More than one million EU citizens are calling for laws to phase out damaging pesticides and to help create bee-friendly farming.

The European Parliament today debated a European Citizens’ Initiative called “save bees and farmers, towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment.”

The initiative, that gathered more than a million verified signatures, calls for synthetic pesticides to be phased out by 2035 along with the restoration of biodiversity. And it demands support to farmers in the transition to more bee-friendly and environmentally safer farming practices. Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan explains.

Out words: take action

Dur: 00:22

Relations between the EU and UK have improved since Rishi Sunak became British Prime Minister and agreement on the Windsor Framework was brokered.

That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly who was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. MEPs this week assessed how the Brexit withdrawal agreement has been working since its implementation three years ago.

They welcomed the Windsor deal and the subsequent announcement that the UK government will halt its controversial Northern Ireland protocol bill.

Here’s Sean Kelly.

Out words: issues themselves

Dur:  00:46

EU goals to make all of our homes carbon neutral by 2050 are “absolutely” possible. That’s according to Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe.

He was commenting on a vote in the European Parliament this week on measures to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030. MEPs supported moves to make the sector climate neutral by 2050. That’s something Ciarán Cuffe says can be achieved.

Out words: that’s affordable

Dur: 00:19

The Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe is calling for simpler rules and more funding when it comes to applying for home energy upgrade grants. He was speaking in the European Parliament where MEPs this week endorsed the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.

Ciarán Cuffe says in Ireland there’s a need to simplify the rules to receive energy upgrade grants from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Out words: social housing

Dur: 00:30

The chance to travel around Europe by rail for free opens today for 18 year old residents of Ireland and other EU countries. Under the Discover EU initiative, up to thirty five thousand (35,000) travel passes will be given to successful applicants from the EU and other qualifying countries.

To win a travel pass, young people are invited to apply on the European Youth Portal (Youth.europa.eu/discovereu_en) and answer a few questions. Successful applicants who were born between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2005 will be able to travel in Europe for up to 30 days during the travel period. That will run from mid-June to the end of September 2024.

Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is encouraging 18 year olds in Ireland to apply for a free travel pass.

Out words: as well

Dur: 00:20

The state of EU-UK relations and the Windsor Framework were debated by MEPs in the European Parliament this week. There’s growing optimism that the Windsor deal will lead to better relations between both sides.

Well Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune spoke to EuroParlRadio’s Karen Coleman about the Windsor deal and how it’s likely to lead to greater collaboration between the UK and the bloc.

Out words: they should

Dur: 02:38

The recent agreement between the EU and the UK on the Windsor Framework should lead to greater collaboration between both sides. So says Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune.

Both the Framework, which replaces the Northern Ireland protocol, and the state of EU-UK relations were discussed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week. The Ireland South MEP says there are many issues that the EU needs to concentrate on and that collaboration with the UK will be important.

Out words: they should

Dur: 00:21

Relations between the EU and the UK have improved thanks to the recent agreement on the Windsor Framework which replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol.

That’s according to Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune. She was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg where MEPs this week discussed the state of relations between both sides. 

Out words: is protected

Dur: 00:30

Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe says plans to make the EU’s building sector carbon-neutral by 2050 are fair, realistic and flexible. The European Parliament today voted for the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.

MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. Member states may also exempt public social housing, where renovations would lead to rent increases that cannot be compensated by savings on energy bills.

Ciarán Cuffe was the Parliament’s lead negotiator on the deal.

Out words: climate targets

Dur: 00:14

Plans to make the EU’s building sector carbon-neutral by 2050, will help tackle the root causes of energy poverty and create jobs and funding for renovations. That’s according to Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe.

He was commenting on today’s vote in the European Parliament where the majority of MEPs backed the proposed revision of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 with the aim of making it climate neutral by 2050.

MEPs say national renovation plans should include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. And they want targeted grants and subsidies for energy-saving renovations for vulnerable households.

Ciarán Cuffe was the Parliament’s lead negotiator on the deal. He says today’s vote "marks a significant step" towards lower energy bills for households and businesses.

Out words: hugely important

Dur: 00:12