This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are discussing the “death” of really cheap flights. Why are low-fare companies removing their cheap tickets? Why are the flight prices rising and how are travellers impacted by all this? The rise of low-cost carriers and the plethora of cheap flights and air ticket deals have been a common trait in the past few decades due to an increase in travel movements, with many travellers taking advantage of the low fares and exploring the world more frequent...
Nov 24, 2022•17 min•Ep. 76
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are discussing how corruption affects people on the ground and why this is such a complex issue to address. For this episode, we spoke to our journalist colleagues from the EURACTIV network: Alice Taylor, who reports from Albania and Oliver Noyan, who is based in our Berlin office. We also reflect on input from Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, professor of Democracy Studies at the Hertie School in Berlin, and Pawan Kumar Sinha, director of Academic Programmes ...
Nov 17, 2022•29 min•Ep. 75
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are discussing the COP27 summit, which brings together world leaders to discuss climate change. In particular, together with MEP Pieter Liese (EPP) and Hanne Knaepen (head of ECDPM) we will take a look at the financial aspect of the topics on the table; climate finance, climate adaptation, and loss and damage. Are developed countries, who are also guilty of the most polluting practices, willing to fund developing countries, which disproportionately ...
Nov 10, 2022•25 min•Ep. 74
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are looking at two aspects of the war in Ukraine. First, the weaponisation of the conflict, with several European countries standing behind Ukraine and offering military assistance while Russia intensifies its attacks. The second is innovative solutions such as EyeWitness to Atrocities which aims to help journalists, activists, and citizens capture relevant and reliable audio-visual evidence that can lead to justice.
Nov 03, 2022•18 min•Ep. 73
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss how the far right is growing, as Giorgia Meloni’s leadership and the rapid rise of far-right governments in Europe create concern amongst leftist parties and political analysts. We also discuss how the leftist parties can maintain their ground: SYRIZA’s Alexis Tsipras and the President of the Party of the European Left Heinz Bierbaum highlighted why they are calling for a united left so their ideas and positions become hegemonic....
Oct 27, 2022•14 min•Ep. 72
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss the geopolitical complications of the EU’s relations with China. The European Council will hold a strategic discussion on China for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In a preview of this upcoming meeting, EU leaders and diplomats mentioned earlier in the week in Luxembourg that the bloc’s rivalry with China has deepened over the past few years. The reasons include both geopolitics and economics, as China is one of the EU’s s...
Oct 20, 2022•12 min•Ep. 71
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss the Commission’s enlargement report. Countries like Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Turkey have been on the waiting list for years, with no significant progress being made. The content of the enlargement report did not differ notably from previous years, yet, the language and tone reflected the renewed urgency on enlargement processes following Russia's war in Ukraine.
Oct 13, 2022•18 min•Ep. 70
This week the Beyond the Byline podcast is all about energy, the hot topic of today! Winter is looming and EU leaders and ministers are pushing for solutions to protect consumers and lift Europe out of the crisis. Last Friday (30 September), EU ministers met in Brussels to agree on new emergency measures to tackle potential shortages. Can a price cap on gas protect consumers and businesses from inflation and the energy crisis?
Oct 06, 2022•17 min•Ep. 69
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, following Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen's new measures to fight corruption, we speak to experts on the matter. Our guests this week are MEP Daniel Freund, Nick Aiossa, Deputy Director, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Transparency International EU, Jozsef Peter Martin, executive director at the International Transparency Hungary and Robin Lööf, lawyer specialised in commercial crime and financial regulation. We ask them: what is defined as co...
Sep 29, 2022•23 min•Ep. 68
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss Italy's upcoming general elections. Italians are asked to decide who will be their next government on 25 September. Political analyst Lorenzo Pregliasco and professor of politics Piero Ignazi explain: What is the possible outcome? What are the most probable scenarios if the right-wing coalition wins? Will Giorgia Meloni become the next prime minister and if so, how would it affect Italy’s relations with the EU?
Sep 22, 2022•21 min•Ep. 67
In a special episode of EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast, we bring you a breakdown of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the Union speech. The president addressed the key issues on the EU agenda and announced new measures, programmes, and plans. So, how is the Commission planning to support Ukraine? What is the plan for energy? And how can the Union ensure financial stability?
