Room for Discussion

CSR Election Debate - University of AmsterdamFrom looming budget cuts in higher education to government directives on de-internationalisation, from defending the right to protest to safeguarding the mental well-being of students – this year, the university faces major decisions that will shape its future.In the midst of these challenges, the Central Student Council (CSR) plays a crucial role. As the highest student representative body at the UvA, the CSR has the power to influence university policy, push for change, and protect student interests.Join us for the CSR Election Debate: an open, critical conversation between student candidates on the issues that matter most. This is your chance to hear how they plan to represent you and to ask questions, so that you can make an informed vote in shaping the university's direction.

As cyberattacks grow in scale and sophistication, the lines between cybercrime, state-sponsored hacking, and digital warfare are becoming increasingly blurred. How can we protect individuals, and democratic institutions from the rising tide of cyber threats? Who should be held accountable for cyberattacks, and how can the international community step up its game?Join us for a conversation with Stéphan Duguin, CEO of the CyberPeace Institute, an organization dedicated to reducing the harm caused by cyber threats and promoting accountability in cyberspace. We will dive into why the issue of cybersecurity demands immediate action, what the geopolitical and human implications of cyberattacks are, and explore what needs to be done to secure a safer digital future for everyone.

When the newspapers are full of horrifying stories, international law sometimes feels impotent. Why is it still important? In what way is the term “genocide” political? Is our international system failing if world powers don't subscribe to it? And why would we need a fifth international crime of “Ecocide”? Philippe Sands is a specialist in international law, with over 40 years of experience in advocating for justice in front of the world's most significant courts, such as the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Most importantly, Sands does not just practice international law; he tells its story. 

On the 9th of April, 13:00-14:00, in the E-Hall, Room for Discussion welcomed Steve Keen – outspoken critic of mainstream economics, author of “The New Economics: A Manifesto”, and one of today's most rebellious economic thinkers.Keen has made it his mission to dismantle the neoclassical foundations of the discipline. With climate collapse accelerating, inequality deepening, and debt-driven crises recurring, he claims our economic orthodoxy is not just wrong, but dangerous. From his emphasis on non-equilibrium dynamic modelling to jabs at Nobel laureates, such as William Nordhaus, Keen's ideas challenge not only the economics profession, but how we imagine the future of society. Expect controversy, polemics, and ultimately a discussion on how Steve Keen would model our world. Is this the future of economics, or a detour into chaos?

New York City was once just a small Dutch outpost called New Amsterdam. How did a modest trading colony become the global icon it is today? Join us for a deep dive with acclaimed historian Russell Shorto, who has spent decades uncovering the Dutch origins of America's financial and cultural capital.From Manhattan's first skyscrapers to Wall Street's earliest deals, we'll connect the dots between the city's 17th-century Dutch DNA and its modern identity. Is today's New York still carrying the legacy of its founding ideals, or has it evolved into something entirely different?

How can the UN uphold its humanitarian mission in an increasingly polarized world? Has it ever truly fulfilled its purpose of protecting human rights, and what role does diplomacy play as global tensions rise?Join us for a hybrid conversation with Jan Eliasson, former UN Deputy Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly, drawing on a lifetime of diplomacy and mediation.Eliasson will share insights on the key skills for successful mediation, the importance of bridging geopolitical divides, and how the international system must evolve to meet 21st-century challenges.

Martin Wolf is one of the most prominent voices in the world of politics and economics of our times. In an era of inequality, political polarisation, and global power shifts, he asks the uncomfortable questions: Has capitalism betrayed democracy? Is rising authoritarianism a failure of the market—or the system itself? And most importantly, can we turn the tide before it's too late?

Room for Discussion is proud to announce a new interview series.❗Disclaimer: Room for Discussion is a journalistic student-led interview platform which encourages open dialogue and the sharing of diverse perspectives. The opinions expressed by individual guests and audience members in our interviews are solely their own and do not reflect the views, opinions, or positions of Room for Discussion.How does Israeli society relate to the current war? How is history narrated in the Middle East? Is communication between Israelis and Palestinians possible? How?Yossi Klein Halevi is an Israeli-American writer and journalist. He wrote award-winning books, including “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor”, a book aiming to initiate dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

Join us for a powerful discussion with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition and a global symbol of the fight for democracy.We'll delve into her journey from presidential candidate to exile, the ongoing struggle against authoritarianism in Belarus, and the challenges of rallying international support for democratic change. Gain unique insights into the resilience of the Belarusian people and the path forward for freedom and human rights in the region.

