Europe Talks Back

Giorgia Meloni has just suffered her first major defeat. On Monday, she lost the judicial referendum she had called. A defeat that will not lead to her resignation, she declared.But could this first setback weaken her both in Italy and internationally?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are constantly being delayed. That's what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated last week. As his country begins to run out of missiles and financial support, can Zelensky still hope to get out of this war with dignity?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In France, a campaign to demonize the far left is underway. During the municipal elections, different left-wing parties joined forces to defeat the right and the far right. The right has labeled most of these alliances as "shameful deals," because they include La France insoumise (LFI), or France Unbowed. Is this the beginning of a real firewall against leftist parties? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU is looking for answers to the energy crisis. Several EU member states are proposing to revise how the carbon market works, so that it weighs less on prices. But could this actually make a difference?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukraine will soon run out of money. Four years into the war, the country faces a serious funding issue. The EU has promised a 90 billion euros loan, but it is currently blocked by Hungary. Will the rest of the EU manage to convince Viktor Orban to lift its veto?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn• Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nuclear energy is no longer just a French affair. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has finally admitted that nuclear power has an important role to play in the EU's energy mix. But the question is: How many European countries are switching back to nuclear?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump keeps turning up the heat on his allies. Over the weekend, he warned that it would be “very bad for the future of NATO” if allies didn't help secure the strait.Are Europeans ready to step up and support the U.S.?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU-Mercosur trade deal has faded from the headlines. Yet, a major milestone is on the horizon: after twenty-five years of negotiations, the agreement is set to enter into force provisionnaly in the coming weeks. Will farmers' fears actually materialize?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A court ruling has just ordered the city of Madrid to comply with the Spanish law on abortion, and create a registry of conscientious objectors. These are doctors in the region who refuse to perform abortion procedures. Are there still many of these conscientious objectors in Spain and across Europe?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.This episode is based on a story written by Sara Plaza Casares for El Salto and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The right has once again joined forces with the far right in the European Parliament to push through a major text on migration. Since the 2024 elections, this pattern has been repeating itself over and over. Could this breakdown of the firewall become the norm across Europe?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn •Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France has deployed its aircraft carrier to support Cyprus and the Gulf states, which have been attacked or threatened by Iran. Several other EU countries have joined this effort. What is the scale of European forces sent to the region?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Iran has once again highlighted a familiar issue: when it comes to international politics, the European Union does not always speak with one voice. Why doesn't the EU have a single president?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soon, asylum seekers from Bangladesh or Egypt, could see their asylum applications in the EU automatically rejected.This is what the new regulations on safe countries of origin and safe third countries, adopted in February, provide for.On what criteria does the EU base its decision to classify a country as safe? And are these criteria foolproof?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is standing up to Donald Trump. He condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and denied the Americans access to Spanish military bases. In retaliation, Washington has vowed to cut trade ties with Madrid.How far can Pedro Sánchez oppose the United States?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After several years of industrial decline, the European Commission proposed a ‘Made in Europe' policy, on March fourth.Is this a major industrial turning point? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran is now blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which 1 in 5 barrels of oil and a quarter of the world's liquefied natural gas transit.As oil and gas prices rise, should Europeans be worried about a new energy crisis?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Historically, the EU has placed crucial importance on upholding international law. But after the US and Israeli strikes in Iran, the EU is turning a blind eye to the violation of the principles of the UN Charter. Are we witnessing an erosion of this principle within the EU?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Briefed Special is a longer conversation from our series Europe Talks Back.The European Union is one of the world's most developed regions; yet deep territorial inequalities persist. According to Eurostat, GDP per capita can vary threefold within the same member state, with capital regions often earning twice as much as the rest of the country.In this episode of Europe Talks Back, produced with ESPON, Léa Marchal explores why many small and medium-sized cities are losing ground — and whether this trend can be reversed.Joined by Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Professor at the London School of Economics and Chair of the High-Level Group on the Future of EU Cohesion Policy, the discussion looks at demographic decline, policy blind spots, and the limits of current cohesion funding.Are these cities doomed to fall behind - or can smarter investment and stronger local institutions help them thrive again?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.A podcast by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research with policies“This podcast series is cofunded by ESPON. However, the opinions and views expressed are solely those of the authors. ESPON can't be held responsible for them.