China’s aggressive industrial strategy, which has China flooding global markets with heavily subsidised exports, is increasingly placing it on a collision course with Germany’s leading export-driven sectors. With experts warning that the practice threatens the viability of Germany's economy, particularly in the automotive and industrial sectors, Euractiv looks at how this would affect the German and even the EU economy. To discuss this, we’re joined by Jonathan Packroff, Euractiv’s Berlin-based ...
Aug 27, 2024•14 min•Ep. 120
With the deadline to submit candidates for the next EU Commission approaching this Friday (30 August), time is running out for the selection process. The mix of rumoured and confirmed candidates is complicating the task for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as member states seem to be interested in only a few key portfolios, and prioritise respective domestic agendas at the expense of gender balance. In this episode, hosts Giada Santana and Magnus Lund Nielsen dive into the hurdles hind...
Aug 26, 2024•11 min•Ep. 119
The term “novel foods” is becoming more popular by the day. But to make it to the European supermarkets it needs to be assessed by the EU food safety authority and then get the greenlight from the European Commission. Novel foods include innovative products like cricket flour and UV-treated vegetables, as well as traditional foods from other regions, such as chia seeds. While some novel foods are embraced by the agriculture industry, others, particularly alternative proteins, have sparked heated...
Aug 23, 2024•12 min•Ep. 118
The European Central Bank (ECB) is a powerhouse in the EU, wielding influence over financial supervision, foreign exchange reserves, and economic forecasts. The ECB’s main goal is to keep inflation at 2% by adjusting interest rates. Its massive quantitative easing program from 2015 to 2022 aimed to tackle low inflation with trillions of euros. With current economic stagnation and geopolitical tensions, the ECB’s decisions are sparking heated debates. But how do these decisions affect everyday li...
Aug 22, 2024•16 min•Ep. 117
Railways are the most environmentally sustainable mode of transport, compared to cars or planes, yet, they remain chronically underfunded and underdeveloped in Europe. High prices, complex booking systems, and a lack of cross-border coordination are just some of the problems making it harder for Europeans to consider trains a reliable and safe option. What are the hurdles railways face in becoming the greener choice and what is the EU doing to overcome them? Host Nicoletta Ionta discusses with B...
Aug 21, 2024•13 min•Ep. 116
The European Union is increasingly in the crosshairs of international drug lords, according to the latest data from the European Drugs Agency (EUDA) - a growing focus that has led to an increase in drug-related deaths and violence over the past five years, affecting communities across the EU. In this episode, host Giada Santana explores the issue in depth with Euractiv health editor Catherine Feore and discusses possible policy responses with EUDA director Alexis Goosdeel.
Aug 20, 2024•16 min•Ep. 115
Brussels ranks second only to Washington in the number of lobbyists, with nearly one public affairs representative for every person employed in the European institutions, according to recent data by Lobbycontrol. In the wake of Qatargate, the largest corruption scandal in EU history, that tarnished the credibility of EU institutions, the upcoming mandate offers a critical opportunity to enhance transparency around the influence of lobby groups on political actors. But what are the loopholes that...
Aug 19, 2024•13 min•Ep. 114
With the EU elections just days away, speculations about the identity of Commissioner candidates are growing louder. If the new European Commission president is selected by July, they will have the whole summer at their disposal to form their College of Commissioners. But who is staying, who is leaving, and who are the new entries? To understand better the situation at steak, host Evi Kiorri talked to Euractiv's politics editor Aurélie Pugnet.
Aug 16, 2024•12 min•Ep. 113
Around the globe, the number of citizens who show unwavering support for democracy is on the rise but there are also more and more of those voting for leaders who may undermine democracy. Today, for the first time ever, more than half of the global population supports such leaders. We spoke to United Nations Development Programme's Pedro Conceiçao and Euractiv's politics hub editor Aurelie Pugnet to zoom in on the implications for the upcoming European Union elections.
Aug 15, 2024•16 min•Ep. 112
Ursula von der Leyen convinced 401 members of the European Parliament to vote in her favour, out of 707. This time, she was re-elected as Commission President with a 41-vote lead, emerging from the first plenary with a stronger mandate. Before the vote, von der Leyen delivered a lengthy speech reaching out to centrist and left-wing parties, while excluding the far-right. She outlined the priorities for her next mandate, appearing more confident than ever, but also raising some questions. To brea...
