EuroParlRadio

What can we expect from German presidency of EU council?

Germany will hold the presidency of the EU Council for the next six months. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel yesterday outlined the five priorities Germany will focus on during its presidency.

During an address to the European Parliament Chancellor Merkel said Germany would concentrate on fundamental rights, cohesion, climate protection, digitalisation and Europe’s responsibility in the world.

So what can we expect from the German presidency of the EU Council over the next six months?

EuroParlRadio's editor Karen Coleman has this report.

Out words:  EuroParlRadio 

Dur: 06:10

Donohoe “very good chance” of getting Eurogroup Presidency – Kelly

Finance ministers from the EU’s nineteen Eurozone countries will elect a new president of the Eurogroup later today.

Ireland’s finance minister Pascal Donohue is one of the three candidates up for the job.

He will be competing against contenders from Luxembourg and Spain.

The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly says Minister Donohue has a fifty-fifty chance of being elected to the high-profile position.

Out words: like this

Dur: 00:27

Revamping the EU’s health policy post COVID-19 - Packaged report

The European Parliament has been debating how to revamp the EU’s public health strategy post COVID-19.

It follows criticism over the bloc’s handling of the pandemic during the initial outbreak.

Health policy is a matter for individual member states, but the EU wants a more coordinated approach to be better prepared for future health crises.

Kevin Purcell reports from Brussels
 
Out words: in Brussels
 
Dur: 5:00

Kelleher calls for improved COVID testing at Irish airports

Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher says improved COVID testing is needed at Irish airports as incoming passengers are not self-isolating.

The Ireland South MEP was forced to apologise this week for failing to quarantine for 14 days following a trip home from Brussels.

Billy Kelleher says he undergoes full COVID-19 testing prior to travelling as part of a service offered to MEPs by the European Parliament.

He says he will self-isolate in future but added that many people arriving into Ireland aren't following the rules

 

Out words: in particular

 

Dur: 0:29

 

German presence in “cock-pit” of EU “critical” to success – Andrews

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel today outlined Germany’s priorities over the next six months during her address to the European Parliament.

She told MEPs Germany would focus on fundamental rights, cohesion, climate protection, digitalisation and Europe’s responsibility in the world.

And she emphasised the importance of getting support for the EU’s multi-billion Covid-19 recovery plan and other budgetary issues.

The Fianna Fail MEP for Dublin Barry Andrews says Germany’s presence at the helm of the EU over the coming months will be a very positive thing.

Out words: 00:43

Dur: at stake

Germany “will be protecting Ireland” on Brexit trade talks – Cuffe

Germany’s presidency of the EU will be a good thing for Ireland when it comes to the Brexit trade talks.

So says the Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel today outlined Germany’s priorities during its six month presidency of the EU Council.

During her address to the European Parliament, Mrs Merkel told MEPs she would continue to push for a good solution with the UK. But she warned the EU should also prepare for a possible no-deal scenario.

Ciarán Cuffe believes Germany will be an ally of Ireland during the ongoing Brexit trade negotiations.

Out words: as well

Dur: 00:40

“Taoiseach will fight for fair share of EU recovery fund” - Andrews

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews says the Taoiseach will fight for a fair share of the EU’s COVID recovery fund when he meets EU leaders in Brussels later this month.

The summit is being held in a bid to resolve the stalemate over the EU’s long-term budget and the Coronavirus recovery plan.

There’s still disagreement over how the 750-billion-euro package will be funded.

Barry Andrews says the Taoiseach will speak up for Ireland

 

Out words: two days

 

Dur: 0:34

 

“I genuinely apologise for not self-isolating” - Kelleher

Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher says he assumed MEPs were exempted from COVID quarantine rules in Ireland but accepts he was wrong.

The Ireland South MEP was forced to apologise following revelations he did not self-isolate for 14 days when he recently returned home for the election of the new Taoiseach.

Billy Kelleher says he is fully tested for COVID-19 in a facility in Brussels prior to travelling.

He says it’s a service offered to MEPs by the European Parliament:

 

*** NOTE – LONG CLIP ***

 

Out words: I wasn’t

 

Dur: 0:46

EU in “worst recession” for almost 100 years – Von der Leyen

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel laid out Germany’s key priorities for its six-month presidency of the EU Council, during her address to the European Parliament today.

She told MEPs Germany would focus on fundamental rights, cohesion, climate protection, digitalisation and Europe’s responsibility in the world.

And she emphasised the importance of getting support for the EU’s multi-billion Covid-19 recovery plan.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen warned Mrs Merkel, the challenge she and all EU countries face in the next six months, could not be more extraordinary.

Out words: years ago

Dur: 00:36

Merkel lays out priorities for EU council presidency – McGuinness

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the European Parliament today that Germany will focus on five priorities during its six-month presidency of the council of the European Union.

Mrs Merkel said Germany will concentrate on fundamental rights, cohesion, climate protection, digitalisation and Europe’s responsibility in the world.

She said her visit today comes at a time when the EU is facing its greatest challenge ever with the global pandemic hitting people hard. She told MEPs over one hundred thousand (100,000) lives were lost in Europe alone due to the pandemic.   

The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says Mrs Merkel has the leadership qualities to persuade reluctant EU countries to sign up to the massive EU COVID recovery plan and other EU budgetary issues.

Out words: to go 

Dur: 00:31