IIEA

The Institute of International and European Affairs. Independent, not-for-profit. Sharing Ideas, Shaping Policy. Retweets are not endorsements.

[IIEA @iiea]

🌍 From Early Warnings to Lasting Resilience
Secretary-General of the @WMO Dr @CelesteSau4049, will join the @iiea online to discuss how cutting-edge scientific data, new satellite technologies, and AI-driven approaches are transforming early warning systems for heatwaves, floods, and storms.
📅 Wednesday, 14 January 2026
⏱️ 1:00–2:00 PM
🔗 Register to attend on Zoom here: https://t.co/2AHCyBu6tS

This event is part of the Development Matters series, kindly sponsored by @Irish_Aid.

[IIEA @iiea]

🎄 Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 🎄
As we approach the close of 2025, we'd like to extend our warmest Christmas greetings to @iiea members, partners, sponsors and all those who have engaged with us throughout the year.
This year has been marked by profound global challenges underscoring the complexity and fragility of the world we share. Engagement across all spectrum is central to shaping these conversations and ensuring our work reflects diverse perspectives. As the year ends, we simply want to say thank you for your continued support and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

[IIEA @iiea]

📢 IIEA researchers and contributors have published a series of new analyses tackling some of Ireland's pressing policy debates in recent days. Some of our latest publications explore:
🔷 Irish neutrality in a changed European Security context
🔷 The impact of the 2025 USAID freeze in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans
🔷 Key challenges in EU digital policy and regulation
🔷 Devolution in the UK and lessons for Ireland
🔷 The current state of play of data centres in Ireland
Together, these pieces offer timely, evidence-based insights for policymakers, researchers, and anyone interested in how domestic and international policy is being reshaped.
👉 You can find all recent @iiea publications on https://t.co/SuHpTCL88P

[IIEA @iiea]

🎧 Our final few weeks of 2025 #iieaevents were jampacked so in case you missed any, you can watch or listen back on YouTube (https://t.co/viavYhzMzn) or where you get your podcasts.

Many thanks to our speakers Shashank Joshi; Minister @ThomasByrneTD; Kieran O'Neill; Patricia Callan; Niamh Quinn; Marie Cross; @BarryColfer; @CianFitzGera1d; Elizabeth Canavan (Dip IOD); @MarcKC_Green; Niamh Garvey; Kevin Daly; Derek Scally; Professor Carlo Masala.

Thank you too to our Chairs @danobrien20; @AlexWhiteSC; Shane Mohan; Professor Eeva Leinonen; Katherine Meenan, Emma Richardson and @LaraMarlowe.

With @DeloitteIreland, @KAS_UKIRL and the UCD Centre for Innovation, Technology and Organisation

[IIEA @iiea]

🏦 Ahead of Ireland's Presidency of the European Council in July 2026, a fascinating personal reflection by Noel Fahey, Former Ambassador of Ireland to Germany, the US and the Holy See, on the very first European Council meeting held in Dublin in March 1975. Hosting the leaders of the then Nine Member States of the European Community (EC), it was the largest diplomatic event to take place in Dublin since Independence. An #iieapublication, part of the #FutureProofingEurope project, supported by @dfatirl.
👉 Read more here: https://t.co/OUJBccLl20

[IIEA @iiea]

📢 A new #iieapublication warns that the current EU strategy to achieve competitiveness and digital sovereignty - large-scale investment in the digital economy, single market completion, regulatory simplification and the creation of “European champions” - may fail to make Europe either competitive or sovereign. @iiea Senior Researcher Seamus Allen's paper argues that the EU’s agenda is in danger of emphasising quantity, scale and hype over quality and substance, leading to the misallocation of Europe’s resources, and distracting from the pursuit of competitiveness and sovereignty.
👉 https://t.co/aVNCszYbzz

[IIEA @iiea]

Thanks to Derek Scally, Berlin Correspondent to @IrishTimes for coming to @iiea HQ this morning to discuss with us the German federal election of February 2025 and what it reveals about the shifting political landscape in Germany. With Friedrich Merz now installed as chancellor at the head of a new CDU/CSU–SPD coalition, Derek and Chair Katherine Meenan, assessed the implications for domestic governance, Germany’s role in Europe, and what political challenges may lie ahead in 2026.
@BarryColfer
#iieaevents #EUAffairs #Germany #Elections

[IIEA @iiea]

📢 Upcoming Event | If Russia Wins
The European Security Architecture finds itself at a crossroads. After decades of reduced military spending in Europe, Russia’s war against Ukraine has reminded the rest of Europe of the relevance of its own security and defence capabilities. But what if Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the rules-based international order succeeds?

