European Parliament Office in Ireland

Busy final day at the Ploughing!
Still time to visit the EU tent - stand 222, row 13 block 2
We're here for all your questions EU - and a remote-controlled tractor match.

🌞Are you at the 24 ?
🚜Join us for all things 🇪🇺 and a🕹️tractor race at Stand 222 | Row 13 | Block 2
European Commission Representation in Ireland

President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her European commissioner candidates today. In total, 26 candidates have been put forward – so all EU countries are represented – including 10 women and 16 men.
The presentation paves the way for the start of the confirmation hearing process. The timing will be established once Parliament receives all the necessary documentation.
Each candidate has a portfolio to manage such as the environment, the economy, security and defence. But before they can begin their jobs, they must first be scrutinised and approved by the European Parliament’s relevant committees. Finally, the College of Commissioners has to get the approval of the entire Parliament.
For more information: https://europa.eu/!fG8Pwq
📷Source: European Commission

🔴Watch live or as recap from approx. 4.15pm Irish time today
🇪🇺MEPs debating the future of EU agriculture
📲Livestream: https://europa.eu/!tqPkTN

Will you be at the ? Visit the EU tent!

We've got lots of information on the role of the EU in our daily lives, protection of traditional 🇮🇪🇪🇺 foods and a tractor race 🕹️🚜!

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️Stand 222, Row 13, Block 2

MEPs will work on a range of issues when they will meet in Strasbourg next week.
Pre-plenary briefing → https://europa.eu/!nm94kH

Ever wondered how people are seated in the European Parliament's plenary chamber?
Everyone from the same political group is seated together. At the front they are represented by their political group leader.
MEPs who are not part of a political group are also seated together.
At the centre of the chamber you have the President of the Parliament, who is responsible for chairing plenary sessions.

Fact-checking is increasingly important when looking for information online 🗝️

Malicious actors often spread false or misleading information to influence people.

Here's how you can protect yourself with four simple steps ↓

🗣️Calling all secondary school students! Enter our new competition and be in with a chance to represent Ireland at Euroscola in Strasbourg.
📅Deadline for entries: 1⃣8⃣ October 2024
👉Find out more → https://europa.eu

Congratulations to all the inspiring athletes representing EU countries at the 2024 Paralympic Games! They've won a total of 420 medals.

Today is International Literacy Day, a day to celebrate all things literature!

In many EU countries, most people enjoy reading several books a year. The European Parliament's culture and education committee is working towards creating a bright future for the European book sector.

The committee has made specific proposals for the sector, which includes creating a label displaying independent bookshops in the Union and the introduction of zero-rate VAT for books in all EU countries.

Interested in languages? Join us online on 27 September to meet European Parliament interpreters, translators and other multilingual staff, learn about their work and set foot inside the Hemicycle.

The workshops are limited to small groups, so registration is mandatory and on a first come, first served basis.

Registration 👉 https://europa.eu/!n8nBGN

Committees are at the core of Parliament’s work 🏛️

MEPs join committees and work on different policy areas.

In addition to drafting and voting on positions, committees appoint negotiation teams with EU governments, organise hearings with experts and oversee other EU bodies.

Find out more 👉https://europa.eu/!bndtY9

Watch the European Parliament's plenaries and committee meetings.
Livestreams and recordings available: https://europa.eu/!Xr98dq

Big news! We have just launched our Euroscola 2024 competition for secondary school students. Get working on your ideas of what the EU could do to tackle digital addiction.
Deadline for entries: 18 October 2024
More details → https://europa.eu/!pjVvc4

You may have heard of Altiero Spinelli the Manifesto of Ventotene, but are you familiar with the woman who was instrumental to its publication?
🇪🇺 Today we pay tribute to Ursula Hirschmann who was born . She smuggled the text written secretly on cigarette paper by prisoners on the island of Ventotene to the Italian mainland, where it was widely read by those fighting with the Italian resistance against the N***s.

Meet the chairs of the 🇪🇺 Parliament's committees, including 🇮🇪 Barry Andrews MEP.
There are 20 standing committees and four subcommittees. Full list↓

Meet Ireland's new MEPs🇪🇺🇮🇪
Full list available on our website europarl.ie

🇪🇺Want to learn more about how the EU works?
🤳Join us for a one-hour webinar
📅 Tuesday, 17 September, 12.00
👉No prior knowledge required
Sign up: https://together.eu/event/eu-basics-webinar-2024-09-17-9773/register

🥇🥈🥉Good luck to all EU athletes competing in the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris between 28 August and 8 September!

Are you watching? Which sports are you following? Let us know in the comments!

Check out this year's European Capitals of Culture!
Bad Ischl, Austria 🇦🇹
Tartu, Estonia 🇪🇪
Bodø, Norway 🇳🇴
From historic sites to modern art, these cities offer something for everyone. Have you visited any of them? Share your stories and tips in the comments!

Do you check if what you see online is actually true?

Many people don't . That's what our Eurostat colleagues found out in a study.

With disinformation and misinformation on the rise, it's very important to use reliable sources to check if what on sees on the internet is correct. Otherwise, there is a risk of falling prey to actors spreading disinformation, such as certain foreign governments looking to undermine democracy.

Parliament wants to make sure that democracy is protected and that Europeans have access to quality information.

More info 👉 https://europa.eu/!yrt6XJ

🔎 Did you know that about half of the MEPs elected in June are newcomers to the 🇪🇺 European Parliament?

While 362 members have never sat in the European Parliament before, 336 MEPs from the last term were re-elected, and 21 members returned after serving in previous legislatures.

However, there are big differences between countries. 🇮🇪 57% of all Irish MEP are serving for the first time. 90% of 🇵🇹 Portuguese MEPs are completely new to the European Parliament, while in 🇪🇪 Estonia 86% of MEPs were re-elected after serving in the last term.