Dithering on the Edge of Europe

Rich and Carola have accepted the fact that the EU will probably implement their whole Green Deal before the Dithering Team finishes reviewing it. But undaunted by the extensiveness of the deal, they soldier through two policy areas which should be so much more at the heart of any green economy than the Green Deal makes them out to be: Building & Renovation, and Sustainable Mobility. However, Carola and Rich are not impressed by these two expressions of policy-oriented interventions. If the EU Green Deal is supposed to shift behaviour of member states to chose more green solutions for mobility (and area that represents 70% of green house gases), or initiate that lauded “renovation wave”, as discussed in the EU policies, these policy areas and their targets are so humble that Carola wonders if the EU really means business or if it’s caught in that ever enduring tension between sovereignty and unity. It poses the question of whether ‘politically doable’ is just not enough to save the planet. As Rich says, “We just got to get real!” The EU Green Deal covers 9 policy areas, and in the last 3 episodes, Carola and Rich covered the areas of  Clean Energy  Farm to Fork Biodiversity Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Industry Eliminating pollution   And in this episode they cover Building and Renovation Sustainable mobility   Upcoming in the next episode is a big one: Climate action   Key Resources  European Green Deal, Wikipedia Entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Green_Deal  A European Green Deal. Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent - https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en    Infographics:    EC (Dec 2019), The European Green Deal - Building and Renovating -https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/attachment/859198/Building_and_Renovating_en.pdf  EC (Dec 2019), The European Green Deal - Sustainable Mobility -https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/attachment/860070/Sustainable_mobility_en.pdf  EC (2011), Charging of heavy good vehicles in the EU - https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/modes/road/road_charging/doc/hgv_charging.jpg  BBC / BEIS/DEFRA Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors (2019), Emissions from different modes of transport - https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/16D76/production/_108485539_optimised-travel_carbon-nc.png Wikipedia, Diagram of functional airspace blocks diagram of functional airspace blocks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_airspace_block Further Links Emissions from different modes of transport from BEIS/DEFRA Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors 2019 - https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/16D76/production/_108485539_optimised-travel_carbon-nc.png in a BBC reality check article “Climate change: Should you fly, drive or take the train?” (Aug 2019) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49349566  The European Single Sky, Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_European_Sky   EURACTIV (Sept 2020) Corona-crisis and Brexit boost EU air traffic reform hopes - https://www.euractiv.com/section/aviation/news/corona-crisis-and-brexit-boost-eu-air-traffic-reform-hopes/  

In this third of four episodes, Rich and  Carola explore sustainable industry, as part of the EU’s Green Deal? As Carola says,  faffing time is done.  They talk about digital agriculture, algae, sweat, bioenergy, the textile industry,   electronics and reusability, plastics, waste policy,   and yes, running naked and other green tips. (Wasn’t there a film with that title?). And is there a market advantage to be the market leader in green solutions? Also, a long discussion on how to make cement and steel sectors more sustainable.   In this episode we will cover  Sustainable Industry Eliminating pollution   This deal covers 9 policy areas, and in E32, Carola and Rich covered the areas of  Clean Energy  Farm to Fork Biodiversity Sustainable Agriculture   And in the next episodes we will cover Building and Renovation Sustainable mobility Climate action Key Resources  European Green Deal, Wikipedia Entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Green_Deal  A European Green Deal. Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent - https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en  Further Links Eutrophication https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication  Ecosia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosia  Paper bags need to be reused 3 times to be more environmentally friendly than plastic bags: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47027792  EU Packaging waste satistics https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Packaging_waste_statistics 

Union’s Green Deal was announced by Ursula von der Leyen back in 2019 and voted in by the European Parliament in January of this year. In this second of three (or will it be four?) episodes, Rich and  Carola explore EU's Sustainable Agriculture, they explore policies in this area and what exactly is digital agriculture? This was a very long episodes, so we cut it in two. This one covering only Sustainable Agriculture, leaving Sustainable Industry, and another long discussion on cement and steel, for the next episode.    This deal covers 9 policy areas, and in E32, Carola and Rich covered the areas of  ·       Clean Energy  ·       Farm to Fork ·       Biodiversity   In this episode we will cover  ·       Sustainable Agriculture And in the next episodes we will cover ·       Sustainable Industry ·       Eliminating Pollution ·       Building and Renovation ·       Sustainable mobility ·       Climate action   Key Resources  European Green Deal, Wikipedia Entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Green_Deal  A European Green Deal. Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent - https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en      Further Links Digital revolution in Agriculture https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/publications/eip-agri-brochure-shaping-digital-revolution Eurostats (2018), Organic farming statistics  - https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=File:Organic_farming_area_2018data-01.jpg  Greening our Energy Supply  - https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/food-farming-fisheries/sustainability_and_natural_resources/documents/leaflet-greening-our-energy-supply_en.pdf  EU-funded CLAIM (Cleaning litter by developing and applying innovative methods in European Seas)  https://www.claim-h2020project.eu/  Images referred to  DG AGRI network of food and farming journalists and professional communicators from across Europe and beyond Almost 1,000 registered members  https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/food-farming-fisheries/key_policies/documents/grants-kick-off-2020-ag-press-access-food-farming-media_en.pdf  Farmers and the agricultural labour force – statistics  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Farmers_and_the_agricultural_labour_force_-_statistics  Digital Agriculture - Digital revolution in Agriculture  https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/publications/eip-agri-brochure-shaping-digital-revolution 

