Today in the EU

This week, can Turkey still experience a change of government or has it passed the Rubicon to the extent that democratic elections do not mean much and the regime is very strong and united around Erdogan?

11 Touko 202326min

On this week’s episode of the Beyond the Byline podcast, we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, and we take a closer look at why press freedom is in demise in several European countries.  We asked Oliver Money-Kyrle, Head of Europe Advocacy and Programmes at the International Press Institute, and Laurens Hueting, Senior Advocacy Officer at the European Centre for Press & Media Freedom: what can be done to turn the tide on the worsening climate for press freedom.

3 Touko 202323min

Have you ever ordered food on an app from the comfort of your home, or booked an Uber to take you home after a party? If the answer is yes then you’ve participated in the gig economy and you’ve used services offered by the platform workers.This week, we look at the platform work directive proposed by the European Commission. But what are platform workers? Are they independent or fully employed? Why is the European Commission looking to regulate this sector - and what does the platform work directive entail?

27 Huhti 202319min

On this week’s episode of the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are taking a closer look at Twitter's current troubles with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), why journalists and media companies are turning their back on the platform and what its future looks like in the European market.The once-pioneer of social media has become the black sheep since October, when Elon Musk took over and became the CEO of Twitter, or self-appointed 'Chief Twit'.

20 Huhti 202312min

On this week's episode of the Beyond the Byline podcast, we will be discussing the groundbreaking legal case in which 15 member states of the European Union are taking legal action against the government of Viktor Orbán.This historic move highlights not only the rift between Brussels and Budapest, but also emphasises that numerous other European capitals have joined forces in opposing the Hungarian government's policies.Hungary's controversial child protection law has been criticised by human rights groups and international watchdogs as being discriminatory against LGBTQI+ people and was described as a “disgrace” by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

13 Huhti 202311min

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are looking at the anti-money laundering and terrorism financing reform approved by the European Parliament on March 28th.Recent successive scandals such as Qatar gate and Danske Bank have led to calls for a more comprehensive and effective EU approach to monitoring money trails, the financing of terrorism and cracking down on illicit money laundering. How are these practices threatening the economy, the existing financial system and the fair market? And will this new authority be enough to tackle the problem?We interviewed the rapporteurs of the file, MEPs Eva Maria Poptcheva and Eero Heinäluoma, as well as Roland Papp, Senior Policy Officer at Transparency International EU, in order to find some answers.

30 Maalis 202321min

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are looking at the trouble in the financial markets, following the collapse of the US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Credit Suisse had to be taken over by UBS in an emergency operation. The turbulence triggered anxiety on both sides of the Atlantic, with comparisons being made to the financial crisis of 2008.So, we ask - what does this mean for the European banks? And what actions are being taken by the European Commission, the Parliament and the European Central Bank?

23 Maalis 202328min

In this special episode of the Beyond the Byline podcast, we take a look at the EU’s packaging regulation – the issues it seeks to address, and whether it has any chances of succeeding where its predecessors failed.The European Commission tabled its packaging and packaging regulation in November last year in a bid to cut waste, promote recycling, and reduce consumption of primary raw materials.As the draft regulation now reaches the European Parliament and EU member states for scrutiny, we look at the main aspects of the proposal with our guests:Nils Torvalds, a Finnish MEP from the liberal Renew Europe group in the European ParliamentJean-Pierre Schweitzer, a green campaigner with the European Environmental Bureau (EEB)and Annick Carpentier, from The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE)

16 Maalis 202328min