiving funding today are split across two challenge areas. The Sustainable Communities Challenge seeks solutions to ensure a sustainable future for Ireland's urban and rural populations. The finalists in this challenge are researching solutions for key challenges in the areas of transportation infrastructure maintenance, waste polyester recycling, sustainable construction methods, mitigating bridge failure risk, and empowering communities to adopt more sustainable modes of transport. The Future Food Systems Challenge seeks solutions for sustainable, productive and resilient food systems. The teams in this challenge are researching solutions for key challenges in the areas of sustainable alternative protein sources, disease management in aquaculture, recycling critical raw materials for agrifood systems, mitigating crop losses due to fungal disease, and decision-support systems for food production in greenhouses. Each team is being awarded up to €500,000 funding for the next 12 months. They will spend the next year advancing prototyping activities and demonstrating how the solutions they are developing can create tangible value by addressing the specific societal needs identified and refined in the previous phases of the funding programme. The National Challenge Fund is a €65M research fund established under the Government of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), developed by the Governmen...

In this episode, H.E. Kadri Simson, EU Commissioner for Energy, outlines the European Union's commitment to a fair and green transition in the Arctic. She emphasizes the role of renewable energy in advancing energy independence and economic competitiveness, while reaffirming the EU's dedication to supporting sustainable development in the region, as outlined in the 2021 Arctic Strategy.The following Q&A with the audience is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland.This speech was originally delivered at the 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly. Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

The EU has just launched an ambitious-sounding defence plan, “ReArmEU”, and it is also publishing a landmark white paper on defence. The person at the heart of these initiatives is our guest on the programme; Andrius Kubilius is the EU Commissioner in charge of defence and space. A Lithuanian conservative who was twice prime minister of his country, he started this crucial job – the first time such a portfolio has been created at the Commission – in early December. But questions remain about the financing of ReArmEU – which would cost 800 billion euros – and on how exactly to incentivise the production of military hardware on European soil. 

The IMF is set to sign off on Egypt's fourth review of its USD8 billion loan program when the Fund's Executive Board meets on Monday, March 10. Indian plastic packaging manufacturer Flex PET opened its polyethylene terephthalate resin manufacturing plant with investments of USD175 million.Chinese textile manufacturer Zhejiang Cady Industry inaugurated its new USD100 million textile and ready-made garments factory in the Teda industrial zone in Ain Sokhna. French multinational Air Liquide officially opened its EUR80 million medical and industrial gas production factory in the Sokhna Industrial Zone.CBoard, a member of Saudi construction materials manufacturer conglomerate Beam, inaugurated the expansion of a cement board and wall manufacturing facility. India's Abdos opened its USD30 million cosmetics manufacturing plant. The state is set to spend some EGP170 billion on wage and pension hikes during FY 2025-26, according to a Finance Ministry statement. The net foreign assets of the Egyptian banking sector, including the CBE, rose by USD3.5 billion in January to USD8.7 billion. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered Egypt's growth forecast for 2025 to 4.2%, down 0.3 percentage points from its previous estimates in September.Egypt has no plans to alter its tax regime in the near future, a senior government official said.The Finance Ministry has secured a USD500 million loan from Deutsche Bank and Bank ABC.EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica is in Egypt today for high-level discussions on the New Pact for the Mediterranean and to ink a EUR90 million project, dubbed Egypt Food Resilience, with the government.The Sovereign Fund of Egypt has formed a committee to list all government companies for the purpose of adding them to the fund during the coming period.The government is reportedly considering imposing taxes on Egyptian companies that generate revenues from abroad, while avoiding double taxation.FWRY reported 4Q24 results. Net profit came in at EGP500 million (+119% YoY, +4.7% QoQ). In 2024, net profit recorded EGP1.606 billion (+125% YoY). FWRY is currently trading at 2025f P/E of 13.1x.ETEL's BoD proposed distributing cash dividends of EGP1.50/share (subject to the general assembly's approval), implying a DPO of 25.4% and a DY of 3.9%.GBCO reported attributable net profit recorded EGP1,135 million this quarter (+82.9% YoY, +52.0% QoQ). FY24 bottom line grew by 54.9% YoY to reach EGP2,928 million. GBCO is currently trading at a FY25 P/E of 4.3x.ORWE reported attributable net profit of EGP329 million in 4Q24 (-25.8% YoY, -46.5% QoQ), bringing FY24 bottom line to EGP2,192 million (+130.3% YoY). ORWE's BoD approved cash dividends distribution of EGP1.60/share for FY24, implying a dividend yield of 6.5%. ORWE is currently trading at a FY25 P/E of 4.1x.POUL attributable net profit of EGP584 million in 4Q24, an increase of 24.0x YoY and a drop of 14.3% QoQ. This brought FY24 attributable net profit to EGP2,387 million (+108.0% YoY). POUL is currently trading at FY25 P/E of 4.3x. ESRS repurchased EGP21.6 billion worth of shares from shareholders opposed to the group's voluntary EGX delisting. EMFD reported an increase of 177.5% y/y and 87.5% q/q in 4Q24 net profit to EGP5.1 billion, bringing FY24 net profit up 126.1% y/y to EGP15.4 billion.CICH 4Q24 net attributable profits post minority recorded EGP616.8 million (+79.4% q/q, +109.9% y/y), bringing FY24 bottom line to EGP2.2 billion (+114.6% y/y). CICH BoD proposed a cash dividend distribution of EGP0.70/share for FY24, implying a dividend yield of 11%. CICH is currently trading at P/B25 of 0.7x and P/E25 of 2.8x.