(now correct upload) Union’s Green Deal was announced by Ursula von der Leyen back in 2019 and voted in by the European Parliament in January of this year. In this first of three episodes, Rich and  Carola touch on the politics of getting to this point and explore three policy areas of the deal: Clean Energy; Farm to Fork; and Biodiversity. Time to get foxy. Who is the pain-in-the-butt nation that the EU is glad to see the back off? And will there be a time again where we can fly without guilt?  This deal covers 9 policy areas, and in this episode we will cover  Clean Energy  Farm to Fork Biodiversity   And in the next episodes we will cover Eliminating Pollution Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Industry Building and Renovation Sustainable mobility Climate action Key Resources  European Green Deal, Wikipedia Entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Green_Deal  A European Green Deal. Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent - https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en  Further Links Kate Connolly (2020), Plagues of field mice decimating crops, say German farmers, The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/13/plagues-of-field-mice-decimating-crops-say-german-farmers  Eurostats (2018), Organic farming statistics  - https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=File:Organic_farming_area_2018data-01.jpg  World Economic Forum (2016), Nature Risk Rising:Why the Crisis Engulfing Nature Matters for Business and the Economy - http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_New_Nature_Economy_Report_2020.pdf     

This is the third part of their exploration of the UK Labour Party’s “Green Industrial Revolution”, which was part of their 2019 Manifesto. Rich and Carola give their thumbs up and thumbs down for various policy sections. Bringing back essential services into public ownership and going big on renewables get a big thumbs up, but funding seems to be the missing link.  This manifesto sections covers (Green Industrial Revolution): Economy and Energy Transport Environment Animal Welfare  This episode, concluding our look at Labour’s GND document, contains Environment and Animal Welfare.  Key Links and Resources A green Industrial Revolution (part of the Labour Manifesto, October 2019) https://labour.org.uk/manifesto-2019/a-green-industrial-revolution/ Labour for a Green New Deal Website https://www.labourgnd.uk/gnd-explained Thirty by 2030 Report: 30 recommendations by 2030. Expert Briefing for the Labour party. October 2019. https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ThirtyBy2030report.pdf A Just , Green Recovery https://www.labourgnd.uk/green-recovery/    Mentioned Resources Regional Manifestos https://labour.org.uk/page/regional-manifestos/ UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdealgroup.org Labour’s Covid19 post-pandemic strategy of how to move into a green recovery  https://www.labourgnd.uk/green-recovery/  Find out your own CO2 footprint https://www.myclimate.org/information/faq/faq-detail/detail/News/what-does-net-zero-emissions-mean/ 

This is the second part to their exploration of the UK Labour Party’s “Green Industrial Revolution”, which was part of their 2019 Manifesto. Rich and Carola give their thumbs up and thumbs down for various policy sections. Bringing back essential services into public ownership and going big on renewables get a big thumbs up, but funding seems to be the missing link.  This manifesto sections covers (Green Industrial Revolution)   -          Economy and Energy -          Transport -          Environment -          Animal Welfare    Because the section on economy and energy took up a whole episode, this episode only contains transport. The next episode will cover the last two sections. Key Links and Resources A green Industrial Revolution (part of the Labour Manifesto, October 2019) https://labour.org.uk/manifesto-2019/a-green-industrial-revolution/  Labour for a Green New Deal Website https://www.labourgnd.uk/gnd-explained  Thirty by 2030 Report: 30 recommendations by 2030. Expert Briefing for the Labour party. October 2019. https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ThirtyBy2030report.pdf  A Just , Green Recovery https://www.labourgnd.uk/green-recovery/  Mentioned Resources Regional Manifestos https://labour.org.uk/page/regional-manifestos/  UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdealgroup.org Labour’s Covid19 post-pandemic strategy of how to move into a green recovery  https://www.labourgnd.uk/green-recovery/  Find out your own CO2 footprint https://www.myclimate.org/information/faq/faq-detail/detail/News/what-does-net-zero-emissions-mean/ 