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Far-left kills.” That's how extreme-right protesters have described the death of Quentin Deranque. A formula also used by various political figures in France and abroad to blame far-left and antifascist movements in a broader sense.Can this dramatic event weaken antifascist movements across Europe?Production : By Europod in co-production with the Sphera network.This episode is based on a story written by Enric Bonet for El Salto and another one written by László Szily for 444, and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Spain, the Therian community—people who spiritually identify as animals—has been the subject of heated debates on social media and in the press. Yet, the phenomenon exists primarily in the mouths of its detractors. Why has such a minority movement received so much attention in recent days?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn•Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poland isn't just preparing for war—it's rewriting the rulebook on how to get ready. The defence training programmes adopted in 2025 should train some 400 000 people this year only. Meanwhile, the rest of the EU is slowly catching up on defence. What can we learn from Poland's approach?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. President keeps putting pressure on the EUWhether it's sanctions against International Criminal Court judges or threats of tariffs, Donald Trump is using coercion to sway European decisions.So what is the EU doing to protect its independence from American pressure?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI can be tricked into saying almost anything. That's what a BBC journalist recently discovered. He found an easy way to make AI say whatever he wanted.Are authorities doing enough to regulate AI? At the EU level, is the AI Act doing its job?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Brussels, several EU member states are angry with the European Commission. These countries did not appreciate that the EU's executive body attended the first meeting of the “Board of Peace” launched by Donald Trump.What was the alternative for the EU? Should Europeans stay away from this initiative?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new negotiation session ended yesterday between Ukraine and Russia, under the leadership of the United States. The EU, once again, did not take part in the peace talks, despite having long asked to do so. Has the EU given up on participating in the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could lose the next elections after 10 years in power. And this, despite having the open support of Donald Trump. If Orban were to actually lose the elections, what would this mean for the EU? Could the traditional Hungarian veto become a thing of the past?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Union will soon have a new regulation that should make it easier for EU countries to deport irregular migrants. A group of 64 NGOs is worried that EU countries could use deportation methods that resemble what the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, ICE, does in the US. Is the EU going in that direction?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump has just announced that his administration no longer recognizes that a range of greenhouse gases poses a threat to public health and the environment. Meanwhile, the leaders of the EU, considered the most ambitious bloc on the green transition, are discussing rollbacks of existing green rules. Should Europeans be worried about the future of climate policies?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Kurdish diaspora has been demonstrating in major European cities for weeks now. Protesters are urging European and international authorities to respond to the takeover of the Kurdish autonomous region called Rojava by Syria's new government. They fear that their community is at risk of disappearing. What is the diaspora hoping from the European and international authorities?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.This episode is based on a story written by Blanche Ribault for Streetpress and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French senator Laurent Duplomb is back with a controversial proposal: reintroducing pesticides that are currently banned in France. Last year, his first attempt was blocked by the constitutional court. This time, the debate returns, as discussions at EU level also suggest a possible softening of pesticide rules. Are we witnessing a broader rollback of pesticide regulation in Europe?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“We need to protect our industry. The Chinese are doing it, the Americans too.”This is what Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has been advocating for a while now: more European protectionism.Is he on the right track to convince his European counterparts?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn•Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giorgia Meloni has called protesters at the Winter Olympic Games "the enemies of Italy" — a kind of shortcut we often see in Donald Trump's interventions.Is the Italian prime minister, replicating Trump's recipe for success?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After X by Elon Musk, here comes “W”, or “We”, by privacy and technology expert Anna Zeiter. The “We” project was unveiled in Davos at the end of January. Its goal is to create a European alternative to X. But this is not the first attempt to create a large-scale European social media platform. Can it be the first one to actually succeed? Are Europeans able to compete with US platforms?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that “he had the feeling that Europeans were not able to understand that an attack could happen to their country too.” Are Europeans really facing a concrete threat, and are they preparing themselves enough?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few days ago, a former general and member of the far-right party Lega in Italy announced his ambition to launch a new movement, even further to the right: Il Futuro Nazionale. The initiator, Roberto Vannacci, is known for his extremist views and his lenient stance on fascism. Meanwhile, Poland is witnessing the rise of an ultra-nationalist party that is openly antisemitic and pro-Russia. How did these highly extremist parties become so central to the political scene?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn•Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the EU is celebrating the reopening of the Rafah crossing point between Gaza and Egypt, Israeli authorities are preventing many NGOs from providing humanitarian aid in Gaza — a move which violates the agreed peace plan. What are the EU's options to confront Israel over its violations of human rights?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across the Atlantic, American President Donald Trump has just ordered that deep-sea mining be sped up, which is believed to be highly damaging for the ocean.Meanwhile, every raw material extraction project in Europe meets with strong social opposition. This leaves the EU in a delicate situation when it comes to producing solar panels or batteries without relying on China. Will Europe edge toward a more US-style approach to resource extraction?