Farmers' protests peaked across Europe around this time last year. Rising production costs, unfair pricing, bureaucracy and foreign competition were among the drivers of the movement. The European Commission responded with a package of measures, and has now unveiled what it calls a "Vision for Agriculture and Food", the proposals coinciding with the annual agriculture show being held in Paris. We explore this strategy with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, as well as the big international trade issues that the farming sector faces at the moment.

As Europe moves towards a fair energy transition, ensuring access to affordable, sustainable housing has never been more urgent. With the first-ever EU Commissioner for Housing, a dedicated Task Force within the European Commission, and the upcoming Affordable Housing Plan, housing policy is taking centre stage in Brussels.In our first episode for 2025, we're returning to a crucial question straight from the European Parliament: how can we achieve a fair energy transition while ensuring access to affordable, sustainable housing?This episode explores the intersection of housing and climate policies, examining how initiatives like Fit for 55 and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive impact low-income households. Our guests, MEP Brigitte van der Berg, a leading voice in the European Parliament's Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, and Julien Dijol, Policy Director at Housing Europe, share insights on the financial and regulatory solutions needed to scale up sustainable housing across Europe.As the voice of over 43,000 public, cooperative, and social housing providers in 31 countries, Housing Europe highlights the role of social and cooperative housing as a driver of innovation. One key example is syn.ikia, an EU-funded project developing plus-energy neighbourhoods—communities that generate more renewable energy than they consume.Enjoy listening!The syn.ikia project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 869918.

On this week's tillage podcast we report from the Teagasc National Tillage Conference and chat to Steven Kildea on pesticide reductions. We hear from the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food and Ciarán Collins chats through spring varieties and diesel use.We have all the latest tillage news, the grain trends and weather reports.The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christophe Hansen is the new EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food.

For our first Talking Europe interview with the new crop of EU Commissioners, we host Hadja Lahbib, who is in charge of preparedness and crisis management, as well as equality. Lahbib, a former foreign minister of Belgium, talks about the challenges of her extremely broad portfolio, covering Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan. A common thread is the difficulties faced by women and girls in crisis situations around the world – something that links up with Lahbib's efforts to promote gender balance and women's rights in the EU itself.