In their journey to find the perfect Green New Deal, and having put the bar high with the Green Party’s GND covered in the last two episodes, they move on to the Labour Party’s vision for a Green New Deal. The UK’s Labour Party integrated their “Green Industrial Revolution” into the 2019 Manifesto pledges,  and Rich and Carola give their thumbs up and thumbs down for various policy sections. Airport expansion and HS2 get a firm thumbs down, but the commitment to various public ownerships get a thumbs up. There is also that thing about football pitches…. This manifesto sections covers (Green Industrial Revolution)   -          Economy and Energy -          Transport -          Environment -          Animal Welfare    Economy and Energy is covered in this episode. Key Links and Resources A green Industrial Revolution (part of the Labour Manifesto, October 2019) https://labour.org.uk/manifesto-2019/a-green-industrial-revolution/ Labour for a Green New Deal Website https://www.labourgnd.uk/gnd-explained Thirty by 2030 Report: 30 recommendations by 2030. Expert Briefing for the Labour party. October 2019. https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ThirtyBy2030report.pdf   Mentioned Resources Regional Manifestos https://labour.org.uk/page/regional-manifestos/ UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdealgroup.org Labour’s Covid19 post-pandemic strategy of how to move into a green recovery  https://www.labourgnd.uk/green-recovery/  BBC News Reality Check: Climate change: Should you fly, drive or take the train? (24 August 2019) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49349566  Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2015/2/contents/enacted  Find out your own CO2 footprint https://www.myclimate.org/information/faq/faq-detail/detail/News/what-does-net-zero-emissions-mean/ 

Recording this on Super Saturday, and not going to the pub, Carola and Rich are exploring the second half of the GND of England and Wales, and although they cannot agree on whether the six headings represent ‘pillars’ or ‘categories’, they agree on what is their favourite aspect of this GND. This deal covers ·       ENERGY ·       HOUSING ·       TRANSPORT ·       INDUSTRY ·       FORESTRY AND FARMING ·       INCOME   The last three are covered in this episode. Links Green Party of England and Wales, Manifesto 2019 https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/Elections/Green%20Party%20Manifesto%202019.pdf UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdealgroup.org The Green New Deal Group, The Green New Deal : A Bill to make it happen https://greennewdealgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GND_A_Bill_To_Make_It_Happen.pdf     

Carola and Rich are exploring the GND of the Green Party of England and Wales.  It is so comprehensive that they had to  discuss this over two episodes.  This deal covers ENERGY HOUSING TRANSPORT INDUSTRY FORESTRY AND FARMING INCOME   The first three are covered in this episode.  Links Green Party of England and Wales, Manifesto 2019 https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/Elections/Green%20Party%20Manifesto%202019.pdf UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdealgroup.org The Green New Deal Group, The Green New Deal : A Bill to make it happen https://greennewdealgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GND_A_Bill_To_Make_It_Happen.pdf 

In this episode: Could Britain move from a Furlough in lockdown to a Universal Basic Income (UBI) ending up in a green economy? It seems to solve so many weaknesses of the current schemes, especially considering our climate catastrophe just around the next corner. Sources Universal Basic Income, Wikipedia Article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_income  Examples of UBI like systems – Alsaka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund  Finland Pilot  – Guardian Article from 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/23/finland-to-end-basic-income-trial-after-two-years 

As we all prepare to move into a new socially distanced world, Carola and Rich debate how exactly the economy should be rebooted. Introducing the theme of the season, they are already dithering when deciding on the name of the theme, or is it about concepts? They cover a short history of the term “Green New Deal” and explore some of the existing tensions between different political views on what a Green New Deal should include and what it shouldn’t. In preparation for a season  of dissecting various contemporary Green New Deals, they set themselves up to be the contemporary connoisseurs of the diverse flavours of GND’s. Like fine wine, some are delightful, and some just cheap and cheerful.  So stay subscribed to experience the GND cellar of fine dealing. Links Joel Pett’s 2012 Cartoon Climate Summit https://www.climateactionreserve.org/blog/2012/08/31/environmental-cartoons-by-joel-pett/  Thomas Friedman’s 2007 Article, suggested to have coined the term Green New Deal https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/19/opinion/19friedman.html (paywall) And his retrospective article in 2019 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/08/opinion/green-new-deal.html  2008 - UK Green New Deal Group https://www.greennewdealgroup.org  2008 Global Green New Deal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Environment_Programme   2018 IPPC 1.5Degree Report https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/  History of the Green Parties in the globally https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_politics  European Green Deal https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/communication-european-green-deal_en 

The UK general election has come and gone. We are still here but have a bit of a post-election blues. We also will Brexit by the end of the month (gulp). But we also have some plans for the next phase of our podcast and thus we will take a short break as we prepare for the next season. As we head into carving out a new relationship with our European Union neighbours, the dithering will likely continue, and so will our Dithering podcast. Stay with us, stay subscribed and we’ll soon kick off the new season. 

