Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

The European Commission has unveiled its plan to help Europe adapt to climate change. But as extreme heat and climate disasters become the norm, the plan offers very few binding commitments. So what does it actually change? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israelis are heading to the polls today for legislative elections. It is the first national vote since 2022, and a decisive moment for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is running again. So who are the main candidates, and what is actually at stake? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Germany, the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland won two state elections in September, in Saxony Anhalt, and in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania. Now, talks are underway to build coalitions. How close is the AfD to governing in these States? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on July 6. "Remigration". Born within the Belgian far right and later embraced in France and Austria, this concept refers to the forced or voluntary return of foreign nationals, but also legal migrants and even naturalised citizens, to their countries of origin. And it is becoming increasingly popular among right-wing forces across Europe. Is this racial, and xenophobic, policy really realistic and feasible? What impact would it have on European economies and societies? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network. This episode is based on a story written by VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally pubished on September 4. Europeans have set ambitious goals for the defence capacities that they want to achieve in the next few years. They have increased their defence spending by 79%! Bill that be enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode was originally published on June 26. Within the EU, Giorgia Meloni has proven to be a much easier partner than many had expected. In Italy, she also enjoys an image of stability that reassures at least part of the business community. Can the Italian experience strengthen other far right movements in Europe, such as the National Rally in France? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on June 10. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on August 31. Thirty billion euros. That’s how much the EU wants to mobilise to build data centres. But this ambition might run up against an obstacle. In recent years, protests against data centres have been emerging across the European Union. Can local residents influence the AI race? And can Europe make progress on this issue without the support of local communities? Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network. This episode is based on an article written by Alberto Mesas for El Salto and an article written by Tommaso Proverbio for VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On TikTok, a young user wearing a yellow vest has called for a national mobilisation on the seventeenth of october against the cost of living, and the video quickly went viral. So could the Yellow Vests make their big return? 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 Agathe Kupfer from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years after the Brexit vote, more and more Britons are asking whether they should go back. According to a YouGov poll conducted earlier this month, 52% would vote to rejoin the EU in a referendum. And the UK's new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, seems to be keeping that door open. But how realistic is that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two ships have been hit by drones in Bulgarian waters in the Black Sea on Monday. Several other ships have been targeted in recent weeks, at a time when Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukraine. So, at what point does a hybrid attack become an attack on NATO? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court, this time targeting the institution itself. While the EU insists on its firm support for the ICC, it is still not using the one tool designed for this kind of situation: the blocking statute. So, why is the EU holding back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European gas storage levels are unusually low for this time of year, reaching their lowest autumn level since 2011. With Russian gas imports set to end in 2027, could Europe face a tougher challenge in the months ahead? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain is heading for early elections, after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap vote last week. According to current polls, the conservative People's Party, or PP, is ahead of Sánchez's Socialists, while Vox is also making significant gains. So, what would happen if the PP and Vox decided to govern together? And what would that mean for Europe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France has been seeing growing protests by high school and university students in recent weeks. The movement is continuing today with a fourth day of mobilisation. According to the government, the far-left opposition party is fuelling the protests. For Donald Trump, the movement is the result of mass migration and the presence of Islam. But what are young people actually protesting about? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese carmakers are taking an increasing share of the European car market, particularly when it comes to electric vehicles. Why are some European carmakers now opening their factories to their Chinese competitors? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we talk about the 'Right to Stay,' a concept that aims at making outmigration within the EU, a choice, rather than a necessity. Léa Marchal speaks with Eleonora Peruffo, researcher at Eurofound, who is working on a new Freedom to Stay index, and Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and member of the European Committee of the Regions. Together, they discuss regional disparities, shrinking areas, access to services and the role of place-based policies in helping people stay and thrive where they live. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU wants to bring new countries on board faster. But after years of waiting, will the Commission’s new proposals actually make enlargement easier? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants in 2023, bringing Angela Merkel’s nuclear exit policy to its conclusion. But now, nuclear power is making a strong comeback everywhere in Europe. Will Germany return to nuclear policy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italy brought back border controls with Spain in August, and has now extended them until at least 15 October. Giorgia Meloni’s government fears that migrants who arrived in Ceuta, reach the continent and Italy. Are these restrictions legal in the Schengen area? What are the EU’s levies to avoid such controls? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is betting on voluntary commitments from AI companies. On Tuesday, he unveiled a self-regulatory agreement drawn up with some of the biggest names in the AI industry. What does it mean, and how does it differ from the EU’s Code of Practice for general-purpose AI? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hundreds of people were still camping yesterday at Puerta del Sol in Madrid. They were demanding action on housing, as rents and property prices continue to rise. Following an outcry triggered by the eviction of an 83-year-old woman from her home, and the mobilization of tho usands of people across Spain, the government adopted two housing decrees. Did they take the protesters’ demands into account? Listen to the episode on the EU Commission proposals for affordable housing. Read the article from El Salto about the Spanish government response to the housing crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU is negotiating its next long-term budget, worth 2 trillion euros. But reaching an agreement among the 27 Member States is proving difficult. The deadline is approaching, and the stakes are high. Will the EU Member States be able to agree on the budget? And what are the different options? