EuroParlRadio

€5bn Brexit fund “important and very positive” – McGuinness

A new EU Brexit fund of five billion euro (€5bn) will be “really important” for Ireland especially if the EU cannot secure a trade deal with the UK.

 

So says the Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness.

 

EU leaders recently agreed to establish a new Brexit “adjustment reserve” fund of five billion euro (€5bn) which will offer funds to countries and sectors worst-hit by Brexit.

Ireland should be in line for a sizeable chunk of the fund.  

 

Here’s Mairead McGuinnesss

 

Out words: particularly positive

 

Dur: 00:37

Who will benefit from EU Covid Recovery Fund? REPORT

EU leaders brokered an historic agreement this week when they unanimously backed a seven hundred and fifty billion euro (€750bn) Covid recovery fund.

 

The fund – which is being called Next Generation EU – will go towards EU regions and countries that have been badly hit by the Covid pandemic. The likes of Spain and Italy are likely to be big beneficiaries of the fund.

 

Ireland is expected to get around €1.3billion in grants from the fund.

 

So what can we expect from it? Karen Coleman has this report.

 

Out words: EuroParlRadio

Dur: 4:58

MEPs demand rule of law link to EU financing – Walsh

The European Parliament is demanding clear mechanisms that will link EU financing to respect for the rule of law.

 

MEPs say EU leaders have significantly weakened the efforts of the European Commission and the Parliament to uphold the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy in the framework of the EU’s long-term budget and its Covid recovery plan.

 

The European Parliament this week debated the outcome of the recent summit of EU leaders which saw an historic agreement reached on the seven hundred and fifty billion euro (€750bn) Covid recovery fund along with the EU’s 7-year budget.

 

However, MEPs are accusing the European Council of not doing enough to link the distribution of EU funds to compliance with the rule of law. This would apply particularly to Hungary and Poland which have been heavily criticised for rowing back on democracy and human rights.

 

Here’s the Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh.

 

Out words: a whole

 

Dur: 00:30

SMEs should be prioritised for EU Covid Funds – Walsh

Small to medium sized businesses should benefit from the new EU Covid recovery fund that’s worth seven hundred and fifty billion euro.

 

So says Maria Walsh - the Fine Gael MEP for the Midlands North-West.

 

The European Parliament this week debated the €750bn fund which was approved by  leaders of the EU27 countries earlier this week. However, MEPs criticised their decision to reduce the proportion of the fund that could be given out through grants.

 

That figure was reduced to three hundred and ninety billion euro (€390bn). The rest will be distributed through loans.

 

It’s estimated that Ireland will get about €1.3bn in grants from the fund. Here’s Maria Walsh

 

Out words: a whole

Dur: 00:33

Brexit talks stymied by “irrationality” of UK Brexit negotiators – MacManus

The Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus is calling on the government to better prepare in the event of no trade deal being brokered between the EU and the UK.

 

His warnings follow comments by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. Yesterday Mr Barnier said a trade deal between the EU and the UK was ‘unlikely’ following the latest round of Brexit talks between both sides.

 

Mr Barnier said two issues are causing particular problems. They are fair competition and the level playing field between EU and UK businesses. The other issue is access to British fishing waters.

 

Chris MacManus says the talks are being stymied by difficult negotiators on the British side.

 

Out words: people are

 

Dur: 00:40

Sinn Fein MEP calls for “more robust” no Brexit deal plan – MacManus

The Government needs to step up and do much more to prepare for a no-deal Brexit scenario.

 

That’s the warning from the Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus. His was reacting to comments made yesterday by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

 

Following the latest round of Brexit talks in London, Mr Barnier said Britain’s refusal to commit to open and fair competition and to a balanced fisheries agreement, made a trade deal unlikely at this point.

 

Chris MacManus says the Government isn’t doing enough to prepare for the worst outcome which could see no trade deal brokered between the EU and the UK.  

 

Out words: deal Brexit

 

Dur: 00:42

“We should heed” Barnier’s no Brexit deal warning – McGuinness

The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says we need to prepare for the prospect of no trade deal being brokered between the EU and the UK.

 

The Midlands North-West MEP was reacting to comments made yesterday by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

 

Following the latest round of Brexit talks in London, Mr Barnier said Britain’s refusal to commit to open and fair competition and to a balanced fisheries agreement, made a trade deal unlikely at this point.

 

Here’s Mairead McGuinness.

 

Out words: an agreement

 

Dur: 00:35

Greens will have to “fight” hard to achieve climate goals – O’Sullivan

The Green Party will have to fight hard to ensure its climate and environmental objectives are achieved at government level.

 

That’s the verdict of the Party’s Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan. She was speaking after EU leaders reached a deal this week on a massive EU Covid Recovery fund and the EU’s long-term budget.  

 

Grace O’Sullivan says it will be difficult for the party to do business with their coalition partners, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

 

Out words: Fine Gael

 

Dur: 00:37

Green leadership contest “worthwhile” – O’Sullivan

The Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan admits it’s inevitable members of the party will leave following the leadership contest that was narrowly won by Eamon Ryan.

 

The Ireland South MEP believes having the leadership race was the right thing to do.

 

Out words: about it

 

Dur: 00:40

MEPs demand more EU funds for research and innovation – Clune

The European Parliament is calling for more EU funding for future research and innovation programmes.

 

MEPs this week debated the outcome of the recent 4-day EU Summit which ended on Tuesday morning. EU leaders reached an agreement on the EU’s Covid Recovery fund and the 7-year budget known as the multi-annual financial framework or MFF.

 

However, the European Council reduced the sum of money proposed for the EU’s research and innovation initiative called Horizon Europe. The European Commission had proposed a figure of €94.4 billion for the popular research programme. But in the end, EU Leaders slashed that sum to €80.9 billion.

 

Now the European Parliament is vowing to fight hard to increase the funding for Horizon Europe. Here’s the Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, Deirdre Clune.

 

Out words: Horizon area

 

Dur: 00:32