Carola and Rich imagine four different outcomes of the General Election. With this, they prepare themselves for the worst, the best, the ‘meh’ and the ditheringly ‘ughhhh’. Last minute manifesto checks? Here are some links: Sky News - General Election 2019: Compare policies with our interactive manifesto checker - https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-2019-compare-policies-in-our-interactive-manifesto-checker-11864909    Institute of Government - General Election 2019: manifesto tracker - https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/manifesto-tracker    A site with links to all manifestos - https://www.brevity.marketing/politics-and-election-marketing/   

Rich and Carola continue to explore all sorts of mobile apps that help people get to grips with what the EU is all about.  They test their ability (in a game) to tax a country in order to ensure its citizens' happiness. It does not go too well, and they have to build a dam and face an environmental catastrophe. But the game allows them to get to grips with the benefit of taxes. They also test an app that lists innovation projects, and another one that lists jobs in Europe. They marvel at European TV and explore an app that might help refugees have relevant contact points all in one place.  IPHONE Apps on the Apple Store (all free) Taxlandia by European Union Apps  Innovation Radar by European Union Apps TV of Europe by Television live EURES EU jobs by European Employment Agency EU Advocacy by the European Beekeeper Group  The EU Relocation Programme by European Union Apps

One of our short 'ditherings'. Nothing important, nothing timely. We just captured the moment we discussed our own coffee and tea habits, and how this small part of our culture has something to say about the more significant aspects of UK vs German wealth distribution. How do you have your coffee and tea? Tell us at Twitter @DitheringE (https://twitter.com/DitheringE)

DitheringE is going digital(er). Rich and Carola are exploring all sorts of mobile apps that help you get to grips with what the EU is all about.  Whether you want to test your knowledge of European capitals, recite the articles of the charter, investigate case law, hear stories from across Europe or watch the newest guides about how the EU goes about its EU things, these apps have you covered.  IPHONE Apps on the Apple Store (all free) EU Charter App by European Union Apps European Countries Maps Quiz by Andrey Solovyev EP Research Service by European Union Apps European Citizen’s App by Agile Partner S.A. My Region by European Union Apps  

Ursula von der Leyen’s agenda for the European Commission. This is a big chapter and - we fear - a long episode. The last chapter (and last of our episodes on v.d.Leyen’s political guidelines) is all about democracy; about securing our democracy and safeguarding our European democratic electoral processes, which of course is very fitting as the UK’s political parties have gone all out for their own general election campaigns with various stories already emerging about referendum validity, foreign interference and manipulation of the electorate.  Rich and Carola try desperately to not get hung up too much on UK’s election news, which with all the gaffs coming out from all sides is admittedly rather tempting. But they cover the proposed Conference of Europe, attempt to fill out a questionnaire about the European Union (link to online questionnaire below), discuss the value of the civil service and then Rich has a rant about Carola calling the Westminster parliament the mother of all parliaments and finds a more fitting likening in a doddering great-great grandmother with hearing aids and challenged with mobility.  Moving away from Brexitland’s inability to move in any direction, they have a bit of fun quoting from an article that discussed what happened with the Spitzenkandidaten-system, but written in the form of a murder mystery. Be prepared for many suspects and many culprits as the reasons why the Spitzenkandidatsystem failed this time around has quite complex contexts. This will hopefully be resolved during v.d.Leyen’s tenure, as laid out in the last paragraphs of the guidelines of v.d.Leyen, who has promised to resolve and pin down ways the European Union will select its leaders in the future.  Main Source Ursula Von Der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) - "A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe" 16 July 2019  (pdf English Version (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/political-guidelines-next-commission_en.pdf) ) Coverage about expense scandals related to Nigel Farage BBC (04/06/2019): Nigel Farage refuses to attend EU hearing into Arron Banks cash (www (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48516348) )   Guardian (21/05/2019): EU to investigates Nigel Farage over expenses funded by Arron Banks (www (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/21/eu-investigate-nigel-farage-failure-declare-expenses-arron-banks) )     Conference of Europe Consultation on the Future of Europe (www (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/democratic-change/future-europe/consultation-future-europe_en) ), including    online consultation (www (https://ec.europa.eu/consultation/runner/Future-of-Europe?surveylanguage=en) )  white paper (www (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/future-europe/white-paper-future-europe-and-way-forward_en) )  and how to get involved in citizen dialogue initiatives (www (https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/citizens-dialogues_en) )    Other ways for citizens to have a voice and understand more about the EU European Citizen Initiatives: “Get a greater say in the policies that affect your lives. The European Citizens' Initiative is a unique and innovative way for citizens to shape Europe by calling on the European Commission to make a legislative proposal. Once an initiative gathers 1 million signatures, the Commission decides on what follow-up action to take.” (www (https://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/welcome?lg=en&pk_source=facebook&pk_medium=social_media&pk_campaign=eci_launch_en) )   What Europe does for me (www (https://what-europe-does-for-me.eu/en/portal) )   Spitzenkandidatensystem Andrew Gray, Jacopo Barigazzi and Maïa de La Baume in Politico (07/05/19): Who killed the spiztenkandidat. No shortage of suspects in drama over how EU should be governed. (www (https://www.politico.eu/article/who-killed-the-spitzenkandidat-european-parliament-election-2019-transition/) )   Electoral Interference and EUvsDisino EUvsDisinfo (www) is the flagship project of the European External Action Service’s East StratCom Task Force. It was established in 2015 to better forecast, address, and respond to the Russian Federation’s ongoing disinformation campaigns affecting the European Union, its Member States, and countries in the shared neighbourhood. EUvsDisinfo’s core objective is to increase public awareness and understanding of the Kremlin’s disinformation operations, and to help citizens in Europe and beyond develop resistance to digital information and media manipulation. (www (https://euvsdisinfo.eu/about/) )  Electoral Interference (www (https://euvsdisinfo.eu/methods-of-foreign-electoral-interference/) )

