Vulcan Consulting

Specialist public affairs firm with insights and analysis on Irish and European policy, regulation and politics.
@FIPRAinsight Member.
RTs not endorsements.

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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: https://t.co/Np85n24wh3

#EuropeanPreference #EUIndustry #PublicProcurement #StrategicAutonomy #Competitiveness #IndustrialPolicy

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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: https://t.co/vhO316LHw9

#Criticalrawmaterials #EU #US #Trade #Geopolitics

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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: https://t.co/qha4FFGenU

#Ireland #Defence #Neutrality #Security

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

🌍🇪🇺 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:

https://t.co/XNdWpVrTIu

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

🇪🇺🔐 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:

https://t.co/muXObPSRij

#Cybersecurity #TechSovereignty #5G

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

🇮🇪💨 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: https://t.co/QbZjSLQ0uK

#Ireland #WindEnergy #EnergyTransition

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

🇪🇺 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: https://t.co/zpNAC1RZsu

#EUMercosur #TradePolicy #Geopolitics #EuropeanParliament #ClimateTrade

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

🇨🇳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: https://t.co/CdYZBlP1fx

#TradePolicy #EUChina #IndustrialStrategy #EVs #Semiconductors #Geopolitics

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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: https://t.co/O7uqX9lDxC

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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: https://t.co/8gUOgT4htr

#EU #Deforestation #EUDR #SupplyChains #Sustainability #Trade

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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: https://t.co/mkanzIuaRq

#Ireland #Transport #Infrastructure #Rail #Logistics

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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: https://t.co/6dhTOqFLEQ

#EU #Bioeconomy #Sustainability

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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

https://t.co/ytTsEfd6il

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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

https://t.co/C9WJYyugnS

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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.

https://t.co/ZQb1S6X97v

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

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

https://t.co/q9H2yZuSVC

[Vulcan Consulting @VulcanInsight]

🇮🇪 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

https://t.co/O7vpFDRYgf