This is Today in the EU! The first daily podcast exclusively dedicated to politics and policy in the EU, brought to you by Euractiv’s newsroom. Subscribe and start your day with a fresh perspective on European politics and policy.
The European Parliament wants to use TikTok to engage voters ahead of the EU elections in June. However, some are calling the move contradictory - as in March 2023, both the European Commission and Parliament banned TikTok from official devices. Despite their positions having since ameliorated, cybersecurity concerns persist. We spoke with Julia Tar, Euractiv’s Technology reporter to find out about the transparency regarding its use and how can TikTok be safely used during the electoral campaign...
Farmers’ protests making the headlines these days brought back agriculture in the EU political agenda. But what is the state of EU agriculture and how it is performing in economic, social and environmental terms? We had a conversation with two experts: Yves Madre, president of the agricultural think thank Farm-Europe and David Baldock of the sustainability think tank Institute for European Environmental Policy, to discuss two different points of view on the current situation of the food systems ...
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast looks at Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to run for a second term as President of the European Commission. Ending months of speculation, von der Leyen told members of her conservative CDU party in Germany on Monday (19 February) that she was seeking a second term. In a speech where she vowed to defend the bloc from forces determined to divide it, von der Leyen by default becomes the frontrunner. Her centre-right party is forecast to win the most seats in ...
With NATO defence ministers gathering in Brussels on Thursday (15 February), the meeting is being overshadowed by former US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks Washington might not protect European allies who are not spending enough on defence from a potential Russian attack. They also come ahead of the Munich Security Conference (16-18 February), the 'Davos of defence', where some of the world’s top security leaders meet to discuss crises and future threats. We ask Alexandra Brzozowski, Eur...
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast looks at the Greens congress, their pro-electoral pledge and the candidates representing the coalition in the elections. In anticipation of the European Elections this coming June, parties are gathering in congresses to finalise their candidate selections and strategies for their electoral campaigns. Earlier this month, The Greens convened their congress to finalise their manifesto and to select their lead candidates for the EU elections. We asked network...
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast delves into the chain of events that led to the sinking of a boat carrying around 200 people off the coast of Cutro, southern Italy, on 26 February 2023 - in which at least 94 people lost their lives. Italian officials at the Frontex monitoring room in Warsaw deemed the sighting of the migrant boat as 'not of particular interest' hours before it hit a shallow point in the water and sank, according to the Frontex incident report obtained by Euractiv. We as...
In this episode, the Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the EU’s new push towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. EU foreign ministers held a flurry of separate meetings in Brussels this week - with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki as well as other Arab ministers - to discuss how to achieve peace in the Middle East. The EU's peace plan ambitions hit a big wall in the face of Israel's flat-out rejection. Euractiv’s Globa...
In this episode, the Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the EU’s plan to grant €87 million, alongside new equipment, to Egypt to manage migration in 2024, under a project initiated in 2022. The focus is on enhancing Egypt's naval and border capabilities for surveillance and sea search and rescue. Previous funding supported border management, anti-smuggling efforts, and voluntary returns. Negotiations are also continuing to tie funding to the country for various sectors to International Monetar...
In this episode, Euractiv's Beyond the Byline podcast takes a deep dive into the agreement reached by EU member states to initiate talks with the European Parliament concerning a €50 billion aid package for Ukraine. Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orbán has so far vetoed the EU's proposed €50 billion for the Ukraine Facility fund. The fund aims to provide financial assistance to Kyiv between 2024 and 2027 for its public deficit, essential services, and reconstruction efforts. However, Orbán has ...
In this episode of EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast, we look into European Council President Charles Michel’s recent announcement that he will step down from his current position and run in the European parliamentary election in June. The prospect of Michel's potential election as an MEP introduces a complex timeline for selecting his successor and raises concerns about a potential power vacuum during Hungary's EU Council presidency. We ask Euractiv's Global Europe Editor Alexandra Brzozowsk...
In this special year-end episode, our Beyond the Byline podcast, together with Euractiv’s Alexandra Brzozowski, Benjamin Fox and Julia Tar, takes a closer look at the key topics that shaped our coverage throughout the past 12 months. As 2023 bids us farewell we look at its impact not only for the European Union and its policies but for the entire globe. The ongoing war in Ukraine continued to command our attention in 2023, underscoring the geopolitical tensions that persist in the region. But th...
In this episode of EURACTIV's Beyond the Byline podcast, we look into the crucial discussions at the last European Council summit of 2023, on December 14th and 15th in Brussels. Leaders from the 27 EU member countries are convening to address pivotal issues such as the bloc's enlargement strategy, the war in the Middle East, the EU's long-term budget, and security and defence concerns. We talked to David Rinaldi, the director of studies and policy and Andriy Korniychuk the policy analyst on inte...
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast takes stock of what's been happening at the UN's Climate Summit COP28, currently taking place in Dubai. What can we expect from the negotiations? What's the world's reaction been to the summit, and what is currently topping the list of concerns for climate analysts and activists? To answer these questions, we spoke with Preety Bhandari, senior advisor for Climate and Finance at the World Resources Institute and Claire Fyson, climate policy analyst at Clim...
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast delves into the European Commission's recent decision to approve the release of 920 million euros as part of Hungary's recovery and resilience plan. The decision raises concerns over incomplete achievements in areas such as judicial independence and anti-corruption measures. Commissioner Hahn's recent report acknowledges progress but underscores unmet milestones. Beyond the €900 million disbursement, a critical question emerges: Is Hungary, led by Viktor ...
