Europe's mental health in decline and EU taxonomy 'under fire'
This week our podcast focuses on the rise of the suicide rates amongst Europe's youth, the increase of depression among EU citizens, what has been done and what can we do better. To shed some light on how European countries are facing these issues, I spoke with EURACTIV’s editor, Alice Taylor and Laura Marchetti, policy manager at Mental Health Europe. We are also talking about the new EU taxonomy, what it includes, the teething issues, and why we have had reactions from climate activists such as Dominika Lasota and Louisa Neubeur from Fridays for Future. To break down for us, I was joined by EURACTIV’s energy and environment reporter, Kira Taylor.
20 Tammi 202221min
Kazakhstan’s unrest explained and the foreign defence ministers meet in Brest
This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on Kazakhstan, the demonstrations that caused significant unrest across the country, Russia’s involvement, and possible measures coming from the EU. To shed some light on the story, we spoke with EURACTIV’s Senior Editor, Georgi Gotev and Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, associate professor of international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. We also discuss the first informal meeting of foreign and defence ministers under the French EU Council Presidency, including the hot topics on the agenda and the upcoming military strategy document. To hear more on that, I spoke with EURACTIV’s Alexandra Brzozowski and Matthieu Pollet, who are following the meeting from Brest.
13 Tammi 202223min
EU observes tension on Ukrainian border and Spain counts dead migrants in the Atlantic
In the first episode of 2022, EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline focuses on the tension between Russia and Kyiv and the EU’s role in it. A story that started some months ago requires close attention and possibly action from the West. To shed some light on what is happening on the Russian and Ukrainian borders, I’m joined today by EURACTIV’s Alexandra Brzozowski. Regarding another ongoing issue, this time in Spain, recently published reports show that the past year was the deadliest on the western Euro-African border. Over 12 months, 4,016 people lost their lives on the dangerous Canary Route. I spoke with EURACTIV’S reporter for Spain, Pol Afonso Fortuny, to hear more about this story.
6 Tammi 202211min
Beyond the Byline’s 2021 wrap up
In the last episode of the year, our Beyond the Byline podcast revisits some of the stories that caught our attention in 2021. From the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has changed our lives over the past two years to the new climate goals and legislation by the European Commission, the international tax regime, and the pushbacks against migrants in the Aegean, 2021 was an eventful year. To wrap up what has happened in these 12 months, I spoke with EURACTIV’s reporters Giedre Peseckyte, Oliver Noyan, Kira Taylor, Janos Aman, and Mathew Tsimitakis.
23 Joulu 202118min
Lukashenko's jailed opposition leader and France's digital push in EU Council Presidency
This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the imprisonment of an opposition leader in Belarus, the practices Alexander Lukashenko’s uses against his political opponents, and the EU’s position. To shed some light on the story, I am joined by EURACTIV’s Senior Editor, Georgi Gotev. We are also talking about the upcoming French presidency of the EU, the hot topics on the agenda, the focus on digital regulation and tech sovereignty, and what changes to expect. To hear more on that, I spoke with Matthieu Pollet from EURACTIV France.
17 Joulu 202111min
EU minimum wage directive and COVID vaccinations of children
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the minimum wage directive agreed by the EU council. What is in the directive, which countries oppose it and what is the future of the minimum wages? To break down the components of this story, I’m joined by Janos Amman, EURACTIV’s Economy and Jobs editor. We are also talking about the start of vaccinations for children aged between 5 and 11 years old in France and other EU countries. What’s the plan and which vaccine is the safest according to the European Medicines Agency? I spoke with Clara Bauer from EURACTIV France to hear more on this story.
10 Joulu 202110min
Fines on the unvaccinated and Merkel's 'biggest mistake'
This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the fines Austria and Greece are proposing against unvaccinated people, the reactions so far, and the exceptions. Oliver Noyan joins me from EURACTIV Germany to hear more on this story. We also talk about Donald Tusk's criticism of Angela Merkel's Nord Stream 2 deal with Russia, which the Polish politician called her "biggest mistake". To shed some light on this story, I spoke with Piotr Maciej Kaczynski, an expert of The Bronislaw Geremek Foundation in Warsaw.
3 Joulu 202113min
Energy Crisis and Conference on the Future of Europe
This week our Beyond the Byline Podcast focuses on the Energy Crisis and the effects that this is having on the economy of Europe, especially in terms of impact on the low-middle income classes. I'm joined by EURACTIV's Energy and Environment Senior Editor Frédéric Simon. We are also talking about the Conference on the Future of Europe, six months after its official start, to shed some light on how it is going and where it is going. For this segment I've hosted our EURACTIV reporter Eleonora Vasques, who is following the work of the Conference.
26 Marras 202117min