A former EU Commissioner wants to tell an American citizen, Elon Musk, what he can and cannot do with his own American company when it comes to free speech right after telling Germans that they might have to get their election annulled like the Romanians if they don't vote how he wants them to - look at all this 'democracy.' Plus, Sam Harris tries to resurrect the conspiracy theory that Trump was never shot. And finally, illegals are protesting in California in support of suspected drug and human traffickers.Guests:Mike Benz | Executive Director, Foundation for Freedom OnlineTom Jordan | Radio Host, Tom Jordan LiveBrandon Morse | Senior Editor, RedState & Host, 'Brandon Morse Is a Brand Risk'Mike Puglise | Former Law Enforcement Officer & Founder, Puglise Law Firm

Ben Gardner-Gill sits down with Lithuanian political scientist Andžej Pukšto to talk about the results of the 2024 European elections, with a focus on two Baltic members of the European Commission: Kaja Kallas of Estonia and Andrius Kubilius of Lithuania. Both former prime ministers, Kallas and Kubilius have unique challenges ahead of them as Russia's war in Ukraine continues. Kallas will lead EU foreign policy, and Kubilius will be the first-ever EU Commissioner for Defense and Space. Pukšto shines a light on what they'll prioritize, what advantages they have entering their new jobs, and how they might overcome the roadblocks ahead.Baltic Ways is brought to you by the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS), produced in partnership with the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of AABS or FPRI.

Ben Gardner-Gill sits down with Lithuanian political scientist Andžej Pukšto to talk about the results of the 2024 European elections, with a focus on two Baltic members of the European Commission: Kaja Kallas of Estonia and Andrius Kubilius of Lithuania. Both former prime ministers, Kallas and Kubilius have unique challenges ahead of them as Russia's war in Ukraine continues. Kallas will lead EU foreign policy, and Kubilius will be the first-ever EU Commissioner for Defense and Space. Pukšto shines a light on what they'll prioritize, what advantages they have entering their new jobs, and how they might overcome the roadblocks ahead. Baltic Ways is brought to you by the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS), produced in partnership with the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of AABS or FPRI. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpribalticinitiative.substack.com

Social media platforms play an increasingly important role in election campaigns, as the first round of the Romanian presidential election – in which a NATO-sceptic populist came out on top – amply demonstrates. Our guest is Mariya Gabriel, a former EU Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Innovation, who is well placed to discuss social media and disinformation, particularly in the context of southeastern Europe. We also talk to her about the new EU Commission's announcement of a "Competitiveness Compass" initiative, and the rolling political crisis in Gabriel's home country, Bulgaria.

The EU believes it has an offer than can effectively counter China worldwide – its Global Gateway Investment Strategy. Jutta Urpilainen, the outgoing European Commissioner for International Partnerships, is adamant that this strategy offers long-term human development and avoids the debt traps that Chinese investment in Africa has come with. "We don't want to create new dependencies," she tells Talking Europe. We discuss the impact that Global Gateway has had since its inception in 2021, as well as the EU's apparent shift in focus towards migration and border security, and what that means for its international partnerships.

ESB has opened its latest major battery plant at its Aghada site in Co Cork, which will add 150MW (300MWh) of fast-acting energy storage to help provide grid stability and deliver more renewable power to Ireland's electricity system. This battery energy storage system (BESS) project is the latest in ESB's pipeline of projects delivered at sites in Dublin and Cork, which are part of its investment of up to €300m in the technology. In 2022, ESB launched the first of its BESS sites, the 19MW (38MWh) project - also in Aghada. Earlier in 2024, a new 75MW (150MWh) project was opened at ESB's Poolbeg Energy Hub in Dublin. ESB has partnered with Fluence - a global leader in energy storage products, services and software - as well as Irish company Powercomm Group to deliver this project. EU Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, commented: "I am delighted to be here in Aghada again for the launch of ESB's latest battery storage project. Through the delivery of projects like this, which will facilitate more renewable sources of energy onto the electricity system, it is clear that ESB's relationship with Co Cork will continue into the future. This technology, delivered by ESB and their partners, can play an important role in achieving climate targets both in Ireland and at European level in the pursuit of net zero carbon emissions". Paddy Hayes, ESB Chief Executive, outlined how the project will support ESB's Net Zero by 2040 carbon emissions target: "ESB's Aghada site in Cork has been a key part of the progressive development of the Irish electricity system for over 40 years - and the launch of ESB's largest battery storage project so far is another significant milestone. These batteries support energy security, reduce peak prices and help to maximise the benefit of renewables. This is the latest of ESB's 'Invested in Ireland' projects, with over €300 million recently invested in storage and security, supporting Ireland's National Development and Climate Action plans." These high-capacity batteries can store excess renewable energy for discharge when required, and in doing so, help to support Ireland in reaching its ambitious climate targets by 2030 and ESB in achieving its Net Zero by 2040 strategy.

