European Commission Representation in Ireland
Advance News Agenda 1 to 31 January 2016
Subject to change
For more detailed information on events, contacts, sources and background, please
see
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=AGENDA/09/37&format=HT
ML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en unless otherwise stated.
For Ireland-specific information, see:
http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/press_office/news_of_the_day/index_en.htm
Contacts:
Head of Press:
Ruth Deasy
01.634 1120 ruth.deasy@ec.europa.eu
Friday 1 January 2016
The Netherlands takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European
Union
The Netherlands will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1
January to 30 June 2016. It wants a Union that focuses on the essentials, creates growth
and jobs through innovation, and connects with civil society.
Information:
Presidency website at: http://english.eu2016.nl/
Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 January
EU stand (No. W31 in the Industries Hall) at the BT Young Scientist &
Technology Exhibition, RDS, Dublin
The European Commission Representation in Ireland and the European Parliament
Information Office in Ireland are hosting a stand (No. W31 in the Industries Hall) at the BT
Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in the RDS from 7 to 9 January 2016.
There will be lots to entertain young visitors: slime, plasma balls, elephant toothpaste, mini
smoke cannons, energy sticks, a hurricane in a bottle and a Van Der Graff generator.
Scientists from the Junior Einsteins Science Club will demonstrate how these fun
experiments relate to real life research and explain the many exciting careers open to young
people in science: astronomy, medicine, genetics, palaeontology, or criminology to name but
a few.
Free resources on the European Union will be available for all visitors and Information
Officers will be available to assist with questions about EU policies. The Joint Research
Centre (JRC), the European Commission's in-house science service, will also be on hand to
provide information on their activities.
Further information
http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/events/index1_en.htm
Thursday 7 and Friday 8 January
Commissioner Phil Hogan to visit the UK
EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan will visit the United
Kingdom on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 January.
On Thursday, the Commissioner will address the Oxford Farming Conference. He will also
meet with Mr Neil Parish, MP.
On Friday, the Commissioner meets with Mr George Freeman, UK Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State for Life Sciences, and Ms Liz Truss, UK Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Further information
Oxford Farming Conference website: http://www.ofc.org.uk/
Wednesday 13 January
THIS IS EBBA – European Border Breakers Awards Ceremony,
Stadsschouwburg, Groningen, the Netherlands
The European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA) showcase emerging European rock, pop
and dance artists who achieved success in countries other than their own.
10 European artists, including Ireland's SOAK, will receive an EBBA during a spectacular TVshow presented by BBC-legend Jools Holland.
Previous Irish winners include: Dolores O'Riordan (2008), The Script (2009), James Vincent
McMorrow (2012), Kodaline (2014) and Hozier (2015).
The event will be recorded and broadcast on public TV stations throughout Europe
Further information
EBBA website: http://www.europeanborderbreakersawards.eu/en/
Thursday, 14 January
Eurogroup meeting, Brussels
The agenda will be available in due course at:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/eurogroup/2016/01/14/
Thursday 14 January
Briefing on the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU (organised by the
European Movement Ireland), Dublin
The European Movement Ireland is organising a briefing on the Dutch Presidency of the
Council of the EU with Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ireland, H.E. P.W.A. Schellekens,
and Minister of State for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy TD.
Further information
Event webpage: http://www.europeanmovement.ie/event/briefing-on-the-netherlandspresidency-of-the-council-of-the-eu/
Friday 15 January
Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels
The agenda will be available in due course at:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/ecofin/2016/01/15/
Monday 18 January
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
The agenda will be available in due course at:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2016/01/18/
Tuesday 19 January
General Affairs Council, Brussels
The agenda will be available in due course at:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2016/01/19/
Monday 18 to Thursday 21 January
European Parliament Plenary Session, Strasbourg
Information and agendas: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/agendas.html
Monday 25 January
Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels.
The agenda will be available in due course at:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/agrifish/2016/01/25/
Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 January
Conference: Designing the path: a strategic approach to EU agricultural
research and innovation, Brussels
Challenges faced by agriculture and rural areas and the long-term character of research
activities call for a strategic approach to research and innovation. The European Commission
organises a large conference to discuss how such a strategic approach could be
implemented. The conference will close a half-year process kicked-off in Milan in June 2015.
The objectives of the conference will be to:
 present the main elements of a long-term strategy for EU agricultural research and
innovation;
 discuss its content, in particular several dimensions of the manner it could be
implemented.
The conference is targeted at an audience of around 400 participants including scientists, as
well as relevant science networks, stakeholders, international organisations and authorities.
Speakers include EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.
Further information
Event webpage: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/news/designing-pathstrategic-approach-eu-agricultural-research-and-innovation