In the final event of 2025, Prof. Carlo Masala, Chair for Security and Defence Studies at the Bundeswehr University Munich, will address the @iiea on the implications that Russia's victory would have for European security, and how should European states prepare for such a scenario.

This event has been organised in conjunction with the @KAS_UKIRL.

🗓️ November 2025
⏱️ 1p.m. - 2p.m.
🔗 The event is now full, but you can join us online here: https://t.co/17PMjmNUZ8

#iieaevents #Geopolitics #Russia #Ukraine #Europe #Security #Defence

[IIEA @iiea]

Today we hosted a symposium at Collins Barracks in Dublin for the launch of our White Paper, starting off with a keynote address from Minister @ThomasByrneTD, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, followed by a presentation of our White Paper and panel discussion.

Thank you to our speakers Kieran O'Neill, Partner, Technology & Transformation | Defence, Security & Justice Leader at Deloitte; @BarryColfer, Director of Research at the IIEA; Patricia Callan, Head of Sectors and Director of Financial Services Ireland (FSI) Group at @ibec_irl; @CianFitzGera1d, Senior Researcher on Security and Defence at the IIEA; Niamh Quinn of Strategy & IT, ESB Generation & Trading, and Marie Cross, Former Irish Ambassador.

Thank you too to IIEA Director-General, @AlexWhiteSC for moderating, and to Shane Mohan, Partner, Technology & Transformation | Government & Public Services Leader at Deloitte.

This event was organised in partnership with @DeloitteIreland.

#iieaevents #SecurityAndDefence #Security #Resilience #Geopolitics

[Cian FitzGerald @CianFitzGera1d]

How can Ireland build a whole-of-society security architecture to address hybrid threats in a time of risk

My new @iiea publication on Irelands security and defence published in conjunction with @DeloitteIreland

https://t.co/vwQJJUEncs

[IIEA @iiea]

📄 'Secure Together - Enhancing Ireland’s Security and Resilience in a Time of Heightened Geopolitical Risk', written in partnership with @DeloitteIreland.

This paper is timely as Ireland faces a increasingly volatile geopolitical environment. Authored by IIEA Researcher Cian FitzGerald and Research Director Dr Barry Colfer, the paper draws on insights from public service leaders, private sector experts, and academia to assess the risks facing Ireland’s society and economy. It explores how Ireland can strengthen its resilience through building a coherent whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to security.

👉 Read the full publication here: https://t.co/6FGnBL3MU3

#iieapublications #SecurityAndDefence #Security #Geopolitics #Resilience

[IIEA @iiea]

💡YPN: The IIEA Looks to 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, the IIEA’s Research Team looks to 2026, and Ireland’s EU Presidency. Barry Colfer and Cian FitzGerald will discuss Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They will discuss EU competitiveness, and how Ireland can contribute to Europe’s economic prosperity. Moreover, against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, they will discuss how Europe is supporting Ukraine, as well as the EU’s preparations for a widening of the conflict.

Join us at this final #YPN event for the year and see what 2026 has in store for us!

🗓️ Monday, 15 December 2025
⏱️ 6p.m. - 7.30p.m.
🔗 Register to attend in person: https://t.co/ATMDGsnYQK

#iieaevents #YPN #EU #Ireland #Presidency #Competitiveness #Economy #Ukraine #Russia

[IIEA @iiea]

🗳️ Romania’s 2024–2025 Presidential Election Crisis and Its Aftermath 🇷🇴

Romania’s most recent presidential election marked the most severe electoral disruption in the country’s post-communist history. The crisis, caused by large-scale foreign interference, AI-driven disinformation, and deep domestic polarisation, culminated in the annulment of the November 2024 first-round vote and the organisation of a new election in May 2025.