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebuilding Gaza will require tens of billions of dollars. European countries have just approved new funding for water and waste management. But with the ceasefire still fragile, can reconstruction really get underway? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This summer, a group of 45 men was arrested in France. the reason: their adherence to masculinist ideas and incitement to hatred in a Telegram group with more than 1,700 members. In the UK, several young men linked to the misogynistic movement have been arrested in recent years. Are European authorities finally taking this threat seriously? And how are they responding to it? Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network. This episode is based on an article written by Blanche Ribault for StreetPress and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creating a company that operates across several EU countries could soon become easier. But the proposed 'EU Inc' regime is also facing strong opposition. So what exactly is EU Inc, and why is it proving so controversial? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giorgia Meloni wants to introduce a limit on the number of foreign pupils in Italian classrooms. Does such a measure exist elsewhere in Europe, and is it legally sound? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eleven EU countries are calling on the European Commission to stop proposing new legislation for a whole year. They say Europe needs to focus on implementing and simplifying the rules it already has. Is a one-year regulatory pause realistic, and what would deregulation actually mean for European businesses? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oil prices are back above 100 dollars a barrel, pushing up fuel prices as fighting intensifies around the Strait of Hormuz. Could taxing the windfall profits of oil and gas companies help governments support consumers? And what is the EU doing about it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new proposal aimed at protecting children online. How can the EU reach this objective? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday, several dozen people gathered in Valletta to demand justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese investigative journalist who was murdered in 2017. Nine years after her murder, the person who allegedly ordered it has still not been convicted. How can such impunity still exist in Europe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a summer marked by heatwaves, wildfires and droughts, climate is back on the European agenda. But is it really? What can we realistically expect from Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US is unhappy with the direction European industrial policy is taking. Washington has made its concerns very clear to the EU. So, what exactly is the problem, and how could the EU solve it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a long time, far-right parties were associated with an openly conservative discourse on women, the family and gender roles. But in recent years, some of these parties across Europe have softened their rhetoric, even presenting themselves as defenders of women. What does the European far right really have in store for women? Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network. This episode is based on an article written by Melissa Aglietti for VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sweden is holding general elections this Sunday. The far right is already supporting the current government. Could it soon become part of it? And what could the result mean for Sweden’s political direction? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2025 PISA results were published a few days ago. And they’re quite a bad surprise for most European countries. Educational performance is declining almost everywhere on the continent. What can we learn from East Asian countries? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, rents increased by 3% compared with the same period last year across the European Union. The EU is publishing its affordable housing act today. But will it really help Europeans afford housing? To read the article from Popaganda: https://www.popaganda.gr/sportagon/to-antiskino-tis-daskalas-stegazei-ti-sygchroni-ellada/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain wants the EU to create a European climate adaptation fund. And to finance it, the Spanish government is suggesting taxing oil and gas companies — in other words, applying the “polluter pays” principle. Is this realistic? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New return hubs could soon be established outside the European Union. At least, that is the ambition of several European countries, which want to speed up the return of migrants who have been denied the right to stay in the EU. When and where should we expect those return hubs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europeans have set ambitious goals for the defence capacities that they want to achieve in the next few years. They have increased their defence spending by 79%! Bill that be enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mercosur, CETA, TTIP, the EU’s trade policy can sometimes feel very far away from the people who are actually affected by its decisions. In EU jargon, trade policy is an exclusive EU competence. This means that the European Union negotiates and concludes trade agreements with partner countries. Then, the rules apply across the whole of the EU. But as we know, European regions are highly diverse, and they are equally divided over the benefits of free trade agreements. How can we take into account the different regional interests in this area? A podcast by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research with policies To read more about the ESPON report on the impact of trade agreements on regions: https://www.espon.eu/publications/starter-free-trade-agreements-mercosur Follow us on: LinkedIn •. Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the United States, a group of 29 states has achieved what Congress has so far failed to do: secure real commitments from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to limit the addictive nature of these platforms for young people. Could the EU hope to achieve something similar? 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.

At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that Russia is preparing to attack a European country in the coming years. This assessment, shared by European intelligence services, is not unanimously accepted across Europe. So what should Europeans really fear from Russia? 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.

Thirty billion euros. That’s how much the EU wants to mobilise to build data centres. But this ambition might run up against an obstacle. In recent years, protests against data centres have been emerging across the European Union. Can local residents influence the AI race? And can Europe make progress on this issue without the support of local communities? By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network. This episode is based on an article written by Alberto Mesas for El Salto and an article written by Tommaso Proverbio for VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Follow us on: LinkedIn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we look at the share of renewable energy production in the EU and how it could be expanded, with insights from Flore Belin, Energy Policy Coordinator at Climate Action Network Europe. 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.