EuroParlRadio

A range of businesses could benefit from EU Covid recovery fund - Cuffe

A range of businesses from tourism to food producers could benefit from the EU’s proposed Covid recovery fund.

That’s according to the Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe. He was responding to details of the EU’s seven hundred and fifty billion recovery proposals that were unveiled today by the European Commission president.

Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament the proposed 'Next Generation EU' initiative, would sit on top of a revamped long term EU budget of 1.1trillion euro.

Ciarán Cuffe outlined the kind of businesses that might be able to benefit from the recovery funds.

Out words: Green deal

Dur: 00:34

MEP “fairly optimistic” about EU’s €750bn recovery plan – Cuffe

MEPs have been reacting to details of the EU’s new €750bn covid recovery proposals. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, unveiled details of the plans today in the European Parliament. 

The European Commission is proposing using its “very strong” credit rating to borrow €750 billion on the financial markets for the recovery initiative which it’s  calling Next Generation EU. The funds will go to help EU countries, regions and sectors of economies struggling with the fallout of the pandemic. 

Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament today that the money will be invested across 3 pillars through 500 billion in grants and 250 billion in loans to member states.  

The Green Party MEP for the Dublin constituency Ciarán Cuffe broadly welcomed the proposals. 

Out words: European level

Dur: 00:31

EU recovery plan welcome and “has ambition” – O’Sullivan

The European Commission is proposing a covid recovery plan worth seven hundred and fifty billion euro.

The President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen unveiled details of the plan during an address to the European Parliament in Brussels today.

The Commission is proposing using its “very strong” credit rating to borrow €750 billion on the financial markets for the fund which it’s calling Next Generation EU. 

The Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan welcomed today’s proposals.

Out words: Greens Welcome

Dur: 00:33

EU will raise €750bn recovery funds through financial markets – Von der Leyen

The European Commission is proposing using its “very strong” credit rating to borrow €750 billion on the financial markets for its EU Covid recovery fund which it’s calling Next Generation EU.

Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament today that the money will be invested across 3 pillars through 500 billion in grants and 250 billion in loans to member states.  

The Commission is proposing that the funds raised will need to be repaid through future EU budgets not before 2028 and not after 2058.

Ursula von der Leyen explained to MEPs how the Next Generation EU initiative would work.

Out words: next generation

Dur: 00:50

EU Commission proposes €750bn Covid recovery fund – Von der Leyen

The President of the European Commission today unveiled proposals for a seven hundred and fifty billion euro Covid recovery fund to help EU countries and regions deal with the fallout of the pandemic.

Ursula von der Leyen announced proposals for what she’s calling Next Generation EU in the European Parliament today.

 

Podcast on Covid contact tracing apps & airline ticket refunds

One of the tools to manage the spread of the coronavirus is the use of Covid contact tracing apps. Their use was debated by the European Parliament last week. And the controversial issue of vouchers versus cash refunds for Covid-cancelled airline flights, continues to cause concern.

The European Commission last week stated that people would be entitled to a cash refund if they didn’t want to take vouchers offered by the airlines.

In this podcast EuroParlRadio's editor Karen Coleman, discusses both issues with Irish MEPs. 

MEP urges consumers to accept flight vouchers instead of cash – Clune

The Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune is urging people to accept vouchers instead of cash from airlines if their flights have been cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

The European Commission last week stated that people are entitled to cash refunds for Covid flight cancellations even if the airlines are pushing them to take vouchers instead.

However, the Ireland South MEP says opting for a voucher instead of a refund would help the struggling Airlines.

Out word: to survive

Dur: 00:34

 

People need to be refunded for non-cancelled flights as well – MacManus

People should be entitled to cash refunds for flights they can’t take because of the Covid pandemic even though the flights themselves haven’t been cancelled.

That’s the recommendation from the Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus. He says he’s being contacted by his constituents who say they’re losing hundreds of euro because they can’t take flights they’ve paid for because of the travel restrictions. 

The Midlands North-West MEP says these people shouldn’t be punished financially for adhering to Government rules. 

Out words: payment

Dur: 00:33

Confusion still ongoing over flight ticket refunds – MacManus

People are being told they’ll have to wait for months for flight ticket refunds despite an EU Commission decision last week that people are entitled to cash refunds.

That’s according to the Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus.

The European Commission last week stated that people are entitled to cash refunds for Covid flight cancellations even if the airlines are pushing them to take vouchers instead.

Out words: six months (last word a bit noisy)

Dur: 00:26

Report on Brexit trade talks and MEPs reactions PODCAST 2

The third round of Brexit trade talks between the EU and the UK ended Friday (May 15th) with little progress. The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier voiced his disappointment in what he referred to as the UK’s lack of ambition in the negotiations. 

Meanwhile the UK’s Brexit negotiator David Frost said in a statement that there had been “very little progress towards agreement on the most significant outstanding issues”.

Karen Coleman has been speaking to Irish MEPs about the Brexit trade talks. She has this report.  

Out words: regardless

Dur: 4:58