Europe Talks Back

Not only do several EU member states want to build deportation centres, or 'return hubs' in third countries, but they also hope to have them financed by the European Union.Which countries support these return hubs, which oppose them, and what are they likely to get?Listen to the previous episode about the 'return regulation': https://open.spotify.com/episode/26PUqeVGLhEp2cd8D33JAY?si=kZTgcV6zQJSMpqUXIocLXAProduction: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn• InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has it ever happened to you to discover, after months of working in your role, that your colleague is receiving a higher salary for the same job? If you're a woman, there is a high chance the answer is yes. But don't worry, the European Union is changing that thanks to the Pay Transparency Directive, which just became mandatory everywhere in Europe.Is it for real? What will truly change in your country?Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on an article written by Yago Alvarez Barba for El Salto and an article from VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.Follow us on:LinkedIn•InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, the new social media platform W launched its beta version. It is said to already have 55,000 users worldwide, and it is already backed by 80 European investors.What does W offer that existing platforms don't?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since March, Ukrainians benefiting from temporary protection in Poland no longer enjoy the same rights as before. Free collective accommodation is no longer available to everyone. And neither are family benefits.Why has Poland tightened the rules, and what does it mean for Ukrainian refugees?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Donald Trump threatened France with a 100% tariff on French wine unless it scrapped its digital services tax.More than a year after Donald Trump's tariff revolution, where do things stand? What tariffs are currently applied to European goods?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn •. InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few hours after the announcement of an agreement between the United States and Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the EU, said they wanted to play a role in the discussions that are expected to follow.What could that role be? And why do Europeans want a seat at the table?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn•InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 27 EU heads of state or government will gather in Brussels on Thursday 17 June for what promises to be an intense meeting. They're expected to make key decisions on the future budget of the European Union. So far, the signals coming out of the negotiations have been overwhelmingly negative when it comes to the prospects of a deal.So what are the possible outcomes for the EU's next long-term budget?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the United States, inflation is just as high as it is in the European Union—if not higher. Yet it seems to be hurting the American economy much less, according to a report published on Monday by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. So why are Europeans feeling the pain more intensely, and how much higher could prices still go?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is now banned from entering France. The sanction is largely symbolic, but it matters.Why aren't other European Union countries sanctioning members of the Israeli government?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The aviation industry will probably miss its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. That's what Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, recently acknowledged.So if aviation can't go green, does that mean that we, as consumers, should stop flying?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:LinkedIn •InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A meeting is indeed being planned between European Commission officials and representatives of Afghanistan's Taliban regime, in Brussels.Why is the EU negotiating with a regime it does not even consider legitimate?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn •. InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany and France believe that joining the European Union has become too slow a process, often taking decades. Their solution? A more gradual path to integration, including a partial participation to meetings in Brussels.What do candidate countries think about it? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The French Parliament is examining a bill aiming at decriminalising sex work in the country. For the first time, the text was co-drafted with sex workers. It reignites a debate that regularly resurfaces in France and many European countries. Why so? How are European countries regulating sex work, with wat effect?Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on an article written by Romane Lizée for StreetPress and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the tech sector, Europeans no longer want to be naïve. They are increasingly willing to restrict access for American tech giants in certain strategic areas.Why should Americans worry about the new EU tech sovereignty package?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A group of French doctors are raising concerns about the contamination of drinking water by pesticides, PFAS, and microplastics. Yet at the same time, the European Commission is considering loosening some water quality rules to make it easier to develop new mining projects.So what's the connection between drinking water and mining? And what can we realistically expect for the quality of our tap water?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn• InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is not the first time Russian drones have entered Romanian airspace. But this time, the incursion that occured on Friday 29 May caused a fire and injured two people in the city of Galați.So why can't Europeans shoot down Russian drones when they enter their airspace?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are seven months left for European countries to reach an agreement on the EU budget. That is the timeline currently envisioned for the next Multiannual Financial Framework to begin in 2028. But negotiations are moving very slowly.So what is at stake for Europeans?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europeans are struggling to align on China. But hoes does China view Europeans? What are China's strategic objectives when it comes to the EU?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network. This episode was co-written with Emma Belmonte.Follow us on:LinkedIn • InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus is spreading faster than ever before. The outbreak currently hitting the Democratic Republic of the Congo is being fueled by armed conflict — but also, and perhaps above all, by the global decline in humanitarian aid.Do Europeans have a role to play?Check the article from El Salto, our partner within the Sphera network, which inspired this episode.Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, hopes to seal a deal this week, to unfreeze 10 billion euros in EU funding.To achieve that, Magyar needs to present reforms that are acceptable to the EU. Is it possible, and what would these reforms mean for Hungarians?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn • InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2003, the EU promised the Western Balkans that they would one day become members. More than two decades have passed, and they are still out.Why are they still waiting? And will that day ever come?This episode was co-written with Emma Belmonte. Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn • InstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Briefed is taking a long weekend, so there's no fresh episode. But I invite you to listen to the episode published on 26 March about the possibilities for the EU to reduce its gas consumption.Would it be possible to get rid of gas, and if so, when?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagramTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code EUROPOD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/europod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European countries need to become more self-sufficient in medication production in troubled times, but is it possible at all? Six years after the Covid 19 pandemic, the EU will soon adopt its Critical medicines act to tackle medicines shortages in Europe. Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on an article written by Paweł Jędral for Krytyka Polityczna and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It will soon become easier to detain and deport irregular migrants. That is the spirit of the future European Return Regulation, which is being negotiated. How far is the EU willing to go to deport irregular migrants?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why should defence spending benefit from budget flexibility, but not energy crisis spending? That's the question Giorgia Meloni is asking the European Commission. The Italian Prime Minister wants authorization to increase Italy's public deficit in order to fund additional energy-related spending.What would that mean in practice? And is it a realistic option?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.

