Delighted to host “Ireland at the Helm: Shaping Europe Together” in Brussels 🇮🇪🇪🇺 Grateful to Ambassador @aingealod & Commissioner @EUCssrMcGrath for their excellent addresses, our honoured guests for joining us, and the Vulcan team for a great evening. #TeamIreland #EU2026

The debate on “European preference” in public procurement is back 🇪🇺 Commission VP Stéphane Séjourné is calling for EU public money to: 👉Support EU production & jobs 👉Reduce strategic dependencies 👉Respond to US & China subsidy races He frames it as conditionality, not tariffs: public funding tied to production in Europe 🏭 Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/vice-pre… #EuropeanPreference #EUIndustry #PublicProcurement #StrategicAutonomy #Competitiveness #IndustrialPolicy

The EU 🇪🇺 and the US 🇺🇸 are aligning on critical raw materials 🌍⛏️ A new US-led initiative aims to: 🇨🇳Build a China-independent minerals market 📊Set coordinated price floors 💸Create a preferential trade zone The EU sees an opportunity, but also risks being pulled into a US-first framework. Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/eu-and-t… #Criticalrawmaterials #EU #US #Trade #Geopolitics

Ireland is rethinking its approach to defence! 🇮🇪🛡️ New polling shows a large share of voters undecided on NATO and defence cooperation, as security is increasingly framed around: 🔌 subsea cables 💻 cyber threats ⚡ energy & economic resilience Neutrality still matters — but defence is no longer just military 👀 Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/public-o… #Ireland #Defence #Neutrality #Security

🌍🇪🇺 Mark Carney at Davos: a blueprint Europe should read carefully Canadian PM Carney argues the rules-based liberal order is over and nostalgia won’t save it. Middle powers must act strategically. A blunt message that the EU could take up: 💶 Invest domestically 🔗 Reduce dependencies 🤝 Act collectively 📏Apply rules consistently #Davos2026 #Geopolitics #EU #StrategicAutonomy Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/carneys-…

🇪🇺🔐 EU moves to block “high-risk” suppliers from critical infrastructure The Commission has unveiled a revision of the EU Cybersecurity Act, shifting from voluntary guidance to binding powers to restrict or exclude high-risk vendors from sectors like telecoms, energy and healthcare. 📡 5G is the test case: ➡️ Member States would be required to phase out suppliers deemed a security risk A clear signal that infrastructure security is now a collective EU concern. Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/eu-moves… #Cybersecurity #TechSovereignty #5G

🇮🇪💨 Ireland’s wind sector is pitching the country as one of Europe’s first “electrostates” The new roadmap (2026–30) links wind not just to climate goals 🌱, but to energy security, cost stability and industrial competitiveness. ⚠️ The challenge: ⚡ Rapidly rising demand (data centres, industry) 🔌 Grid constraints & connection delays 🏗️ Planning, skills & delivery gaps Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/irelands… #Ireland #WindEnergy #EnergyTransition

🇪🇺 After 25 years, the EU–Mercosur trade deal gets the Council’s green light The Council has endorsed the signature of the landmark agreement, clearing the way for a 700m-consumer free trade zone 🌍📈—as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen heads to Paraguay to formalise the pact. 🔑 Key elements: ⚙️Industrial winners (autos, pharma, chemicals) 🥩Safeguards to protect EU farmers 🌱Ongoing concerns over climate & deforestation ⚖️Next hurdle: European Parliament & possible ECJ review A historic step, but ratification remains politically fragile. Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/council-… #EUMercosur #TradePolicy #Geopolitics #EuropeanParliament #ClimateTrade

🇨🇳One quiet winner of U.S. tariffs: China. As Chinese firms pivot away from the U.S., Beijing posted a record $1.2tn trade surplus in 2025 📈 with exports increasingly flowing to Europe 🇪🇺 EU officials are alarmed by: ⚠️A sustained influx of low-cost Chinese goods ⚠️Pressure on strategic industries(EVs, batteries, semiconductors) ⚠️Risks to Europe’s industrial autonomy There is a growing dilemma in Europe: protect industry without slowing the green transition. Read more in today’s Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/the-one-… #TradePolicy #EUChina #IndustrialStrategy #EVs #Semiconductors #Geopolitics

