EuroParlRadio

1st meeting of EU-UK parliamentary assembly Thursday – MacManus

The first ever meeting of the new EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly will start on Thursday in Brussels.

The Assembly was set up last year after the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force. It’s made up of thirty five (35) members each from the European Parliament and the UK Parliament (including the House of Lords).

Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus, MEP for the Midlands North-West, is a member of the EU delegation. He says outstanding issues related to Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol must be tackled.  

Out words: listened to

Dur: 00:20

Brexit back on the table following elections – MacManus

Attempts to resolve outstanding issues related to Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol are expected to pick up following the Northern Ireland Assembly elections.

The first ever meeting of the new EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly will take place next week in Brussels. It was set up last year after the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force. It’s made up of members from the European and UK Parliaments.

Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus, MEP for the Midlands North-West, is a member of the EU delegation. He says there are a number of Brexit issues that need to be resolved.  

Out words: EU Institutions

Dur: 00:40

Interview Grace O’Sullivan MEP on toxic chemicals (POPs)

The European Parliament this week called for limits on the use of damaging chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs. They can be found in a range of products from certain waterproof textiles to fire-fighting foams.

MEPs say materials containing high levels of POPs, must be destroyed or incinerated and cannot be recycled. Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) caught up with Grace O’Sullivan during the week and asked her more about these damaging chemicals.

Out words: on nature

Dur: 01:54

“Eliminate dangerous chemicals” from products – O’Sullivan

Toxic chemicals that stay in the environment for a long time should be eliminated and should not be recycled. So says Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan.

The European Parliament this week called for limits on the use of damaging chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs. They can be found in a range of products from certain waterproof textiles to fire-fighting foams.

MEPs say materials containing high levels of POPs, must be destroyed or incinerated and cannot be recycled. Here’s Grace O’Sullivan.

Out words: eliminated altogether

Dur: 00:15

MEPs demand stricter limits on toxic chemicals in products – O’Sullivan

Stricter limits should be imposed on the use of harmful chemicals in products that stay in the environment for a long time and threaten people’s health.

That’s the demand from Green party MEP Grace O’Sullivan. The European Parliament this week called for limits on the amount of damaging chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs. They can be found in a range of products from certain waterproof textiles to fire-fighting foams.

MEPs say materials containing high levels of POPs, must be destroyed or incinerated and cannot be recycled. Grace O’Sullivan explains how damaging these chemicals can be.    

Out words: really alarming

Dur: 00:18

MEPs demand cuts to toxic ‘forever chemicals’

The European Parliament has voted for stricter new limits on forever chemicals. Persistent organic pollutants are poisonous substances which take hundreds of years to break down. The danger is that they end up in the water supply and the human food chain. The chemicals are used in some building materials and in industrial processes. The EU signed up to the UN’s Stockholm Convention which aims to eliminate or restrict the use of these nasty chemicals.  Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, says it is good that the European Parliament is pushing further.

Out words: These compounds

Dur: 0’17”

Starvation could create new migrant wave, warns Markey

Food shortages could lead to a new migrant crisis for Europe – that’s the warning from Colm Markey. The war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia are raising serious questions about the supply of food. Whilst we’re seeing prices going up here, in developing countries the impact could be starvation. Fine Gael MEP, Colm Markey, believes it could trigger a new wave of migration from Africa toward Europe. He says it’s not only in our own interest, the EU also has a “moral responsibility” to act.

Out words: Concern to Europe

Dur: 0’19”

Interview Ciarán Cuffe on Russian sanctions & energy savings

The European Commission this week announced a new round of proposed sanctions against Russia including ending imports of Russian oil to Europe by the end of the year. The proposals met with strong opposition from some EU countries like Hungary and Slovakia who want more time to wean themselves off Russian oil.

However Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe argues ways can be found to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russia for energy supplies. He says energy companies should be taxed to help people pay for energy efficiency projects such as retrofitting their homes with insulation and installing heat pumps.

Well Karen Coleman (EuroParlRadio editor) caught up with the Dublin MEP this week. She first asked him what could be done to counter the impact of a Russian oil ban.

Out words: these profits

Dur: 03:58

MEP calls for tax on energy companies to help renovations – Cuffe

Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe says energy companies should be taxed to help people pay for energy efficiency projects such as retrofitting their homes with insulation and installing heat pumps.

The Green MEP says a levy could be put on the profits they’re making from rising oil and gas prices to help people to renovate their homes for energy saving measures.

Out words: these profits

Dur: 00:18

More money needed for retrofits & energy saving projects – Cuffe

A new EU fund should be set up to help pay for increased renovations and other energy saving projects over the coming years.

That’s the recommendation from Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe. His comments follow EU plans to impose tougher sanctions against Russia including banning all imports of oil from there by the end of the year.

Ciarán Cuffe says retrofitting houses and other energy saving initiatives could significantly reduce our dependence on Russia for energy supplies. But he believes people will need financial help to carry out expensive energy efficiency projects.  

Out words: for that

Dur: 00:16