European Union 

Friends, I am Aoife Uí Fhaoláin and I'm here in Dublin tonight to talk to you;

I am the High Commissioner for Energy, Transport and Climate. I will be taking this oppurtunity to talk about the measures the European Union has taken under recent leadership. I therefore begin with one of the latest and most important measures that the Union has taken in the field of energy. This being the EuroGrid, of course.

EuroGrid was a great success in promoting European unity. Since the Gravelines Treaty, EuroGrid has started four main projects. Their main aim is to connect the electricity grids rather than improve them. The projects are as follows: the Celtic Interconnector, which will connect Ireland with French nuclear power; the connection of Wales and Scotland to the Irish electricity grid; the connection of 42 inhabited islands in Greece to the grid; and the integration of the electricity grid of the Scandinavian countries.

The European Union will also be helping other governments to tackle climate change and make an emergency transition to a greener system in those countries. This year already, the number of natural disasters has quadrupled compared to what it was a century ago. To help the struggling communities across the world, the European Union has established many initiatives to send aid to the affected communities. EuroAid has set up renewable energy projects directly around the world to help these countries provide their own energy. The Department of Infrastructure and Resilience is providing a lot of help to people at risk from natural disasters. In addition, European Union policy provides guidelines for countries that can follow to become completely carbon neutral.

I am sure that the people of the world respect the generosity of the European Union. However, many citizens are asking how this will help Europe? The main impact of this crisis on Europe is that the prices of imported goods have increased significantly. To alleviate this problem, we need to help the oil producing and dependant countries so that they are no longer dependent on oil.

I don't like to be that negative, but many questions have been raised about the decision to postpone the provisions of the second Climate Act for a year. As a result, there were many protests and even riots. As leaders of the world's largest political and economic union, the Commissioners must make difficult decisions every day. Although some people think that the Act is too strict, this issue is extremely important. However, the Union had to consider the act, in light of the economic consequences. The most severe measures in the Act are unfortunately not possible in the short term.

Great progress has been made in relation to the European Union railway in recent years, especially the proposed magnetic train network. Over the past two years, preparations have been made to significantly upgrade the world's second largest public rail network. This project will feature new stations across the continent, and the parts of the network that are still using diesel will be electrified. That work has stopped due to the oil crisis. The most exciting part of the project is, of course, the new network of magnetic trains. This technology has been in development for many years and is already being implemented in China and Japan. Europe will follow them soon. This network will cost more than 300 Billion euros when it is fully completed, and may not be ready until 2065 at the earliest. It will connect major cities with each other at high speeds and boost European economy. There will also a reduction in the number of domestic flights to preserve the small amount of jet fuel left in Europe.

Goodbye, People of Europe and thank you for listening.