Europe Talks Back

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.

Fights are still very much ongoing in Ukraine. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Berlin and then Oslo this Tuesday, April 14th, his country was once again under heavy Russian attacks. Overnight from Monday to Tuesday, Russia launched at least four missiles and one hundred twenty nine drones at Ukraine. Then on Tuesday morning, the city of Dnipro was hit as well, leaving around fifteen people injured. So, where do things stand when it comes to the prospects for peace in Ukraine?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hungary has chosen Europe. That's what the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, believes. Because on Sunday, the Hungarian people brought an end to the rule of Viktor Orbán, after 16 years in power. But did Hungarians really choose 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.

The reign of Viktor Orbán is over. His opponent, Péter Magyar, won last night's election. A turning point for the country, which has been ruled by Orbán since 2010.It is also a major lesson for the EU: despite having Donald Trump's active support, Orbán lost voters' trust. In Brussels, diplomats and officials alike are celebrating what could be the end of the traditional Hungarian veto. But is that really the case?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 only nine days, between March twenty-eighth and April fifth, five boats sank in the Mediterranean. They were carrying people hoping to cross the sea and reach Europe.At least 180 people died in these shipwrecks. This marks the “deadliest start to a year” in the Mediterranean in more than a decade.What is the EU doing to stop this tragedy?By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on an article published on El Salto and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Le doute plane sur la portée du cessez-le-feu au Moyen-Orient. Après plus d'un mois de guerre, les États-Unis et Israël d'un côté, et l'Iran de l'autre, sont convenus d'un cessez-le-feu dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi. Mais alors que l'accord devait couvrir toute la région, Israël continue d'attaquer le sud du Liban. De quoi inquiéter le pays, mais aussi les Européens.Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consumers are being squeezed by skyrocketing fuel and gas prices. Meanwhile, producers are raking in extraordinary profits. The situation is unfair - and a few European countries are now proposing to regulate it. They propose to tax the windfall profits of oil and gas companies. But can the EU actually implement such a tax?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 EU has nearly half a million people in prison. In many European countries, prisons are seriously overcrowded. Yet over the last decade, violent crime has actually decreased in Europe. What's wrong with the prison system 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.

There is no episode of Briefed for this Easter Monday. But I'm directing you to a podcast that I enjoyed very much: The Right kind of family. It was produced by Europod and a few European partners in 2025.Link to the first episode of the series: https://open.spotify.com/episode/57q2lQuHyy3AfvR97BTl3L?si=H4z7Ow5NSVKpyFhilLJ_bw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French bread could be more dangerous than what's on the table in neighboring countries. Why ? Because of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal lurking in everyday foods.A recent study showed that French people were far more contaminated by cadmium than others. Why is France more contaminated than other countries?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.

NATO is once again under fire from American threats. U.S. President Donald Trump is furious over the EU's repeated refusals to support - even indirectly - his war efforts.Are Europeans finally firmly standing up against Trump?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.

Israel has just passed a law reinstating the death penalty. This measure not only reverses a fundamental principle, but also discriminates against Palestinians. Because capital punishment will only apply to those accused of anti-Jewish terrorism. Will the EU, which strongly opposes the death penalty, now sanction the Israeli government?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.

Respect for the rule of law in the EU is seriously eroding. This is what a report compiling data from 40 organisations across the continent has found. Member States are simply not implementing the recommendations made each year by the European Commission. Is the EU reaching its limits in maintaining the rule of law?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Only eight European countries have banned conversion practices. These so-called therapies often lead to PTSD, but they can go as far as driving young people to suicide.This is why more than 1 million citizens are asking the EU to ban these practices. Is the EU willin 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.

Total blackout, shortages of food and fuel, lack of medication… The situation in Cuba is worsening day by day. According to the United Nations, the country has been pushed to the point of imminent humanitarian "collapse." What are the reactions of Europeans?Production : Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on videos shot by Samuele Maccolini for VD News and on a story written by Antigone Panta-Harva for Popaganda and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.Follow us on:LinkedIn• Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European households are suffering high energy bills. As long as the war in the Middle East drags on, options to reduce this burden remain limited.One major reason? Europeans are highly dependent on gas. Can the EU actually cut its gas consumption?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.