Ever wondered how €186 billion in EU spending is scrutinized to ensure every euro counts? On 14th January, from 13:00 to 14:00, at the REC E-Hall, we'll dive into the world of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) with its President, Tony Murphy. As the leader of the EU's financial watchdog, Murphy ensures that the Union's finances are transparent, efficient, and accountable—essential for addressing the generational challenges Europe faces today.  From ensuring Europe's preparedness for cyberattacks and natural disasters to scrutinizing ambitious climate initiatives, Murphy's work goes beyond mere numbers. He'll share how the ECA tackles some of the EU's biggest questions: are the ambitious 2030 climate goals achievable, or are they lofty aspirations? Can Europe maintain its competitive edge in a global economy dominated by the US and China? And how does the ECA ensure every euro spent reflects the Union's values?  This is your opportunity to see beyond the spreadsheets and gain insight into how audits shape Europe's future.

The way events unfolded on our platform today once again is deeply unfortunate. While we believe that protest is an integral part of a democratic society, we are dissapointed that the way it was carried out today hindered a free exchange of ideas. We are a platform run by students, for students which always strives to create a democratic environment, in which different perspectives and criticisms are valuable additions. We remain committed to our mission to contribute to societal conversations and foster the open dialogue we so strongly believe in.Join us in a wide-ranging conversation with Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, Ruben Brekelmans, to understand why migration and energy can be framed as security priorities and how defence policy can be strengthened through European industrial integration. We'll wrestle with questions like the tensions between pragmatism and principles to how a future with a more transactional transatlantic relationship might influence potential negotiations to the end of the war in Ukraine as well as the broader European security landscape.

Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome Karel Hendriks. He has worked with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) for over a decade and is now the Deputy General of the organisation and the Director of the Dutch branch, providing immediate life-saving care for people in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics.What is the meaning of assistance provided by medical humanitarian organisations? What are the main challenges faced by aid workers today? How do they remain neutral in conflict zones? What is the responsibility of doctors on and beyond the frontlines? How can aid help sustain local healthcare systems?For answers to these questions and more, make sure to check out our new interview.

Is wealth inequality the defining economic issue of our time? How has quantitative easing deepened the divide between the rich and the poor? What can be done to fix a broken economic system?Gary Stevenson, former Citibank trader turned economic activist, predicted the widening inequality post-2008 crisis and has been a vocal advocate for economic reform ever since. With his unique insights from inside the financial world, Gary will discuss how current economic policies are fueling inequality, the consequences of a rising housing market, and what we can do to bring about a more equitable future.

How to make finance a force for sustainability? Are there enough incentives in our system to balance short-term profits and the protection of the environment? And what is the role of PwC and Rabo Carbon Bank in shaping the discussion on sustainable growth?Our guest has been at the center of discussions about green finance for her entire career. From academia through commercial and central banking to consulting, Barbara Baarsma has been looking for an answer to how to shape the future of our system for the benefit of our environment. Whether you're interested in finance, climate action, or just looking for inspiration from someone breaking boundaries, this is your chance to hear first-hand insights. Get ready for a conversation that's not just about money but about what really matters.

Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome Guy Standing, a British Labour economist, co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) and professor of Development Studies at the University of London. It will be a conversation offering insights into the changing dynamics of work, inequality, and social justice in today's world.Is neoliberalism fundamentally shortsighted? What is the ‘precariat' class and how does it gain significance in today's political landscape? How can we create a fairer and more inclusive economy? Is Universal Basic Income the answer to poverty and automation?In order to get answers to all of these questions, make sure to check out our new interview.