Sep 14, 2022•34 min•Ep. 66
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss the wiretapping scandal in Greece. Investigative and financial journalist Thanasis Koukakis explains why the Greek government monitored him while shedding light on how the "Greek Watergate" was revealed. And MEP Stelios Kouloglou tells us why exposing the wiretapping scandal is essential, what the role of the European Commission is, and what does it mean for the country’s press freedom.
Sep 08, 2022•23 min•Ep. 65
EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast is back, with a fresh structure and a fresh perspective on what’s beyond the news. For our first episode of the new season, we are taking an in-depth look at current events between Serbia and Kosovo. We ask: How did we get here? What is the impact of the ongoing conflict on the population of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity? What is to come, and how is the EU's diplomatic strategy panning out?
Sep 01, 2022•23 min•Ep. 64
In EURACTIV’s last episode of Beyond the Byline before the summer holidays, we are addressing the turmoil in French politics. With Emmanuel Macron struggling to set up a functioning government, we look at whether a coalition is a possibility and address the impacts of the Uber files scandal. But before that - the euro and the dollar reached parity this week for the first time in 20 years. With the possibility of the European economy heading towards a deep recession, we ask: what might this mean ...
Jul 14, 2022•19 min•Ep. 63
In this week’s episode of EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline, we are talking about the worst inflation of the past decades and low-income countries like Albania being pushed into poverty. We also ask if accession to the EU remains citizens' biggest hope and why the country’s prime minister is lashing out at the EU. But first, we start our journey in Bulgaria, where the outgoing government decided to expel 70 Russian diplomats for espionage amidst pro and anti-government protests.
Jul 07, 2022•19 min•Ep. 62
This week we discussed negotiations between the bloc's 27 environment ministers. In particular, their joint positions on five laws which are part of a broader package of measures to slash planet-warming emissions by the end of the decade. We also touched on what the EU needs to do more of and better, to achieve energy efficiency. To hear more on this spoke with Norwegian scientist Nils Rokke and EURACTIV’s Kira Taylor.
Jun 30, 2022•18 min•Ep. 61
This week the European Council will decide on Ukraine and Moldova’s application to accede to the EU. The decision will determine whether Ukraine and Moldova will be able to embark on the path toward full EU membership, after getting the status of EU candidates, and will draw trajectories for the region’s political development for years to come. To explain better what this means politically for the EU and the rest of the candidates, I’m joined by Alexandra Brzozowski and Cristina Papusoi, who is ...
Jun 23, 2022•28 min•Ep. 60
This week we are talking about a new entry into the black market: Hungarian license plates. EURACTIV's Network Editor Vlad Makszimov is here to help us understand why they are in high demand, the current gas prices in Hungary, and what is happening with the single market. We also spoke with Krassen Nikolov and Spiros Sideris about how Bulgaria and other Balkan countries are threatened by a strong anti-Western wave amid Russian propaganda. We ask: what is at stake? And - what is NATO’s role in th...
Jun 17, 2022•22 min•Ep. 59
This week we are talking about the EU’s minimum wage directive , what it means for workers and will it have an impact on inflation, as well as the Open Balkan Initiative, why it was touted as a mini Schengen for the Balkans and what the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has to do with it.
Jun 09, 2022•19 min•Ep. 58
This week on our Beyond the Byline podcast, we're focusing on the extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels to discuss energy, Ukraine and food security. We'll ask: What sanctions were discussed as part of the meeting? What's happening with the ban on Russian oil? Who was opposed to it and how did the leaders find common ground? To discuss all these questions, I’m joined by EURACTIV’s Kira Taylor. And - while the leaders were negotiating indoors, environmentalist groups were protesting jus...
Jun 02, 2022•22 min•Ep. 57
This week in our Beyond the Byline podcast, we are focusing on the European Commission's decision to increase the Ukrainian government's short-term budgetary aid by 9 billion and set up a reconstruction platform to help with financing the rebuilding of the country. To hear more on this, I’m joined by EURACTIV’s Economy and Jobs editor, Janos Ammann, who has been following the story. We are also taking a look at the state of the transport industry: what's happening with diesel and gasoline prices...