Carola is still working from sunny but cold Turku in Finland, and Richard joins from rainy UK. They cover the fifth chapter of the guidelines, starting by making sense of the controversy around the commissioner titles, especially the commissioner for “Protecting our European Way of Life”, which of course was the subject of the last podcast episode. Getting entangled in the definitions of multilateralism, they managed to extract themselves simply to ensnare themselves back into a discussion around free trade. And what exactly should fair trade be in an era of green new deals, and can one use trade agreements to afford third countries to become more globally environmentally sustainable. Mercosur comes up, just as supply chains, WTO, chlorinated chicken, asbestos and GMO food labelling. And with UK rapidly moving towards the next Brexit deadline, Rich likens our relationship to the EU to being like a teacher and their most annoying kid at school. But the political guidelines feature the UK specifically and thus demonstrate the foreign policy and international relationship skills for which the EU is fast becoming famous.  Main Source Ursula Von Der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) - "A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe" 16 July 2019  (English Version (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/political-guidelines-next-commission_en.pdf) )

Carola and Rich join across two seas, Carola connects from Turku in Finland, and Rich is still in dizzyingly chaotic Brexitland. But they don’t let the current stunts by Boris Johnson, a parliament prorogation and (non-)constitutional battles phase them and they keep focussing on EU Commission President Von Der Leyen’s Political Guidelines, including chatting about how open and closed borders should be, border and internal security, and whilst ranting about supermarkets and Amazon, they make a case on how trade should always refrain to be an end in itself, as Von Der Leyen suggests, and aim to support a shared wealth.  Main Source Ursula Von Der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) - "A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe" 16 July 2019  (English Version (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/interim_en%20) )

Having just come off recording the third take of this episode (yes, finally this has also happened to us), Rich provides a silly start to the show. They both explore Von Der Leyen’s agenda for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, including 5G Standards, Internet of Things, Digital Service Act, Cyber security and the European Education Area, including Erasmus.  Main Source Ursula Von Der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) - "A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe" 16 July 2019  (English Version (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/interim_en ) ) Digital Europe and 5G Standards  European Commission, Digitising the European Industry (www (https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/digitising-eu-industry) )  The European Education Area Consilium: Policy timeline of the European Education Area (www (https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/education-area/) ) 

Rich and Carola discuss the published priorities ("Political Guidelines")  of incoming EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and cover her vision of an “EU economy that works for people”. Many feel-good policies are mentioned, such as fairer taxes, social rights, and strengthening the social in a market economy, but Rich and Carola also scrutinise and voice their concerns – albeit with some acknowledged lack of expertise – over the suggestion of completing the EU Banking Union by adding some pieces that were perceived to be missing, including a Capital Markets Union. There seem to be some inherent tensions between sections of her political guidelines, be it the balance between allowing SMEs to grow into the next generation of tech giants and the social rights expressed in the pillar. Here is were Rich and Carola put forward their Utopia of a social market economy and compare how this squares with Ursula’s.  Main Source Ursula Von Der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) - "A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe" 16 July 2019  (English Version) (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/interim_en) European Pillar of Social Rights Factsheet (2 pages, pdf): The European Pillar of Social Rights (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/european_pillar_of_social_rights.pdf) Factsheet (12 pages, pdf): Social Priorities under the Juncker Commission (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/social_priorities_juncker_commission_en.pdf) Europe’s Social Pillar (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/deeper-and-fairer-economic-and-monetary-union/european-pillar-social-rights_en) Europe’s Social Pillar SCORE BOARD (pick your country and see how it is doing (https://composite-indicators.jrc.ec.europa.eu/social-scoreboard/) )  