What role does morality play in communication? How are moral messages cognitively processed, how are they represented in the neural realm, and in what way do they motivate behavior? For our first episode of 'The Ivory Tower', we will be speaking to Dr. Frederic Hopp. Frederic is Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam's School of Communication Research.During this episode we discuss an article that was recently published in the journal Nature Human Behavior. We break down its method and theoretical foundation, explore avenues for future research, and Frederic tells us a bit about his formation as an academic. The link to the paper: 'Moral foundations elicit shared and dissociable cortical activation modulated by political ideology'. More about Frederic: https://fhopp.github.ioMore about us: Our Website Our Instagram Our Twitter Our Linkedin 

What do the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, and Johan Cruijff have in common? All have them have been interviewed by Twan Huys, the most prominent interviewer and journalist in the Netherlands. He has seen the political and social environment change tremendously over the last decades and has talked to some of the most prominent makers and shakers of our current world to make sense of it. Room for Discussion is thrilled to welcome Twan Huys, host of College Tour and Buitenhof. He has interviewed countless of famous guest, held Dutch politicians accountable and shaped the public debate in The Netherlands like no one else. Now he is here to share his perspective on how the public climate has changed and where we go from here. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!

In 1969 the Dutch security services opened a file on a 17 year old boy. His name was Derk Sauer. Later he founded his own publishing firm with Crown Jewel the Moscow Times, and to this day one of the few independent russian media outlets. The question now is: How will independent Russian media survive?

Geert Wilders' PVV recent election win is the latest addition to a trend of far-right populists winning big elections. Spanning from Argentina with Javier Melei to Italy with Giorgia Meloni, the Far Right seems to be on rise.There is no one better to talk about these events than Cas Mudde, the preeminent scholar on populism and the Far Right.

Room for Discussion is excited to announce our interview with political jack-of-all-trades, Dutch top diplomat Tom de Bruijn.Having worked as a diplomat, ambassador, government official, minister, and mayor for decades – his extensive experience in navigating politics at a variety of levels from guiding the formation of EU treaties to negotiating the formation of municipal councils informs his broad view on the inner workings of government and diplomacy. Throughout, he has gained a unique view on the role of the Netherlands within the European Union and the broader Euro-Atlantic community, with his career taking him from the Hague to Brussels and Geneva.Looking back, what does he expect the future of the European Union to look like? How does the Netherlands fit into this with the recent victory of eurosceptic Geert Wilders? How much has changed for the Dutch appetite for increased EU accession since de Bruijn was involved in drafting the 2014 association agreement with Ukraine?If you're interested to discover the answer to these questions and more check out our interview!

What does BMW and the Nazi regime have in common? In what ways is the generational wealth of former Nazi supporters connected to contemporary German politics? How have Nazi Billionaires escaped accountability? Investigative Journalist David de Jong spent four years researching the history of Germany's wealthiest families. In his book ‘Nazi Billionaires', he explores 5 families, their hidden hand in Germany's dark past, and their continued presence in contemporary politics.

What do you think of global governance's failure to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement? What do you think of the court decision that ordered Shell to reduce all emissions by 45% by 2030? And if we live in a world where the Dutch government spends €37.5 billion on fossil subsidies on a yearly basis, does this mean that we need more Climate Activism? And if so, in which way?On October 11th (13:00-14:00) Room for Discussion will interview Donald Pols, the director of Milieudefensie. Notorious for their court case against Shell, their research on fossil subsidies and their efforts to “hijack” the shareholder meetings of large multinationals, Milieudefensie has been leading the forefront of climate activism. Join this conversation in which we discuss a roadmap for Climate action and activism.

Beyond the Negotiating Table: An expert's View on Diplomacy.Kees van Rij is one of the Netherland's most trusted diplomats, having held ambassadorships in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Brazil. From negotiating with dictators like Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi or Kim Jong-un to helping craft EU policy, Kees van Rij has been trusted with many of the major diplomatic issues over the past decades.He will share with us his many experiences and try to answer all our questions concerning diplomacy.

Eurojust, is a prominent legal agency at the forefront of the fight against transnational crime in Europe. From combating organised crime to terrorism, Eurojust is involved in resolving a wide range of cross-border conflicts.To discuss the intricacies of Eurojust's operations and the significant role it plays in ensuring cross-border justice, we will be joined by Ladislav Hamran, the President of Eurojust. What strategies does Eurojust employ? How is cooperation between member states achieved? How is law and justice changing in our evolving society?