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Poland in 2024, 99% of abortions took place outside hospitals, outside the legal framework. Polish women find alternatives to the near-total ban on abortion, but sometimes in ways that are either dangerous or very costly. That is why the European Parliament is asking for an European mechanism to allow every single woman in the EU to have access to safe and free abortion. This episode unpacks this proposal to see if it can come to light.Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30,000. This is the figure circulating about the number of people who might have been killed by the Iranian regime since the start of the protests at the end of December last year. The EU has just decided to tag the Islamic Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. What does it mean, and is there something the European Union could do to avoid this bloodshed?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain wants to regularize half a million undocumented migrants. Meanwhile, the rest of Europe is busy toughening migration rules. So is Spain the very last country on the continent to have a positive message around migration?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kids under 15 should not access social media. That's how France sees it. Its government is pushing for a full ban below this age. However, France, just like any other EU country, cannot force social media platforms to effectively restrict access for kids. Only the European Union can. Is the EU willing to do so?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

René Good, and now Alex Pretti. The people of Minneapolis are counting a second person killed by the border control agency, ICE, in just one month.Meanwhile, both in the US and in Europe, some hard-right politicians are openly congratulating the agents who killed Alex Pretti. This episode looks at how Europe differs or not from the US in terms of police violence.Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether it is train accidents or floods - every disaster in Spain strongly reignites political battles.Using tragedy for political gain is widely condemned in European countries. Is this a typical Spanish thing, or is the taboo weakening?This episode looks at how political exploitation is becoming more and more common as the extreme right parties gain ground in Europe.Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Members of the European Parliament, alongside farmers from all over Europe, claim a victory in the fight against the EU/Mercosur trade agreement. On Wednesday 21 January, the Parliament voted to challenge the controversial trade deal before the EU Court of Justice.What will happen if the judges rule against the treaty?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany and France have been trying to maintain a friendship since the 1960s — a friendship that is supposed to guide the rest of the continent. However, this doesn't really work anymore. Why do they struggle to find a united position on Donald Trump's ongoing threats? Could this lack of unity hamper Europe's response?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover Briefed, Europod's new daily podcast covering stories around Europe.In just five minutes, host Léa Marchal brings a fresh perspective on European politics and major news happening in European countries.On issues like tech sovereignty, climate scepticism or the rise of the extremes, the podcast brings you a different angle than your national one.Starting January 22nd, episodes of Briefed will be released at 6:00 AM CET, Monday through Friday.Briefed is produced by Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedinInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoos bring us much closer to wildlife, but their existence is a controversial topic. Go online and it's easy to find groups that advocate for the closure of zoos, assessing that they do more harm than good to animals.Complaints usually relate to confinement, the lack of space, unnatural environments and crowded conditions as the main problems against animal well-being. But experts working in zoos think differently. So the question boils down to: are zoos actually beneficial to animals? Do they have a role to play in conservation? And what can we learn from zoos on the impact of human beings on animals still living in the wild?In this episode, we will investigate these questions with Martin Boye, President of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, and Kate Werner, Senior Campaign Manager at PETA UK.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cambridge dictionary defines fatphobia as the “unreasonable dislike or unfair treatment of people because they are fat”. Going deeper, Fatphobia equates fatness with ugliness, inferiority, and immorality. Subjecting people to fat phobia or weight stigma can be very harmful, not just to people who are fat but also to anyone else who has been co-opted by a system that designates only one “correct” body size or weight. But is fatphobia also an intersectional issue or opression? How does it relate to race, disability, colonisation and enslavement? In this episode we'll be discussing fatphobia and its intersectionality with racism. To do so, we are going to talk to Caleb Luna, a writer, fat activist and professor in the US. We will also be hearing from Saskia Calliste, a black London-based writer. Tune into episode 15 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we'll be speaking with 2 experts from the human rights space to unpack what we mean by our digital rights, how they are being protected or violated and who gets to decide what technology is needed for or against whom. Kahina Rabahi representing the European Anti-Poverty Network and Bibbi Abruzzini representing Forus, a global network of civil society organisations — will help us uncover how digitalisation impacts essential services and civic space.Tune into episode 10 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode uncovers the real threat trans- and non-binary persons face, often due to the actions of far-right groups and a climate of hate which can also be traced back to political discourses. We hear from Patricia Reguero, a Spanish journalist from El Salto, and her Greek colleague, Anastasia Vaitsopoulou, who work for the media outlet Propaganda.Tune into episode 9 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we delve into what unites far-right groups in Europe and how they have been capitalising on cultural tools like social media and aesthetics to particularly target and successfully recruit young men and women.We hear from Michael Colborne, a journalist and researcher with Bellingcat, an investigation journalism organisation based in the Netherlands. His work focuses on the far right where he oversees and leads investigations and trains journalists in digital investigative techniques.Tune into episode 8 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.