The head of the European Union’s (EU) executive arm has said the bloc is ready to provide Ukraine an €11bn aid package in loans and grants over the coming years.

Outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will tonight praise the people of Ireland for their courage, resilience and sacrifice during the bailout programme.

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will be speaking in UCC later today.

The image of the European Commission as pushing austerity and creating difficulties for Ireland is wrong, the Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso will say today when he is awarded a honorary degree by University College Cork.