May 19, 2022•19 min•Ep. 56
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on why the Eurovision Song Contest has become so politicised and whether this year's event is a good reflection of current European affairs. Who are the traditional allies that we will see supporting each other during the big final, which countries are not participating, and what political messages are conveyed with the songs? To break down the politics of Eurovision, I’m joined by two special guests from EURACTIV’s editorial team- Gerardo Fortuna...
May 13, 2022•35 min•Ep. 55
In recognition of the upcoming EU mental health awareness week (9-13 May), this week in our Beyond the Byline podcast we are asking: How has our mental health been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine? What support systems are in place for citizens facing mental health problems? Does stigma around the issue still exist, and how do we tackle it? Together with Laura Marchetti, policy manager at Mental Health Europe and Clara Babef from EURACTIV France, we looked into the situat...
May 05, 2022•23 min•Ep. 54
This week in our Beyond the Byline podcast we are focusing on how companies are implementing initiatives to boost gender equality on corporate boards and in decision-making positions. Listen to our special guest Hedwige Nuyens, chair of European Women on Boards, explain why diversity in decision-making positions is so important, together with EURACTIV’s Silvia Ellena who has been covering the story. We are also taking a look at the aftermath of the French elections: asking why Western leaders we...
Apr 29, 2022•24 min•Ep. 53
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on how western leaders and human rights organisations like the OSCE are trying to investigate reports of war crimes committed in Ukraine by the Russian army. I talked to EURACTIV’s reporter Alexandra Brzozowski to hear more. We are also talking about how the EU is trying to break away from Russia regarding energy. How has the bloc’s energy policy shifted, and what additional sanctions could follow? I was joined by EURACTIV’s Energy and Environment...
Apr 15, 2022•24 min•Ep. 52
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on Poland’s veto of a proposal for an EU directive that would implement the internationally agreed 15% minimum effective tax rate for large multinationals. What were the reactions, and what are the next steps? I talked to EURACTIV’s economy and jobs editor, Janos Amman, to hear more. We are also talking about the highly anticipated presidential elections in France. What can we expect, who leads the race, and how could the outcome influence the EU ...
Apr 07, 2022•21 min•Ep. 51
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on EU membership candidates, progress made, and the silence from the EU’s side. We looked at the instrument for pre-accession assistance and why there is a special process to join the bloc for the Western Balkans. To hear more on this, I talk to EURACTIV’s reporter Vlagyiszlav Makszimov. We are also talking about how and if diplomacy can be the solution to the war in Ukraine. Diplomats from Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul for another round of n...
Mar 31, 2022•22 min•Ep. 50
This week is one of the busiest weeks for Brussels and international politics, as it’s the first time the “capital of Europe '' is hosting so many leaders at once for NATO, G7 and EU summits. I talk to Alex Brzozowski and Kira Taylor on the outcome of the summit and the announcement by von der Leyen and Biden on Friday Morning. We are also focusing on the new subvariant of Omicron, named BA.2, that is spreading rapidly leading to a new wave of infections across Europe. With the cases in many cou...
Mar 25, 2022•20 min•Ep. 49
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on several EU countries' decisions to prolong using coal while others, like Germany, mull whether existing nuclear power plants should continue. So how does the European Commission plan to tackle the issue, and what is at stake for the Green Deal? To hear more on this story, I spoke to Aneta Zachova from EURACTIV Czechia, Niko Kurmayer from EURACTIV Germany, and our Environment and energy reporter Kira Taylor from Brussels. We also discuss why a p...
Mar 17, 2022•21 min•Ep. 48
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the informal summit of EU leaders this Thursday in Versailles. What can we expect from the meeting, and what options are the EU considering for the bloc’s defence? I spoke with EURACTIV’s Global Europe reporter Alexandra Brzozowski to hear more on this. We are also talking about how some Russian embassies retaliated to Greece and Bulgaria after they followed EU sanctions. To learn more about the reactions, I was joined by Krassen Nikolov from E...
Mar 10, 2022•13 min•Ep. 47