Moscow was hit by 600 Ukrainian drones overnight from Saturday to Sunday. This comes after a May 9 Victory Day parade on Red Square that was noticeably scaled back.Is Russia starting to lose momentum in its war against Ukraine?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.

It is incredibly difficult to link European capitals by train. That is the observation Enrico Letta made, while he presented his report on the EU Single market. Last week, the European Commission made proposals for easier cross-border transport with its passenger package.What is it, and can it really improve cross-border mobility?A podcast by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research with policiesLink to the ESPON Governance mechanisms for cross-border functional areas: https://www.espon.eu/projects/crossgov-governance-mechanisms-cross-border-functional-areas“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.

Only two weeks after the EU/Mercosur trade agreement provisionally entered into force, Brazil, the biggest partner in the Mercosur bloc, has just been banned from exporting meat to the EU as of September because it uses antimicrobials to promote animal growth.What can we learn from this decision?Episode about the expected impact of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement : https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OEOW3cBHbokwNHdpB62g9?si=TLjQBIjgT6ODLItV1A_EagProduction: 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, the National Assembly will debate in June a new bill aimed at reducing the maximum cadmium content in phosphate fertilizers.In a previous episode of Briefed, I explained why the French are more exposed to cadmium than the rest of Europeans, why it is a public health issue, and how it can be addressed.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 United States is gradually scaling back its presence in Europe. Donald Trump threatened to remove troops in Germany and possibly elsewhere in Europe. But without American support, Europe's current military forces would not be sufficient to face a potential Russian attack.A permanent European army, intergovernmental cooperation—what ideas are being discussed, and which ones actually stand a chance of becoming reality?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.To listen to the podcast 'Decoding the Ocean' : https://open.spotify.com/show/3YD6J6GEaVc2ka03PVmkqf?si=b423cdb90f534367 Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world recorded its highest burned area ever for the period between January and April this year, according to compiled data. The area burned by wildfires literally doubled compared to the recent average for this period. Can we live on a planet with more and more burned areas?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years after adopting its landmark AI Act, the EU is already preparing to simplify it. Co-legislators in Brussels agreed on Thursday 7 May to revise the regulation. Does this mean Europeans are scaling back their regulatory ambitions on AI?To listen to the previous episode of Briefed about the AI Act: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0OlVVMedWdPXjGLYcinAwq?si=764c46484e2d4246Production: 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 the heart of the European capital, Brussels, one hundred thousand protesters rallied in the streets in March to push back against the Belgian government's austerity plan. We are seeing more and more reforms in EU Member States, like in Belgium, that directly cut public spending and therefore reduce social benefits for people. So in Belgium and across Europe, is austerity actually making a comeback? And at what cost?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network. This episode was co-written with Emma Belmonte.Follow us on:LinkedIn• Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poverty rates are struggling to decline in the EU. The European Commission has presented on Wednesday 6 May a strategy to reduce poverty. It aims at eradicating poverty by 2050. But is it realistic? This episode will be completed by a second episode on the austerity comeback 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.

One by one, the flagship laws of the EU's Green Deal aiming at climate neutrality are being put through a “simplification” process, which, more often than not, ends up looking a lot like deregulation.So, will the Green Deal survive the push for competitiveness?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 threatened Europeans with additionnal tariffs on cars (25%). This time, will Europeans show some teeth and retaliate?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn• InstagramListen to the podcast Decoding the ocean: https://open.spotify.com/show/3YD6J6GEaVc2ka03PVmkqf?si=092c21ce1b2e4567 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 6 last year, Friedrich Merz was elected chancelor in Germany, after more than 30 years in politics. One year in, what can we make of his record so far?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.