Ireland is moving from "open door" to "strategic growth" for large energy users. 🇮🇪⚡ The new LEAP framework is officially here to balance the massive power demands of data centres & tech with grid reliability and #ClimateAction. It contains: 📍 Spatial Coordination: Connecting users where the grid actually has room. 📉 Grid Security: Protecting the system as data centres hit 22% of total demand. 🌬️ Renewable Alignment: Matching big industry with green energy projects. Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/irelands…

The EU’s anti-deforestation law is delayed again 🌳⏳🇪🇺 European Parliament voted (402–250) to push compliance to: 🔹 Large firms → 30 Dec 2026 🔹 Small/micro firms → 30 Jun 2027 The incomplete IT platform & overload risks triggered the pushback But MEPs also want a review before implementation (Apr 2026). More changes may still come 👀 Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/parliame… #EU #Deforestation #EUDR #SupplyChains #Sustainability #Trade

Ireland has approved a €24.3bn transport investment plan (2026–2030) 🏗️🇮🇪 It includes: 🚆 €10bn for rail & public transport upgrades 🛤️ MetroLink backed by €2bn from the Climate & Nature Fund 🛣️ €9.7bn for road renewal EV charging 🚶‍♂️🚴‍♀️ €1.8bn for 1,000km of active travel routes Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/from-con… #Ireland #Transport #Infrastructure #Rail #Logistics

The European Commission has adopted a new EU Bioeconomy Strategy 🌱🇪🇺. It will: 👉 Replace fossil-based materials 👉 Scale bio-based tech & markets 👉 Biomass sourcing within ecological limits 👉 Supporting SMEs & circular models 👉€10bn demand boost via a new Bio‑based Europe Alliance 🤝 Read more in today's Vulcan View: vulcanconsulting.eu/european… #EU #Bioeconomy #Sustainability

The EU unveiled this week a sweeping digital simplification package aimed at cutting admin costs by €5bn and unlocking €150bn in savings through new European Business Wallets 💶💻🇪🇺 Key changes: ⚙️ AI/data rules simplified 🔐 Single cybersecurity reporting channel 📉 Fewer cookie banners 📊 Unified EU data law A major step to help EU companies scale and innovate. #EU #DigitalOmnibus #AI #Data #Cybersecurity #TechPolicy vulcanconsulting.eu/commissi…

The European Commission has unveiled its new 2030 Consumer Agenda. This quiet launch will have big implications for anyone selling digital goods in the EU 💻🇪🇺 Plans include stronger cross-border enforcement, a Digital Fairness Act to curb manipulative design, and tighter product-safety rules. A major shake-up is coming. 👀 #EU #ConsumerProtection #DigitalRegulation #DFA #SingleMarket #ECommerce #VulcanView vulcanconsulting.eu/european…

Ireland is set for a major shake-up to infrastructure delivery! 🇮🇪🏗️ The Government is pushing reforms to tackle judicial review barriers, cap environmental legal costs, and streamline planning. Measures include a new Critical Infrastructure Bill & an Emergency Powers Bill to fast-track strategic projects. vulcanconsulting.eu/irish-go…

Commissioner @EUCssrMcGrath launched this week the EU’s new “Democracy Shield” 🛡️: a strategy to counter disinformation, protect elections and strengthen democratic resilience. 📢 The plan includes fact-checking network, AI/deepfake guidance & media protections at its core. #EU #Democracy #Disinformation vulcanconsulting.eu/commissi…

🇮🇪 Ireland unveiled its 2025–2030 housing plan, targeting 300,000 new homes by 2030. The plan includes: 📈 Big push on land activation, planning reforms, MMC, skills & infrastructure. #Ireland #Housing #Construction #HousingCrisis vulcanconsulting.eu/irelands…