For all the talk of "Trump-proofing" Europe, much remains to be done, and there are now only a few short months before the former president takes office again, following his dramatic comeback and resounding victory in the US election. We speak to Pierre Moscovici, who was European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs during the first Trump presidency. He identifies three major areas where the EU is likely to face headwinds – Ukraine, trade and climate action. Moscovici is now First President of the Court of Auditors, which is the highest body for auditing the use of public funds in France. In that capacity, he addresses the challenge of reducing France's huge public deficit.

Get ready for a deep dive into the EU's political epicenter! As the proposed European Commissioners head into their parliamentary hearings between November 4-12, co-hosts Arianna Labasin and Federico Terreni take you through what these high-stakes sessions mean. In this episode, they answer burning questions from listeners: What's the process to become a Commissioner? Can we expect shifts on the Green Deal with the European People's Party now in power? And, are these hearings public? With insider details and some sharp critique, we uncover the key steps each nominee must pass, from addressing policy priorities to proving their commitment and integrity. Get your popcorn—there may be drama ahead!

Suzanne Lynch talks to Eamon from Brussels about the rise of right-wing parties across Europe. Also what are the challenges ahead for Michael McGrath as EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law?Suzanne Lynch is Associate Editor at POLITICO. Previously she was the Irish Times correspondent in Washington Brussels.Recorded on Tuesday 1st October 2024. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-stand-with-eamon-dunphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jerry spoke to Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher as the new term of the parliament begins and the appointment of his party colleague Michael McGrath as EU Commissioner with responsibility for democracy, justice and the rule of law.

Few EU presidencies have rocked the bloc as much as the current one, held by Hungary. European leaders, many MEPs, and EU Commissioners, were rattled by what Prime Minister Viktor Orban called his peace mission in July, which included a meeting with President Zelensky of Ukraine – but also with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.  And at the beginning of September, several European governments publicly questioned whether the Hungarian leadership respected European values. Meanwhile, a row continues to brew between Brussels and Budapest over the issue of migrants. We take stock of Hungary's rotating presidency at its half-way point.

The Secret Service, the agency charged with protecting America's political leaders, said that the man suspected of trying to assassinate Donald Trump never had a line of sight into the former president.

A round-up of the main headlines in Sweden on September 17th 2024. You can hear more reports on our homepage www.radiosweden.se, or in the app Sveriges Radio Play Presenter: Dave RussellProducer: Michael Walsh

Now, Former Finance Minister Michael McGrath has been named as the new EU Commissioner for Justice.Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent for Euronews, joins me now with all the details.

Our Europe Editor Tony Connelly reports from Brussels.

Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent, Euro News and John Lichfield, Journalist in France

On today's podcast, Tara and Stephanie talk about Ilhan Omar winning the Minnesota 5th Congressional District primary last night, a California Sheriff speaking out against Kamala's most recent campaign ad for being a deceptive portrayal of law enforcement support for her, and Monday night's livestream on X with Elon Musk and Trump. Your hosts discuss the EU Commissioner posting a threatening open letter to Musk before the event warning him not to violate their misinformation policies, responses to the letter from Musk and Trump's campaign, and a questionable comment from KJP during a White House press conference before the livestream. And surprise, surprise, Kamala's campaign gets caught pulling more shady moves with the MSM. Read the blog and connect with Stephanie and Tara on TikTok, X, Parler, YouTube, Truth Social, Rumble, IG, and Facebook. https://msha.ke/unapologeticallyoutspoken/ Want to support the podcast and join the conversation? Head over to our Etsy store and pick up a cool UP Podcast sticker. https://www.etsy.com/shop/UOPatriotChicks    