Currently, Tata Steel NL is the biggest emitter of CO2 and nitrogen in the Netherlands, and links have been made between their factory's emissions and higher-than-average cancer rates in communities that live close to their factories. As a response, the company is planning to detox their emissions and pivot to Green Steel production, which they will power with green hydrogen. Still, the future of the company in the Netherlands remains far from certain, and they are facing backlash from many directions in Dutch society.

Climate change is one of the most defining challenges of our time, but what's really the best way to tackle the issue and create a more sustainable future for all?Bjørn Lomborg's has an answer: an alternative that challenges the mainstream narrative on climate change, which has earned him both praise and criticism. He tries to address the critical trade-offs between climate, sustainability, and welfare that we will need to make in the 21st century. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with an influential voice in this important discussion about what the future of our fight against climate change should be!Bjørn Lomborg will join for an interview at Room for Discussion on May 10th, 13-14h in the E-Hall

Tom Middendorp werd uitgezonden naar Somalië en verwachtte daar te moeten strijden tegen nietsontziende piraten. Het bleken wanhopige vissers die door klimaatverandering steeds minder inkomsten hebben. In Afghanistan zag hij met eigen ogen hoe de taliban waterschaarste inzette als machtsmiddel. Daarom besloot hij na zijn aftreden als commandant der strijdkrachten zich te verdiepen in het klimaatprobleem en de veiligheidsrisico's die deze met zich meebrengt. Inmiddels ziet hij de smeltende ijskappen van de Noordpool als het volgende potentiële oorlogsgebied.

Julian Assange. Salman Rushdie. Mike Tyson. Lula da Silva. The Wall Street Journal. The New York Times.What do all these have in common? They were defended by Geoffrey Robertson KC.He helped prosecute warlords and dictators like General Pinochet, was the President of the War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone, and fought for human rights everywhere from Armenia to Yugoslavia, Colombia to Czechoslovakia, South Africa to South London.He founded one of the world's leading human rights law chambers working with the likes of Kier Starmer and Amal Clooney.

From bitter football rivalries to beer preferences, the Dutch and Germans have a long and complicated history. As a Dutchman living and working in Germany, Ambassador Ronald van Roeden knows firsthand about the stereotypes and cliches that surround these two countries. In our interview, he shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing these two countries in a changing geopolitical landscape.

Ingrid Thijssen is the chair of the Dutch Employers lobby, VNO NCW. She has been called the ‘most powerful lobbyist' in the Netherlands. On behalf of the Dutch Businesses, she has been warning about the business climate of Holland. According to her, this is deteriorating to a point at which many companies are contemplating leaving the Netherlands. Ms. Thijssens career started in NS public transport, where she climbed the corporate ladder to CEO. After 21 years, she moved on to and became CEO of Alliander. She was the Top businesswoman of the year in 2016.

Ernst Kuipers became a household name during the pandemic: a wise former doctor who helped guide the medical response to COVID-19. Now, he's no longer just a medical expert: he's a D66 politician.

The Red Cross is the World's largest humanitarian network organisation working on helping people in need during emergencies, conflicts and disasters. When we watch the news we see crisis after crisis unfold, the Red Cross is often the organisation working at the scene to help those who need help the most. From emergency response to war aftercare and victim support, the Red Cross does it all.In this interview we will look at how the Red Cross NL chooses their cases, how they prepare for emergencies and how they help those who need their help.

[Audio is choppy only in the first few minutes, after that it gets better] What is a Status Game? How do people react and cope with losing status games? And how do we win the Status Game? Find this out and much more in our interview with Will Storr!---------------------------------Do you want to see more interviews and be the first to hear about upcoming guests? Follow us here: * Website: http://roomfordiscussion.com * Facebook: http://facebook.com/RoomforDiscussion *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roomfordiscussion * Twitter: http://twitter.com/Room4Discussion

Many spent more time on one than with their friends or family. You are probably reading this from one. Smartphones have become an irreplaceable part of our daily life. The production however often involves complex supply chains spanning continents, conflict materials, and child and slave labour in the Congo or China. But change is in your hands! Join us for a discussion about ethical and sustainable sourcing of conflict materials and production of smartphones with the CEO of Fairphone, Eva Gouwens. The Amsterdam based phone manufacturer is set to make a difference under the motto “change is in your hands”.