Rich and Carola are discussing the published priorities of incoming EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen. As they have different views on her leadership, this discussion should be interesting, especially has they get stuck into the EU Green Deal. They cover the EU Emissions Trading System, Carbon Border Taxes, the EU Circular Economy, the frictions between Green and Global, and what this all means for individual households. On top of all these feel-good policies, they discuss if the recent EU-Mercosur trade deal between South America and the EU might bugger up any progress made, but they also take note of which nation really buggered up our planet…. and that puts our so positively viewed histories of the industrial revolution into a pretty sombre light.  Main Source Ursula Von Der Leyen: Political guidelines for the next Commission (2019-2024) - "A Union that strives for more: My agenda for Europe" 16 July 2019  (English Version) (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/interim_en) Theme – Carbon Emissions Potsdam Institute: Brief History of CO2 Emissions (Youtube Video). An animated short film on greenhouse gas emissions.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ7S0D1iucY) The EU Emission Trading Scheme (Wikipedia) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Emission_Trading_Scheme)   The EU Emission Trading Scheme (European Commission)  (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets/index_en.htm) Theme – Circular Economy CNBC explains: What is the Circular Economy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0Spwj8DkM)    Circular Economy (Wikipedia) ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_economy) Circular Economy (European Commission) (https://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm) EU Circular Economy Visualisation of Stats by Eurostat (European Commission) (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/circular-economy/overview) Theme – Green and Global? European Union–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement (Wikipedia) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union%E2%80%93Mercosur_Free_Trade_Agreement)   China threatens Airbus over EU carbon cap: sources (www.ecobusiness.com) (https://www.eco-business.com/news/china-threatens-airbus-over-eu-carbon-cap-sources/)

Last chapter! Rich and Carola are celebrating with an extra-long episode (sooorrrry)….bickering about the ‘bindingness’ of charter articles and which of these have to be respected (rights) and which have to be observed (principles). They then get into a stroppy argument about Ursula von der Leyen, the new president of the European Commission. They chat about their own personal EU wishes for the next five years, all happen to be related to the climate change crisis. In short, that might just be an issue where dithering has disastrous consequences, whether outside or within the European Union. But being in certainly helps with minimising global dithering. EU Sources  The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf) Applying the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in law and (https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2018-charter-guidance_en.pdf)  policymaking at national level Guidance (2018) (https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2018-charter-guidance_en.pdf) What the MEP Greens think about Ursula von der Leyen: Greens reject von der Leyen for top job (16 July 2019) (https://mollymep.org.uk/2019/07/16/greens-reject-von-der-leyen/) Why will the Greens/EFA Group vote against Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President? (https://www.greens2019.eu/vdl/)   Mixed scorecard on #vdleyen  from twitter feed of Molly Scott Cato MEP  (https://twitter.com/MollyMEP/status/1151155554183725057)

Rich and Carola chat about Ulrike Guérot’s concept of a future “Republic of Europe (still under construction)”, exploring contradicting meanings of the concept of sovereignty in the context of a European Union (state vs people). Guérot’s concept of a sovereignty of the people is based on decentralisation to regions as anchors for identity, productivity and equality,  and Rich and Carola discuss how this type of devolution might just be what we need in the UK to resolve some of our socially democratic deficits.  Link to the 2018 Lecture by Ulrike Guérot: Our last resort: a United States of Europe? | Lecture by Ulrike Guérot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzm3GbPg7uI)  

Rich and Carola tackle their most challenging EU Charter article yet, the one about Justice. The amount of silences, fumblings and ditherings demonstrate how much they feel out of their depth but, as loyal EU citizens (still),  they have a go. The dithering also does not stop Rich in criticising how our UK application of the law fails to meet these EU Charter standards and the blooper reel at the end shows that attaining justice in a European-wide context is simply hard to attain and even more difficult to explain…. EU Sources - European Parliament The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf) FRA - Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU (https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2018-challenges-facing-civil-society_en.pdf) FRA - EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and its use by the Member States (https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2018-frr-chapter-2-eu-charter_en.pdf) European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) - Helping to make fundamental rights a reality for everyone in the European Union (https://fra.europa.eu/en)

Rich and Carola chat top jobs, EU ones, and provide a handy cheat sheet of the top 5 EU jobs currently being agreed and negotiated. Then they move to cover the Chapter 5 of the European Charter, including whether Carola might lose her right to vote in local elections (gulp) once Britain exits the EU.  Sources: Carola and Rich’s EU Top Job Cheat Sheet (https://twitter.com/DitheringE/status/1147805689978511365)   European Parliament The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf) EU Charter app - The FRA (https://fra.europa.eu/en) has developed an EU Charter app: a fundamental rights one-stop-shop for mobile devices. https://fra.europa.eu/en/charterapp  Charterpedia - https://fra.europa.eu/en/charterpedia    Various   Right of Foreigners to vote (Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_foreigners_to_vote) ) Right of Foreigners to Vote in local Elections (www.conservativehome.com (https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2018/03/after-brexit-those-eu-nationals-in-the-uk-should-have-the-right-to-vote-local-elections-so-should-all-other-permanent-residents.html) ) Political Groups in the EU Parliament (Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_groups_of_the_European_Parliament) )