Briefed is taking a break this week.In the meantime, I'm bringing you a German-themed segment featuring one of Europod's award-winning series: My Question to Angela Merkel. Follow Emilia, a young journalist, as she searches for the perfect question to ask Angela Merkel before she leaves office.For this final episode of the week, I'm bringing you episode 9 of the series, which looks at the opportunity Angela Merkel had to become the new leader of the free world after Barack Obama left office in the United States.Briefed will be back on Monday with a special episode on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.Follow us on:LinkedIn •Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Briefed is taking a break this week.In the meantime, I'm bringing you a German-themed segment featuring one of Europod's award-winning series: My Question to Angela Merkel.Follow Emilia, a young journalist, as she searches for the perfect question to ask Angela Merkel before she leaves office.In this episode, Emilia looks back at Angela Merkel's decision to welcome refugees to Germany in 2015.Follow us on:LinkedIn • Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Briefed is taking a break this week.In the meantime, I'm bringing you a German-themed segment featuring one of Europod's award-winning series: My Question to Angela Merkel. Follow Emilia, a young journalist, as she searches for the perfect question to ask Angela Merkel before she leaves office. In this episode, we look back at the EU's response to the Greek debt crisis, with testimonies from Jean-Claude Juncker, Alexis Tsipras, and François Hollande.Follow us on:LinkedIn• Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Briefed is taking a break this week.In the meantime, I'm bringing you a German-themed segment featuring one of Europod's award-winning series: My Question to Angela Merkel. Follow Emilia, a young journalist, as she searches for the perfect question to ask Angela Merkel before she leaves office. Today, I'm bringing you episode 6 of the series, which looks at Angela Merkel's response to the 2008 financial crisis. You'll hear, in particular, from former President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, and former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Briefed is taking a break this week.In the meantime, I'm bringing you a German-themed segment featuring one of Europod's award-winning series: My Question to Angela Merkel.Follow Emilia, a young journalist, as she searches for the perfect question to ask Angela Merkel before she leaves office.For today, I've chosen episode 5 of the series, which looks at the early days of Angela Merkel's time as chancellor, as well as Germany's rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, and the Lisbon Treaty.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU has formally relaunched contact with Syria after years of frozen relations. But what does it mean for Syrians in Europe? What will be the impact on those who have sought refuge in Europe over the last two decades?Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on an article published on Popaganda and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU firmly believes that the answer to the energy crisis is in the transition to clean energies. But what does the Commission propose to ease the pressure on Europeans in the short term?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, public authorities have said they want to support faster and more affordable train travel. But in practice, not much has changed. So, is the EU actually capable of boosting rail?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 European Union imposed a 120 million euros fine on the social network X last December. On Monday April 20, Elon Musk was supposed to join a hearing by the French authorities about the functionning of X, but he did not show up. What is the real impact of European sanctions on X and other platforms?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.

Briefed presents: Journalism in War - Solidarity Beyond Borders (From Florence)What does it take to report the news from within a war zone?In this special episode recorded at the Voices - European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom, we explore how journalists continue working under extreme conditions - in Ukraine and in Gaza.Featuring testimonies from Sergiy Tomilenko (National Union of Journalists of Ukraine) and Yousef Khader Habache (Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate – Europe), this episode focuses on the creation of Journalists' Solidarity Centres: support hubs designed to help reporters operate in conflict environments.From access to electricity and internet, to safety equipment and emergency funding, these hubs provide the basic infrastructure needed to sustain journalism in times of war.In Ukraine, they were developed in response to Russia's full-scale invasion. In Gaza, the model has been adapted to function in an environment where infrastructure has largely collapsed.At the core of this episode: a simple question - how do you maintain journalism when the conditions to produce information no longer exist?This episode was produced with the support of Voices. Europod retains full editorial responsibility for its content.More information about Voices: https://voicesfestival.eu/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who will succeed Emmanuel Macron in 2027 ? One thing already seems clear: the candidate from the National Rally, the main extreme right party, will likely make it to the second round of the election, for the third time in a row. But could the far right actually grab power? What's at stake for France and for the European Union?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 this episode of Europe Talks Back, we take a close look at working conditions across the EU. Are they evolving homogeneously? What are the obstacles to fair working conditions?To answer these questions, we welcome Agnes Parent-Thirion, Senior Research Manager at Eurofound.Production by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research and policy.“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.”Follow us on:LinkedIn • Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Bulgaria, the right-wing party GERB could be beaten in the legislative elections this Sunday. Rumen Radev, the leading candidate in the polls is pledging to end the corruption in the country. Who is he? What is he advocating for? And why is he performing so well in the polls?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italy is suspending its defense agreement with Israel. The reason? Concerns over Israel's conduct in the Middle East conflict—especially in Lebanon.Across Europe, more and more voices are calling for stronger measures against Israel. A citizen-led initiative has now gathered over one million signatures, calling for the suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement. So, is the European Union finally ready to take tougher action against Israel?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.