Aug 14, 2024•14 min•Ep. 111
UK citizens head to the polls today for a general election widely expected to end the 14 years of Conservative rule and return the Labour Party to power, prompting questions about what it will mean for the EU-UK relations and why - while Europe is shifting to the right - the UK is turning left. To understand the implications of the vote, the major players, and the European consequences, we're joined in the studio by Catherine Feore, Euractiv’s editor, with insights from Mathew Nicolson, Europe E...
Aug 13, 2024•13 min•Ep. 110
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has successfully leveraged her exclusion from the EU top job talks to reinforce her party's Eurosceptic narrative and position herself as a champion against the EU's elitism. But how is her strategy playing out in Brussels? In this episode, host Giada Santana and Euractiv Italy's Alessia Peretti discuss what Meloni wants from the European Council’s meeting and what she obtained.
Aug 12, 2024•11 min•Ep. 109
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" is a saying that feels particularly relevant in Brussels as Hungary prepares to take over the presidency of the European Council—one of the EU's most crucial brokering positions—in less than a week. From the choice of a provocative motto to its declared priorities, Budapest appears unafraid of escalating tensions with Brussels, disappointing those who hoped this role might prompt a Hungarian realignment with EU values. In this episode, host Giad...
Aug 09, 2024•11 min•Ep. 108
Defying expectations the French left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, overtook Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, coming first during the second and final round of France’s snap elections on Sunday (7 July). The left-wing coalition, however, has not secured an absolute majority, therefore questions arise about who will be the country’s next prime minister, and which parties could collaborate to form a government. To break down what the future holds for French politics, I’m joined by our Paris...
Aug 08, 2024•11 min•Ep. 107
As Ursula von der Leyen worked to get re-elected for a second mandate at the European Commission's helm, she offered concessions across the political spectrum and these tactical negotiations have largely shaped the Commission's next mandate. But what does her manifesto entail, and which points will von der Leyen truly prioritise? In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics reporter Magnus Lund Nielsen delve into the next European Commission's political guidelines, informed by exclusive docu...
Aug 07, 2024•12 min•Ep. 106
Ursula von der Leyen is campaigning to secure a second term as Commission president after her party's success in the European Parliament elections and her nomination by EU leaders. She is negotiating with key groups, including the Socialists, the liberals, and the Greens, to secure the 361 votes needed for her confirmation in Parliament. At the same time, far-right leaders across Europe, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, are forming a new alliance with nationalist parties from Austria and the Cz...
Aug 06, 2024•16 min•Ep. 105
In today's episode of Today in the EU, we decrypt the core messages of the 147-page long report by former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta that all EU institutions have been waiting for. Letta's analysis of the EU's single market was commissioned by the European Council a year ago. The document offers some answers to the unprecedented challenges facing the European Union: the energy crisis prompted by the war in Ukraine, the aftermath of an historic surge in prices, and increased competition ...
Aug 05, 2024•13 min•Ep. 104
More than 360 million European citizens had the right to vote in this weekend's European Parliament elections. Across Europe, the overall turnout was around 51%, and the results had knock-on effects on individual countries. Who were the big winners according to the latest exit polls, who were the losers, what happens with the non-affiliated, and in which EU countries were these make-or-break elections? To talk about what happened during the election night we’re joined by Aurelie Pugnet, Euractiv...
Aug 02, 2024•11 min•Ep. 103
The forthcoming report by former Italian prime minister and former European central bank president, Mario Draghi, on the future of European competitiveness is a valuable opportunity to shape the EU policy agenda for the coming EU legislative term and beyond. The report will focus on the EU's aim to leverage its numerous strengths and competitive advantages while also tackling existing challenges and facilitating the twin transition towards a sustainable and digital economy. But why has Draghi’s ...
Aug 01, 2024•17 min•Ep. 102
The European Union is expected to welcome 758 million tourists this year, a number equivalent to about 70% of the entire European population, according to the European Travel Commission. Despite tourism’s pivotal role in contributing to the GDP of several countries across the union, more and more communities are exhausted from bearing the brunt of tourism’s costs. In this episode, host Giada Santana and tourism researcher Stefan Gössling exchange views on how the EU can lead the way toward susta...