Rich is a bit grumpy and Carola has “Flugscham”, as Carola has just flown back from a working trip to Switzerland, encountering a new terminology on signs around airport passport control. Both of them have a bit of a lengthy spat whether chapter 4 applies or not, attempting – probably without success – to make this rather convoluted issue less complicated. Rich puts forward the idea that everyone will need to channel their innter James Bond. But they also tackle the European Charter’s Chapter IV, titled Solidarity, and ask why social and economic rights contained in this chapter ended up being such a contentious issue for UK ministers in the UK’s recent debates about the withdrawal bill. Quick Sources: EU Sources - European Parliament The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf) EU Guidance for Application of the Charter https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2018/national-guidance-application-eu-charter EU Handbooks about the Charter https://publications.europa.eu/en/web/general-publications/publications UK Sources - Department of Exiting the European Union Factsheet 6: Charter of Fundamental Rights (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/714377/6.pdf) Right by Right Analysis (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/664891/05122017_Charter_Analysis_FINAL_VERSION.pdf) Information and Factsheets about the Withdrawal Bill (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-about-the-withdrawal-bill) House of Commons EU Scrutiny Committee (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmeuleg/979/979.pdf) Various The Marshall Plan (BBC) https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/marshall_01.shtml 

In this Episode Rich and Carola are not dithering around…. well, actually they are. They can’t help it, so this episode is longer than usual but with less tea. Whilst covering Chapter 3 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Equality), they rant about UK detention centres, Windrush, and how the UK’s political shift to the right is threatening basic human rights. On a more pleasurable note, they cover some more interesting linguistic titbits, from the end of Finland’s News in Latin to the never implemented plans of making the Charter into an 80 minute epic, multi-cultural poem. Sources: European Parliament The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf) EU Charter app - The FRA (https://fra.europa.eu/en) has developed an EU Charter app (https://fra.europa.eu/en/charterapp) : a fundamental rights one-stop-shop for mobile devices Charterpedia (https://fra.europa.eu/en/charterpedia) Articles about UK Detention Centres The Windrush Scandal (Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windrush_scandal) )  The Stanstead 15 (Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stansted_15) )  The Migration Observatory (Oxford University) (https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/immigration-detention-in-the-uk/) - The Migration Observatory informs debates on international migration and public policy   THE GUARDIAN (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/11/life-in-a-uk-immigration-removal-centre-worse-than-prison-as-criminal-sentence) : Worse than prison: life inside Britain's 10 deportation centres. Diane Taylor (11 Oct 2018)  BBC: (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27332370) The secret world of the UK's immigration removal centres. Catrin Nye  (12 May 2014)   THE TRIBUNE (https://tribunemag.co.uk/2019/05/close-the-detention-centres/) : Close the Detention Centres. Kacj Buck (15 May 2019)  

One of our short 'ditherings'. Nothing particularly illuminating here, just us trying to decide on sound effects for the podcast. So…… what does ‘dithering’ actually sound like. If you know, let us know on Twitter @DitheringE (https://twitter.com/DitheringE) All tea-cup sounds made with 50's Villeroy & Boch Burgenland Blau Cups and Saucers, inherited from Carola's mother. For pictures see this antique shop (http://www.christine-heinsohn.de/porz-vb-burg-blau-kaffee.htm) or read up on the 1748 founded and still trading German ceramics pottery factory via this wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villeroy_%26_Boch) article. 

Rich and Carola continue their exploration of the EU Charter but end up chatting about curtailing their son’s freedoms whilst advocating for EU fundamental rights. Their meanderings cover liberty, GDPR, freedom of expression, education and the four freedoms of the EU single market.  Sources: European Parliament The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf) Department of Exiting the European Union Factsheet 6: Charter of Fundamental Rights (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/714377/6.pdf) Right by Right Analysis (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/664891/05122017_Charter_Analysis_FINAL_VERSION.pdf) Information and Factsheets about the Withdrawal Bill (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-about-the-withdrawal-bill) Concerns by the Great Britain Equality and Human Rights Commission Brexit and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: our concerns (https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/what-are-human-rights/how-are-your-rights-protected/what-charter-fundamental-rights-european-union-0 )

Between cups of tea and checking out their own EU pulse, Rich and Carola dissect the Euro Barometer Number 89 – European Citizenship. Pondering about some surprising statistics:  that BREXIT-land’s attitudes towards immigration is more positive than the EU average, as well as that the UK generally values cultural exchanges. Freedom of movement and Peace remains an ultimate priority and only 7% of European Citizens surveyed have expressed spontaneously that there were no achievements of the EU worth mentioning.  The report is much more detailed and includes socio-demographic aspects, all very handy laid out in tables and graphs.     Direct link to pdf of the Euro Barometer Number 89 – European Citizenship (https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/ResultDoc/download/DocumentKy/83538) Standard Eurobarometer (http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/General/index) : Established in 1974, each survey consists of approximately 1000 face-to-face interviews per country. Reports are published twice yearly. Special Eurobarometer reports are based on in-depth thematic studies carried out for various services of the European Commission or other EU Institutions and integrated in the Standard Eurobarometer's polling waves.   