This blog, authored by Dr Claudia Bădulescu, Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow at @MaynoothUni and Dr Barry Colfer, @iiea Director of Research, explains how the Romanian President was elected; the unique factors that contributed to the elections; the future of the Presidency and its priorities, as well as implications for the EU and Ireland

👉 Read the full blog here: https://t.co/bJNSKPqFwS

#iieapublications #EUAffairs #Romania #Elections #EU

[IIEA @iiea]

🗳️ After the Snap: Germany’s New Political Reality
In his address to the @iiea, Derek Scally, Berlin Correspondent to the @IrishTimes, will reflect on the German federal election of February 2025 and what it reveals about the shifting political landscape in Germany.

Following the collapse of the Scholz government, the election delivered major gains for both the CDU/CSU and the far-right AfD, alongside historic losses for the former governing parties. With Friedrich Merz now installed as chancellor at the head of a new CDU/CSU–SPD coalition, Mr Scally will assess the implications for domestic governance, Germany’s role in Europe, and what political challenges may lie ahead in 2026.

🗓️ Friday, 12 December 2025
⏱️ 11a.m. - 12p.m.
🔗 Register to attend in person or online: https://t.co/wgFMcY0fib

#iieaevents #EUAffairs #Germany #Elections

[Dan O'Brien @danobrien20]

My @iiea discussion earlier today with The Economist's defence editor, Shashank Joshi, focusing on European security and defence. He quite brilliantly fields a wide range of relevant questions, including on Russia, the US, China and Ireland.

Listen here
Soundcloud: https://t.co/KHDe8tY9Tv
Spotify: https://t.co/TevHwcpWX2
YouTube Music: https://t.co/Re49u4eWUL

[IIEA @iiea]

🎧 If you missed last week's #iieaevents you can watch or listen back on YouTube (https://t.co/y4IQXdD9xY) or where you get your podcasts.

Many thanks to our speakers Minister @Pierrakakis, @DrSimEvans, Dr Ammar Al-Dwaik and Diana Buttu @ICHR_Pal.

Thank you too to our Chairs @danobrien20, Dr Fergal McNamara and @AlexWhiteSC.

#iieaevents #Economy #Digitalisation #Competitiveness #Innovation #Europe #ClimateAndEnergy #COP30 #Brazil #DevelopmentMatters #Palestine #HumanRights

[IIEA @iiea]

The final part of the 2025 #DevelopmentMatters lecture series, supported by @Irish_Aid, featured
Dr Ammar Dwaik and Diana Buttu from @ICHR_Pal.

They discussed the current situation in Palestine and the role of the international community in ensuring the protection of fundamental rights. They considered what what needs to happen within Palestine and in Israel to advance rights and to secure a just and lasting peace.

#iieaevents #DevelopmentMatters #Palestine #HumanRights #InternationalCommunity

[IIEA @iiea]

💡 Strategic Foresight Systems: What Policymakers Can Learn from Finland?
As part of our series on Finland's Future’s Ecosystem, this webinar will take an analytical approach to the ecosystem. Our panel of experts will give a critical assessment of the Finnish model and compare it with other international approaches, including Ireland’s.

Our panel includes:
- Elizabeth Canavan, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach
- Marc Ó Cathasaigh (@MarcKC_Green), former T.D.
- Niamh Garvey, Senior Policy Analyst, @NESCIreland
- Kevin Daly, Principal Officer at the @IRLDeptFinance

This webinar is the final event in a series that began with an address from Finland’s Minister for European Affairs Joakim Strand on Finland’s Futures Ecosystem in a European Context. The second in the series was an online panel event that outlined the core elements of Finland’s Futures Ecosystem. You can watch or listen back to them on YouTube or where you get your podcasts.

Event details:
🗓️ Friday, 12 December 2025
⏱️ 9.30a.m. - 10.30a.m
🔗 Register to attend online: https://t.co/9gm5pQAH2t

This event was organised in conjunction with the UCD Centre for Innovation, Technology and Organisation.

#iieaevents #EUAffairs #Finland #Democracy #Collaboration #Policy #Ecosystem