//The Wire//2130Z August 13, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: ISRAELI NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER RAIDS AL-AQSA MOSQUE. UNREST CONTINUES IN U.K. AS PROTESTERS BECOME MORE ORGANIZED.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-United Kingdom: General unrest continues as violence cools down in some areas, but intensifies in others. Most demonstrators appear to be reaching a point of regularity, with dozens of different groups protesting for varying causes. Most of the more serious outrage appears to directed towards British political leadership and authorities that continue to persecute those exercising speech.Belgium: The European Union has backtracked on the threatening letter sent to Elon Musk, stating that the letter was sent without authorization and that Thierry Breton (the EU Commissioner who authored the letter) acted alone.Middle East: This morning, Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir personally conducted an unauthorized raid to al Aqsa Mosque, leading a few thousand Israeli settlers to the highly-controversial zone. Israeli settlers raised the Israeli flag inside the courtyard compound, and conducted religious ceremonies. During the operation, Israeli forces reportedly prevented Palestinians from entering the Mosque compound.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: This was not merely a casual visit to the Mosque; thousands of police and military forces surrounded the area to provide security for this operation. As such, this extremely serious provocation breaks decades of protocol and delicately established diplomatic doctrine at a time when the slightest escalation is exceptionally dangerous to the stability of the region.Analyst: S2A1//END REPORT//

The National Challenge Fund is a €65M research fund established under the Government of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O'Donovan TD, has announced the first 9 teams to receive Grow Phase funding under the €65 million National Challenge Fund - a competitive programme aiming to deliver solutions for major environmental and societal issues. Funded by the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Fund calls on researchers to identify problems related to Ireland's Green Transition and Digital Transformation and work directly with those most affected to solve them. Minister O'Donovan said "I am pleased to announce the first cohort of the National Challenge Fund project teams that are now finalists in this competition-based funding programme. This innovative, solutions-focused programme is a key driver in delivering research and innovation that makes a real and positive impact across society, the economy, and the environment - not just here in Ireland, but across Europe and around the world." "I look forward to following the progress these teams of leading researchers make over the next 12 months as they continue to progress their projects that will unlock the transformational potential of digital technologies and support Ireland's commitment to becoming climate neutral. I am working to ensure continuity on funding calls previously run by SFI and IRC over the coming months, as Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland commences its operations." Since its launch, 96 teams have been funded through the National Challenge Fund, and today's announcement sees the first nine teams become finalists in this competitive funding model. The nine teams selected today will have the opportunity for additional funding in the final phase of the programme, where prize funding of €1 million will be on offer to the most competitive teams under both the 2050 and the Future Digital Challenges. Dr Ciarán Seoighe, Acting Director General, SFI, said: "The National Challenge Fund is a fast-paced funding programme that supports research teams to work directly with the key stakeholders most impacted by their research. I am excited to see these nine teams continue to develop their real-world, tangible solutions in concert with the societal impact champions who have helped shape their research focus." EU Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, said: "I am delighted to see the progress of the National Challenge Fund teams over the last 18 months. They're showing what benefits EU funding can bring. The teams are working directly with those most impacted by the climate and digital transitions, to come up with the innovative solutions that we need for a more sustainable future - which will help both Ireland and the European Union as a whole. I wish these teams every success as they progress to the next phase of funding." The teams receiving funding today are split across two challenge areas. The 2050 Challenge seeks transformative, forward-looking solutions to current and future challenges for Ireland in becoming climate neutral and resilient by 2050. The finalists in this challenge are researching solutions for key challenges in the areas of nature restoration and renewable energy generation, improving electric vehicle technology, enabling safe, energy-dense hydrogen storage, and developing more sustainable approaches to green hydrogen production. The Future Digital Challenge seeks to realise transformational societal and economic impact from disruptive digital technologies. The finalists in this challenge are focusing on sustainable peatland management, developing AI-powered bioprinting with industrial reproducibility and scalability, creating an easily deployable collaborative robotic s...

The Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South supported the EU Commissioner’s re-election.