Dithering on the Edge of Europe reports back from the Spring Conference of the Green Party of England and Wales, held in lovely (mostly) sunny Scarborough. Rich and Carola cover how much Brexit featured (or not), they joined in the celebrations of green waves, green surges, and green MEPs, and they have a good tip for campaigning against library closures. They report back from a panel discussing the Green New Deal and relish the fact that the Greens new tax and fiscal policy was passed to ensure climate justice. They met their newly elected Green MEP for the North West, inspiring Gina Dowding, who joined in to chat about various Ditherers and whether we are drifting off, being pushed or rather like a giant Titanic to be turned around. More info about … the Green Party (https://campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/)   … the Spring Conference of the Green Party (https://campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/ )  

Between cups of tea and some more dithering, Richard and Carola try to understand what it means to be a European family and live in the UK. In this episode, Rich and Carola gush over the EU Charter, its beautiful preamble and the first chapter “Dignity”. Source: The European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf)

Between cups of tea and a lot of dithering, Richard and Carola try to understand what it means to be a European family and live in the UK. Carola and Rich still have clinking cups of tea but they could not resist and record their first reactions to the EU parliament elections. They ponder over election mathematics and what the share of the votes means for popular opinion about leave vs remain. They dissect the D’Hondt system, still not being as proportional representative as they would like, and they rant about those media channels who still act as if these where FPTP elections. Links: Our calculations on DHondt vs excact proportional representation  (on Twitter) (https://twitter.com/DitheringE/status/1133445232455028736 ) BBC: EU Parliament Elections – UK Results (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48403131) BBC: EU Parliament Elections – EU Results  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c7zzdg3pmgpt/european-elections-2019) Guardian: EU Parliament Elections – UK Results (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2019/may/26/european-election-latest-results-2019-uk-england-scotland-wales-ni-eu-parliament )  

Between cups of tea and dithering paper noises (yes, we are experimenting with what 'dithering' actually sounds like, this time with German Potteries’ Burgenland teacups) Rich and Carola talk citizenship; Carola's application for permanent UK residency;  citizenship tests;  passport differences; melting pot vs multi-diversity; and various stumbles over the word citizenship (try saying it 10 times…). And we have a chat about the fact that Richard is not exactly a UK citizen but a subject whilst Carola delights in the contents of a British passport, quoting Haynes manual: “One of the wonderfully quirky things about being a ‘loyal royal subject’ is the reassuring regal proclamation residing inside the front cover of British passports – an imperial warning formulated to ward off persons with the temerity to be of foreign persuasion”. We recorded this episode back in March, but it is still timely.    Sources: Albertson, Kevin; Rock, Ian; Medway, James; Fox, Chris (2015) Haynes Manual on How to run the Country. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978 0 85733 800 6. This book asks the question of “But what if the country needs fixing?” Out of print, but still available at Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Run-Country-Manual-Economics/dp/0857338005) . https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Run-Country-Manual-Economics/dp/0857338005  Official UK Citizenship Test and website - https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test  For any Europeans needing to apply for settlement status to remain living in the UK beyond BREXIT https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families         

We make a good attempt to understand how European Parliament Elections work in the UK. Rich reconnects with his inner Math-Teacher and explains (at length...) the D'Hondt method and what this means for UK regions, and we each get our three points in just under 40 minutes. Bare with us.... we missed our tea this time and will need to make up for it next time...... Sources being used are EU European Parliament Elections  FAQ (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/faq) A guide to the European Parliament (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/divers/EN_EP%20brochure.pdf) EU Elections: how many MEPs will each country get in 2019? (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20180126STO94114/eu-elections-how-many-meps-will-each-country-get-in-2019) and the very exhilarating Annex 1 (CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/meps/Code%20of%20Conduct_01-2017_EN.pdf) )

Join Richard McCarthy and Carola Boehm in this second season of their podcast about what it feels like to be a multi-national European family and live here in the UK. Between cups of tea and a lot of dithering, this husband and wife team tries to make sense of political bits and pieces that invade their daily lives and the little multi-cultural incidents that allow them to explore what it means to be European. In the process of talking about it, they hope to tether themselves a little bit more firmly to Europe and invite listeners to join them on this podcast journey.