THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S president, José Manuel Barroso, will make his second visit to University College Cork next week – but this time it will be a particularly exciting trip.

That’s because he will be awarded an honorary doctorate from UCC, receiving the Degree of Doctor of Laws before a large audience.

The university noted that President Barroso has requested speaking time of up to 25 minutes, which is described as “an indication that he has a specific message he wishes to convey to Ireland”.

‘Vision and commitment’

President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy said that in recognising President Barroso, “we acknowledge the vision and commitment he has demonstrated at the helm of the European Commission since 2004″.

In honouring him, we also recognise the role that the European Union has played in the transformation of Irish universities, including UCC, over the past twenty years.

At reception after the honorary conferring ceremony, President Barroso will get to meet university academics, and members of local, national and international government and business community.

In 2008, President Barroso delivered an address at UCC on the Lisbon Treaty.

For those who want to watch the event, it will be live streamed from 6pm on March 5th.

Read: ‘Ireland wasn’t a victim of the Euro, the Euro was a victim of Ireland’s banks’- Barroso>