5 years after the closure of the Yugoslavia tribunal, has it achieved its aim? The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague saw some of the world's worst war criminals during its 20 years in session.Alphons Orie, as a judge at the tribunal, presided over several cases. Among others, he sentenced Ratko Mladić, Bosnian-Serbian general to life for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.How did he experience his time at the court, and does he think there's a future for international tribunals? Will we see an International Criminal Tribunal for Climate Change?---------------------------------Do you want to hear more interviews and be the first to hear about upcoming guests?Follow us here:Website: http://roomfordiscussion.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/RoomforDiscussionInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/roomfordisc...Twitter: http://twitter.com/Room4Discussion

Albert Heijn, Etos, Bol.com: all of these brands are part of Ahold Delhaize's local brands, and this company also has six international brands on the U.S. East Coast that account for the bulk of their sales. This is your chance to get to know the man who manages this international brand on a daily basis. Food retail is a unique industry, characterised by low margins, consumer sensitivity and potential for huge environmental impact. Right now, Mr. Muller finds himself in the nexus of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, climate crisis and general shift to e-commerce. Turns out, food is a tricky business! Listen in on our interview with Frans Muller to find out more about the food retail giant and much more!

Stock exchanges have offered a market for over 600 years. But what influence do politics, technology, and the stock market industry itself have on the price? Does the market, balancing the needs of buyers and sellers, provide a fair foundation? Will Stock Exchanges stand the test of time against Blockchains? Listen in on our interview with the CEO of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange where she talks about these issues and many more!

Dr. Saville is one of the world's foremost experts on language-learning, education, and technology. He spearheaded the development of digital technology and computer-based learning with Cambridge English in the 2010s and is now a prominent advocate of Education's future frontier: AI.

Caecilia Wijgers, the last Dutch Ambassador to Afghanistan. In her career, Wijgers held posts all around the world, from Latvia to Burundi, Cuba to Afghanistan, dealing with the challenges of being a diplomat in an increasingly unstable world.

What do Michael Scott, Jeff Bezos, and Kylie Jenner have in common? All three are successful managers, yet none of them have MBAs! So is business school really worth it? And what is Quiet Quitting? The Great Resignation? And how should companies really think about Corporate Social Responsibility? This interview is with Eric Cornuel, the Director General & CEO of EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development). His foundation helps business schools improve and give out official accreditations to those they feel are deserving. And our own Department of Business and Economics holds just such an accreditation!

Room for Discussion Caroline van der Plas op de Universiteit van Amsterdam. Mevrouw van de Plas is actief Twitteraar, oud journalist, stijl icoon, maar bovenal de fractievoorzitter van de tweede partij in ons land, de BoerBurgerBeweging(BBB), tenminste, als we de peilingen mogen geloven. De BBB heeft momenteel 1 zetel in het parlement, maar staat op meerdere peilingen van 15 tot 20 zetels. Met die ene zetel doet mevrouw van de Plas veel, ze was net uitgeroepen door HP de Tijd tot 'ijverigste' Tweede Kamerlid van het parlementaire jaar 2021-2022. Ze resoneert goed, als 'de stem van het volk', met haar klare taal en directe social media strategie.Deze stem en ideologie vind wellicht niet veel weerklank op de stereotype studenten van de UvA. Daarom is het juist belangrijk om de crisises en de toekomst van de politiek te bespreken met iemand die qua stijl en politiek het veld redelijk op de kop zet. Stikstof, energie en een opvangcrisis, hoe lossen we die op? We gaan het met mevrouw van der Plas hebben over de tweedeling in Nederland van stad en platteland, het Nederlandse stikstof beleid, de persoon van der Plas en uiteraard de toekomst van de BBB. Kom vooral langs! Er is tijdens het interview ook ruimte voor publieksvragen

Listen to our interview with the CEO of DeGiro, Muhamad Chahrour. We discuss how the broker is navigating challenging times, how it is dealing with the merger with it's German brother, and he tells us why he thinks the idea of democratizing finance is nonsense.