In this episode, the Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the results of the Dutch elections, which saw the party of anti-Islam populist, Geert Wilders, lead the polls. The success of Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) signalled a notable rightwards shift in a country that's seen over a decade of centrist governance. Geert Wilders is now positioned to lead talks for the next governing coalition, potentially becoming the first far-right prime minister of the Netherlands, with the PVV securing 37 seats ...
In this episode, the Beyond the Byline podcast dives into the upcoming Dutch elections. Who can win the race, and what will the election result bring to the Dutch and the European Union? This Wednesday, 22 November, the Dutch are heading to the polls to vote in a snap parliamentary election. For the first time in 16 years, Mark Rutte, the previous prime minister whose government collapsed in July, is not running. The Dutch political scene is somewhat messy and unpredictable, with potentially up ...
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the critical situation unfolding in Gaza's hospitals as Israel continues its military operations in the strip. Medical centres - once a refuge for civilians - have been struggling to continue to operate with their fuel, electricity and medical supplies cut off. On Wednesday, the Israel Defence Forces raided Gaza's biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, saying that Hamas militants were hiding out beneath the building. Doctors and aid workers on the ground ...
This week the Beyond the Byline podcast looks at Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's tour of the Western Balkans. The EU executive chief talked to leaders of Western Balkans countries to encourage their governments to continue their hard work to meet EU membership standards, while warning that many are falling short of the requirements, and Brussels’ newfound appetite for enlargement might not last forever. The six Western Balkan states of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montene...
The European Commission's plan to reduce pesticide use has faced criticism from European farmers, primarily due to concerns about the availability of alternatives by 2030. In response, a new target is being proposed to make the EU executive accountable for providing farmers with low-risk options and actively contributing to creating a robust market for such products. European Parliament members (MEPs) want to set an ambitious yet achievable target, considering technical and market insights, and ...
This week the Beyond the Byline podcast takes a deep dive into the global rules governing warfare - or international humanitarian law, as it’s officially called. The rules, established in the wake of the Second World War, seek to limit the effects of armed conflict, guided by the 1949 Conventions that 196 states are party to. To find out what the ground rules are, who is eligible for protection, and what happens when these rules are violated, we turn to Dr. Knut Dörmann, head of the delegation o...
This week, Euractiv’s Beyond the Byline podcast takes a look at the division sweeping across the EU amid mixed signals from officials on the Israel-Hamas war. EU leaders held a virtual conference on Tuesday (17 October) to decide their common stance regarding the conflict that has exploded between Israel and Hamas in recent days. The talks came in the wake of criticism that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen overstepped her remit with her unequivocal support for Israel. We asked ...
With Polish citizens due to head to the polls to vote in the country's national elections on Sunday (15 October), this week Euractiv’s Beyond the Byline podcast is exploring what is at stake in the vote. The incumbent Law and Justice party (PiS), in power since 2015, has introduced divisive reforms including massive restrictions on women's reproductive rights and a more autonomous stance towards EU policy. Ongoing scandals, like the visa controversy, could affect the elections, with concerns ove...
This week, Euractiv’s Beyond the Byline podcast takes a deep dive into the evolving crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. Thousands of ethnic Armenians living in the territory have been displaced following Azerbaijan's recent offensive to regain control of the contested enclave - dramatically reshaping the conflict landscape. The dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh's government marks the culmination of over three decades of separatist rule, with far-reaching geopolitical implications in the South Caucasus. Wh...
This week, Euractiv’s Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the hotly contested report on the regulation of sex work. EU lawmakers adopted a report advocating the decriminalisation of people engaged in sex work, while suggesting the 'punishment' but not criminalisation of those who use their services. The report, although lacking direct legislative impact, sparked controversy as it initially proposed the Nordic model, criminalising sex buyers, but later opted for a milder stance. It also called f...
This week in a special episode for EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast we explore the challenges and resilience of European farmers within the context of food chains and sustainable food production. We delve into the recent State of the Union address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, where she expressed gratitude to farmers and emphasised the shift towards sustainable agriculture. Discover how farmers and cooperatives are facing issues like generational renewal and administ...
This week, EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast brings you a breakdown of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech on Wednesday (13 September). In her final SOTEU address under the current mandate, von der Leyen used the speech to lay out her achievements - and hopes for the future - for European citizens across areas such as the economy, climate change, and migration. As rumours swirl as to whether she intends to throw her hat into t...
This week, EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the EU’s enlargement strategy. With Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine bringing the topic of EU enlargement back into sharp focus, the next political season could be crunch time for decisions that will shape the Union of the future. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi stated that enlargement by 2030 is possible, but depends on efforts from both candidate countries and the EU. The European Commission plans to make significant...
EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast is back and this week, we're looking at the wildfires that have devastated regions across southern Europe. The continent was once again battling scorching temperatures this summer, with wildfires blazing across Europe from Portugal to Greece. The latter is still battling with the largest wildfire in the EU since 2000. The damage to the ecosystem and the natural resources on the entire continent has been devastating, with the fire destroying everything in its ...
In the last episode before the summer break, EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the summer strikes across the continent. As Europe enters the summer season, a wave of transport strikes is causing significant disruptions to travel across the continent. Employees from various sectors, including air traffic controllers, security staff, cabin crews, and train personnel, are taking a stand demanding fair treatment, higher wages, and improved working conditions. These strikes have impacte...
