Today in the EU

This week in our Beyond the Byline podcast, we are focusing on the European Commission's decision to increase the Ukrainian government's short-term budgetary aid by 9 billion and set up a reconstruction platform to help with financing the rebuilding of the country. To hear more on this, I’m joined by EURACTIV’s Economy and Jobs editor, Janos Ammann, who has been following the story.We are also taking a look at the state of the transport industry: what's happening with diesel and gasoline prices, and how, while electric vehicles might be beneficial for the environment, they could have hidden impacts on our health. To break down this story, I spoke with EURACTIV’s Transport editor, Sean Goulding Carroll.

19 Touko 202218min

This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on why the Eurovision Song Contest has become so politicised and whether this year's event is a good reflection of current European affairs.Who are the traditional allies that we will see supporting each other during the big final, which countries are not participating, and what political messages are conveyed with the songs?To break down the politics of Eurovision, I’m joined by two special guests from EURACTIV’s editorial team- Gerardo Fortuna, who is in Turin for the big final and Vlad Maksimov, who has a good understanding of the European song contest and the politics behind it.We are also talking about the vision of French President Emmanuel Macron, for a “European Political Community”. Is this new community a shortcut on the road to full EU membership or maybe just a waiting room? What can we expect from it, and why is it important for the EU? To hear more on this, I spoke with Senior Editor Oliver Noyan.

13 Touko 202235min

In recognition of the upcoming EU mental health awareness week (9-13 May), this week in our Beyond the Byline podcast we are asking: How has our mental health been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine? What support systems are in place for citizens facing mental health problems? Does stigma around the issue still exist, and how do we tackle it?Together with Laura Marchetti, policy manager at Mental Health Europe and Clara Babef from EURACTIV France, we looked into the situation in Europe and the initiatives currently underway.We also spoke about the release of Reporters Without Borders' 2022 Press Freedom Index - in particular, looking at the European countries where freedom of the press has declined this year. Which countries topped the table and which countries plunged?To hear more, I spoke with EURACTIV’s Alice Taylor and Molly Killeen.

5 Touko 202223min

This week in our Beyond the Byline podcast we are focusing on how companies are implementing initiatives to boost gender equality on corporate boards and in decision-making positions. Listen to our special guest Hedwige Nuyens, chair of European Women on Boards, explain why diversity in decision-making positions is so important, together with EURACTIV’s Silvia Ellena who has been covering the story.We are also taking a look at the aftermath of the French elections: asking why Western leaders were relieved by Macron’s win, what the country's future with Russia might hold, and what is facing the French president when it comes to national politics. To hear more, I spoke with Davide Basso, who reports directly from Paris for EURACTIV.

29 Huhti 202224min

This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on how western leaders and human rights organisations like the OSCE are trying to investigate reports of war crimes committed in Ukraine by the Russian army. I talked to EURACTIV’s reporter Alexandra Brzozowski to hear more. We are also talking about how the EU is trying to break away from Russia regarding energy. How has the bloc’s energy policy shifted, and what additional sanctions could follow? I was joined by EURACTIV’s Energy and Environment reporter, Kira Taylor, to learn more.

15 Huhti 202224min

This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on Poland’s veto of a proposal for an EU directive that would implement the internationally agreed 15% minimum effective tax rate for large multinationals. What were the reactions, and what are the next steps? I talked to EURACTIV’s economy and jobs editor, Janos Amman, to hear more. We are also talking about the highly anticipated presidential elections in France. What can we expect, who leads the race, and how could the outcome influence the EU Council's rotating presidency? To answer these questions, I was joined by Davide Basso, who covers the elections for EURACTIV.COM and EURACTIV France.

7 Huhti 202220min

This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on EU membership candidates, progress made, and the silence from the EU’s side. We looked at the instrument for pre-accession assistance and why there is a special process to join the bloc for the Western Balkans. To hear more on this, I talk to EURACTIV’s reporter Vlagyiszlav Makszimov. We are also talking about how and if diplomacy can be the solution to the war in Ukraine. Diplomats from Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul for another round of negotiations without a critical outcome. To see how Russia and Ukraine can find compromise via diplomacy, I talked with EURACTIV’s senior editor Georgi Gotev.

31 Maalis 202221min

This week is one of the busiest weeks for Brussels and international politics, as it’s the first time the “capital of Europe '' is hosting so many leaders at once for NATO, G7 and EU summits. I talk to Alex Brzozowski and Kira Taylor on the outcome of the summit and the announcement by von der Leyen and Biden on Friday Morning.  We are also focusing on the new subvariant of Omicron, named BA.2, that is spreading rapidly leading to a new wave of infections across Europe. With the cases in many countries rising. How worried should people be about the BA.2 variant? Will vaccines protect against it? Evi Kiorri is together with Giedre Peseckyte and Amalie Merch for this story.

25 Maalis 202219min