*Fighting Crime in the Digital Age - with Catherine de Bolle Executive Director Europol *On June 21st, Room for Discussion hosted the executive director of Europol, Catherine de Bolle! Like Judi Dench's ‘M', she is a formidable character in fighting international crime. She has worked in law enforcement her entire life, most notably as the General Police Commissioner in Brussels, President of the Coordination Committee for Intelligence and Security in the EU, Member of executive committee at Interpol and she is now starting her second term in her role in Europol.Are you interested in how law enforcement agencies gather information? How police find terrorists? Track human and drug trafficking? Find money launderers and uncover fraud?

Room for Discussion was excited to host Eugene Rhuggenaath, the former prime minister of Curaçao. In his term, Rhuggenaath was faced with various challenges which arose from the ‘independence' of Curaçao from the Netherlands, along with difficulties brought on by the Covid-19 Pandemic. His government was the first to complete the entire term since Curaçao's ‘independence' in 2010. Nevertheless, he was faced with major protests which arose during the pandemic ignited by controversies surrounding financial mismanagement and saturated government salaries. We will look back on 4 years in office, explore the relationship between Curaçao and the Netherlands and investigate the major problems Curaçao faces today.

Hoe sexy kunnen wij pensioenenpraat maken? Kom er achter bij ons interview met Harmen van Wijnen, Algemeen Bestuursvoorzitter van Nederlands grootste pensioenfonds ABP. Harmen van Wijnen staat aan het hoofd van een fonds ter waarde van ruim €500 miljard dat misschien wel voor jouw oude dag moet gaan zorgen.Met een pensioenvermogen van meer dan 1,5 biljoen (!) euro heeft Nederland (percentueel) het allergrootste pensioenvermogen ter wereld. Maar de afgelopen jaren lijkt er minder vertrouwen dan ooit te zijn in de pensioenen voor de oude dag. In een vergrijzende wereld, tijden van inflatie en een veranderende arbeidsmarkt is het nog niet zo zeker dat wij net zo veel terug krijgen als onze ouders zullen krijgen. En we horen je denken: een leven lang betalen voor een onzeker pensioen is een slechte deal. Daarom bespreken we hoe onzeker onze pensioenen nou echt zijn en hoe het nieuwe pensioenakkoord onze generatie gaat beïnvloeden.Laat ons je overtuigen dat je pensioen een belangrijk thema is; zelfs voor ons studenten! We kunnen niet alleen toekijken hoe belangrijke beslissingen over ons gemaakt worden. Stel je vragen zelf bij het interview!

Room for Discussion hosted one of the EU's top diplomats, Roland Kobia! He is a true EU guru; he started working for the European Commission 30 years ago and now works for the EU's diplomatic service, the EEAS. He is now EU Ambassador to Ethiopia, a country currently in the throes of civil war. Mr Kobia previously served as EU Ambassador to Myanmar and EU Special Envoy to Afghanistan, where he was appointed to negotiate with the Taliban.If you are interested in EU foreign policy, peace processes, political mediation, state-building and regional security, you cannot miss this interview

Room for Discussion is elated to welcome Sir Paul Collier - development economist turned knight turned political advisor and commentator. This renowned political economist currently serves as an Economics professor at Oxford and is the director of the International Growth Centre in London. He's written nine bestselling and award-winning books, with topics ranging from greed to refugees to the environment.In short, Sir Paul Collier knows a lot about a lot, and we look forward to discussing societal tensions and reciprocity with him.What role does reciprocity play in our societies, and how important is it really? Should identical people with canal apartments pay more taxes than people with suburbian villas? Is giving aid an act of charity or repayment of a debt? This and more will be discussed in our interview.

We are truly excited to welcome Luis de Guindos, vice-president of the European Central Bank (ECB) to our stage. This seasoned economist has had an impressive career. De Guindos took office as head of the Spanish and Portuguese department of Lehman Brothers before the fall. He served as Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, where he became credited with steering Spain to economic recovery after the euro crisis. Since 2018, he takes the prestigious position of vice-president of the ECB, the most important financial institution of Europe.There is no better time to interview this leading economist. The Ukrainian war has increased tensions for the entire continent including the financial sector and the energy uncertainty will increase inflation rates even further. What role does the ECB play and what steps will they take given the rising inflation and potential recession? What impact do the sanctions have on us and on the war? What happens to the interest rate and the economy as a whole? What impact will it have on the North South divide within the EU? And what will happen to greening of monetary policy? This and much more will be discussed.