A round-up of the main headlines in Sweden on July 8th 2024. You can hear more reports on our homepage www.radiosweden.se, or in the app Sveriges Radio Play Presenter: Mitchell CordnerProducer: Kris Boswell

The European Competition Commissioner says that Apple is showing anticompetitive behavior by withholding the release of its AI system in Europe. iOS and macOS Apps are exposed to supply chain attacks through critical flaws in CocoaPods. Happy Repair Independence Day! And Apple TV+ is growing in the US, overtaking Paramount+. EU Competition Commissioner says Apple's decision to pull AI from EU shows anticompetitive behavior. Apple has sent a mysterious request for materials relating to the development of OLED+CF Displays for future headsets to Samsung & LG. Apple to begin mass production of AirPods with cameras by 2026. Critical flaws in CocoaPods expose iOS and macOS apps to supply chain attacks. Apple may want to monetize advanced Apple Intelligence features in the future. Apple's "Longevity, by Design" whitepaper argues its huge scale affects its repair policies. Today, twenty percent of the US has the right to repair electronics. Happy Repair Independence Day! Apple TV+ continues to grow in the US, overtaking Paramount+. The mute button gets a welcome, no-brainer upgrade in iOS 18 and tvOS 18. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Central Control Andy's Pick: Swish Window Manager Jason's Pick: Unshaky Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: cachefly.com/twit

The European Competition Commissioner says that Apple is showing anticompetitive behavior by withholding the release of its AI system in Europe. iOS and macOS Apps are exposed to supply chain attacks through critical flaws in CocoaPods. Happy Repair Independence Day! And Apple TV+ is growing in the US, overtaking Paramount+. EU Competition Commissioner says Apple's decision to pull AI from EU shows anticompetitive behavior. Apple has sent a mysterious request for materials relating to the development of OLED+CF Displays for future headsets to Samsung & LG. Apple to begin mass production of AirPods with cameras by 2026. Critical flaws in CocoaPods expose iOS and macOS apps to supply chain attacks. Apple may want to monetize advanced Apple Intelligence features in the future. Apple's "Longevity, by Design" whitepaper argues its huge scale affects its repair policies. Today, twenty percent of the US has the right to repair electronics. Happy Repair Independence Day! Apple TV+ continues to grow in the US, overtaking Paramount+. The mute button gets a welcome, no-brainer upgrade in iOS 18 and tvOS 18. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Central Control Andy's Pick: Swish Window Manager Jason's Pick: Unshaky Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: cachefly.com/twit

There's a new commission leading the EU. Ivan spoke to Jane-Ann McKenna the CEO of Dochas about the EU following the visit to Dublin of the EU Commissioner.

A round-up of the main headlines in Sweden on June 26th 2024. You can hear more reports on our homepage www.radiosweden.se, or in the app Sveriges Radio Play. Presenter: Dave RussellProducer: Kris Boswell

Michael McGrath, Ireland's next European Commissioner, outlines his hopes for his new role and assesses the impact of his departure from Cabinet as Minister for Finance.

Former Finance Minister Michael McGrath responds to his nomination as the Irish EU Commissioner and reflects on his time at the Department of Finance.To catch the full conversation, press the 'Play' button below.

Brian O'Donovan, RTÉ News, work and technology correspondent and Kevin Doyle, Head of News at the Irish Independent

Mary Regan of RTÉ's political staff reports on the latest regarding Ireland's nominee for the position of EU Commissioner.

Analysis from our Political Correspondent Micheál Lehane.

Louise Burne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Mirror

In this episode of Planet A, Dan Jørgensen sits down with EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, to explore the central role he plays in shaping the European Union's approach to reducing emissions. Transitioning from a career in the energy sector to a key climate policy leader, Hoekstra offers unique insights into the EU's climate targets and strategies. They discuss the EU's own emission targets as well as its role as a global influencer in climate action. Hoekstra emphasizes the importance of a just transition that balances both environmental sustainability and economic growth, addressing concerns about job transitions and public dissent. He stresses that environmental policy must consider the livelihoods and futures of those it impacts, underscoring the necessity of policies that safeguard livelihoods and open doors to new opportunities.Tune in for an insightful exploration of the EU's climate strategies and the work of an EU Commissioner in driving global climate action.

Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner for Financial services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union