German snap elections: Everything we know so far
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s efforts to maintain stability following the collapse of his three-party coalition have come up against fierce opposition and mounting public pressure, sparking a new phase of uncertainty.With a snap election scheduled for 23 February and no-confidence votes looming, the dynamics between party leaders and coalitions are set to shape Germany’s immediate future.To take a closer look at the unfolding political drama and its impact on Europe’s largest economy host Evi Kiorri is joined by our Berlin-based politics reporter, Nick Alipour.[Edited by Daniel Eck]
15 Nov 202413min
The vote that might end EU anti-deforestation law
On Thursday (14 November), the European Parliament will decide the fate of a landmark anti-deforestation law, the EUDR, which aims to break the link between EU imports and global forest loss. According to the UN, 10 million hectares of forest – an area the size of Portugal – vanish yearly due to unsustainable practices. Proposed amendments, however, threaten to narrow its scope and delay its rollout, leaving activists worried that a diluted law could fail to tackle deforestation. But who among the MEPs wants the end of anti-deforestation law, and why?In this episode, host Giada Santana and agrifood reporter Sofia Sánchez Manzanaro outline supporters and detractors of EUDR, and possible scenarios ahead of the vote.
14 Nov 202417min
Commissioner hearings end without conclusions as the real negotiations begin
Tuesday (12 November) marked the last day of hearings at the European Parliament, yet no conclusions were reached – in a clear indication that all political parties have laid their cards on the table and are now negotiating over who gets what. Evaluation meetings have been postponed with no timeline set, leaving many unanswered questions: what is happening behind closed doors, and what can we expect from the hearings’ conclusions in the coming days? To break down what has happened with the hearings so far, host Evi Kiorri is joined by Euractiv's politics reporters Nicoletta Ionta and Magnus Lund Nielsen – who have been following most of the sessions for the past two weeks.
13 Nov 202412min
COP29 climate summit: what to expect as key world leaders sit out
Delegates from nearly 200 countries are hunkered down for 11 days of intense climate talks at COP29 in Baku, but with prominent leaders noticeably absent, doubts about the summit's potential for progress are looming.Among those who will not be attending are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, and China’s Xi Jinping. Setting robust climate finance targets is high on this year's agenda at a time when the pressure couldn’t be higher, with the UN warning that global warming could rise by 2.9 to 3.1 degrees Celsius - almost double the "safe" limit set by the Paris Agreement. Join host Giada Santana as she talks to Euractiv’s climate, energy, and transport editor, Donagh Cagney, and climate reporter Paul Messad. Together, they will break down the events on the ground in Baku, Europe’s big goals for these talks, and what the missing world leaders could mean for the success - or failure - of the summit.
12 Nov 202419min
German coalition collapse: What European leaders fear
Germany’s coalition government collapsed on Wednesday, setting the stage for the first minority government in over 40 years and possible snap elections - a turn of events that has European leaders worried. The breakdown, caused by long-running disputes over economic policy and budget constraints, culminated late on Wednesday when Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner after failed negotiations. This marks a significant shift in German and European politics, with potential consequences for European cooperation, especially as the continent braces for Donald Trump’s return to the White House. But how do European leaders view Germany’s political instability? To understand this better, host Evi Kiorri speaks to our Berlin-based reporter Nick Alipour.
8 Nov 202415min
How Donald Trump’s comeback will shape the rest of the world
Once-convicted, twice-impeached Republican firebrand Donald Trump will serve a second term as president of the United States, after unprecedented preliminary results in most swing states and some historically blue states confirmed his return to the White House. With both the Senate and House to be controlled by a Republican majority, the businessman-turned-politician is likely to enjoy an obstacle-free pathway to turn his electoral promises into legislation. But what did Trump guarantee to the American public in the first place and what is at the root of his remarkable comeback? Tune in as host Giada Santana takes the temperature at the incoming president’s headquarters in Palm Beach County, Florida with Euractiv’s Sarantis Michaloupolos, and analyzes Trump’s manifesto with editor Alice Taylor.
7 Nov 202419min
US Election Night: What happened and what it means for the EU
Last night, Americans headed to the polls to shape not only their own future but also that of the rest of the world by voting for the next US president. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump went head-to-head for the US presidency in what is being called the most significant election in decades.The race for the White House is expected to come down to seven key battleground states, and it could take days for officials to count enough votes to declare a winner. So, what happened on election night, and why does it matter for the EU?To break down all that happened on election night, host Evi Kiorri was joined by journalist and editor Brian Maguire.
6 Nov 202423min
Šefčovič’s plan to toughen Europe’s trade strategy against US, China
As the world of politics divides its attention between Brussels’ commissioners' hearings and Washington’s election frenzy, Commissioner-designate for Trade Maroš Šefčovič’s interview matters for both sides of the Atlantic. If the European Parliament green-lights him, Šefčovič pledges to reshape Europe’s foreign economic strategy against Beijing's “unfair practices” and Washington’s increasing protectionism. “It is time to double down on our efforts to safeguard the playing field," said the Slovakian commissioner-designate in front of MEPs (4 November). Join us as host Giada Santana and economics reporter Thomas Moller-Nielsen comment on Šefčovič’s hearing live from the Parliament and what his words mean for the future of EU trade and competitiveness.
5 Nov 202415min