Jul 31, 2024•16 min•Ep. 101
Wildfires are once again raging in the south of Europe. With rising temperatures and global warming, wildfires have become a prominent issue for Europe, particularly in the summer, showing that the need for effective prevention and management is critical. But what lessons have we learned in recent years, what is the effectiveness of existing measures, and what are the future steps necessary to mitigate these destructive events? To break down these questions, we are joined by Balazs Ujvari, spoke...
Jul 30, 2024•17 min•Ep. 100
Germany's domestic politics has recently stabilised after a turbulent spring. While Europe faces fresh instability, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government in Germany has taken steps to solidify its position. What measures have been implemented, and how is Germany preparing to take on more responsibility amid potential challenges from the political instability in France and changes in NATO duties? To look into these pressing questions, we’re joined by our Berlin-based politics reporter Nic...
Jul 29, 2024•15 min•Ep. 99
As Paris buzzes with preparations for today's opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games, there's palpable excitement in the air. However, Parisians seem to have mixed feelings about hosting the 2024 Olympics, with murmurs of protests adding an element of tension. The Olympics are set against a backdrop of almost unprecedented political instability in France: After the snap elections in June, the country has a technical government in place until a new one is agreed. How have these tensions imp...
Jul 26, 2024•11 min•Ep. 98
The rise of a young generation of far-right voters - conservative, anti-immigration, and fiercely nationalist - is a phenomenon shaping new electoral strategies all over Europe. Across France and Italy, a strong bond has historically linked prominent far-right parties, from Jordan Bardella’s Rassemblement National to Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d'Italia, and various youth organisations, revealing a backbone of Islamophobia, fascism, and antisemitism, that particularly attracts young voters. In thi...
Jul 25, 2024•16 min•Ep. 97
It’s no secret that Europe is facing some of the biggest challenges in its history, from the digital and green transition to climate adaptation and mitigation, along with the need to boost its security and defence resources and enhance its competitiveness. But how does Europe plan to fund its ambitious plans? In this episode, we are joined by Thomas Moller-Nielsen, Euractiv's economy reporter, to understand how the Union plans to fund its projects by turning to private capital in response to pub...
Jul 24, 2024•13 min•Ep. 96
It’s a busy summer for the European Parliament, with this week seeing the formation of committees and MEPs voting on the committee chairmanship on Tuesday (23 July). The major political groups in Parliament are already staking their claims on committees that align with their policy proposals, and are collaborating to create a cordon sanitaire, ensuring they solidify their power in the legislative meetings of this new mandate. But which committees are the most important, who wants them, and what ...
Jul 23, 2024•13 min•Ep. 95
As Ursula von der Leyen worked to get re-elected for a second mandate at the European Commission's helm, she offered concessions across the political spectrum and these tactical negotiations have largely shaped the Commission's next mandate. But what does her manifesto entail, and which points will von der Leyen truly prioritise? In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics reporter Magnus Lund Nielsen delve into the next European Commission's political guidelines, informed by exclusive docu...
Jul 22, 2024•12 min•Ep. 94
Ursula von der Leyen convinced 401 members of the European Parliament to vote in her favour, out of 707. This time, she was re-elected as Commission President with a 41-vote lead, emerging from the first plenary with a stronger mandate. Before the vote, von der Leyen delivered a lengthy speech reaching out to centrist and left-wing parties, while excluding the far-right. She outlined the priorities for her next mandate, appearing more confident than ever, but also raising some questions. To brea...
Jul 19, 2024•14 min•Ep. 93
Today (17 July) marks new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's debut on the international political scene as he hosts the European Political Community (EPC) Summit, where 50 leaders from all over the world will discuss a hot list of topics, including rebuilding closer ties between the UK and the EU, four years after Brexit. In this episode, host Giada Santana and Global Europe editor Alexandra Brzozowski look ahead at the EPC's dense program.
Jul 18, 2024•12 min•Ep. 92
Newly elected and re-elected members of the European Parliament gather in Strasbourg for the first plenary session of the new mandate. Roberta Metsola has been re-elected as President of the European Parliament, but all eyes are on Ursula von der Leyen and her re-election as Commission President. What makes this plenary session so crucial, and what indications does it give us of the upcoming policies and files the new mandate will focus on? To understand the intricacies of this very first plenar...
Jul 17, 2024•12 min•Ep. 91
