Summer Top10: The EU Commissioners guessing game

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss how the far right is growing, as Giorgia Meloni’s leadership and the rapid rise of far-right governments in Europe create concern amongst leftist parties and political analysts.We also discuss how the leftist parties can maintain their ground: SYRIZA’s Alexis Tsipras and the President of the Party of the European Left Heinz Bierbaum highlighted why they are calling for a united left so their ideas and positions become hegemonic.

27 Okt 202214min

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss the geopolitical complications of the EU’s relations with China.The European Council will hold a strategic discussion on China for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In a preview of this upcoming meeting, EU leaders and diplomats mentioned earlier in the week in Luxembourg that the bloc’s rivalry with China has deepened over the past few years.The reasons include both geopolitics and economics, as China is one of the EU’s strongest competitors regarding trade, raw materials and technology.

20 Okt 202212min

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss the Commission’s enlargement report. Countries like Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Turkey have been on the waiting list for years, with no significant progress being made.The content of the enlargement report did not differ notably from previous years, yet, the language and tone reflected the renewed urgency on enlargement processes following Russia's war in Ukraine.

13 Okt 202218min

This week the Beyond the Byline podcast is all about energy, the hot topic of today! Winter is looming and EU leaders and ministers are pushing for solutions to protect consumers and lift Europe out of the crisis.Last Friday (30 September), EU ministers met in Brussels to agree on new emergency measures to tackle potential shortages. Can a price cap on gas protect consumers and businesses from inflation and the energy crisis?

6 Okt 202217min

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, following Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen's new measures to fight corruption, we speak to experts on the matter.Our guests this week are MEP Daniel Freund, Nick Aiossa, Deputy Director, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Transparency International EU, Jozsef Peter Martin, executive director at the International Transparency Hungary and Robin Lööf, lawyer specialised in commercial crime and financial regulation. We ask them: what is defined as corruption, what is the Commission doing to fight it, what can be improved and what makes corruption in Hungary so particular?

29 Sep 202222min

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss Italy's upcoming general elections. Italians are asked to decide who will be their next government on 25 September. Political analyst Lorenzo Pregliasco and professor of politics Piero Ignazi explain: What is the possible outcome? What are the most probable scenarios if the right-wing coalition wins? Will Giorgia Meloni become the next prime minister and if so, how would it affect Italy’s relations with the EU?

22 Sep 202220min

In a special episode of EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast, we bring you a breakdown of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the Union speech. The president addressed the key issues on the EU agenda and announced new measures, programmes, and plans. So, how is the Commission planning to support Ukraine? What is the plan for energy? And how can the Union ensure financial stability?

14 Sep 202233min

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss the wiretapping scandal in Greece. Investigative and financial journalist Thanasis Koukakis explains why the Greek government monitored him while shedding light on how the "Greek Watergate" was revealed.And MEP Stelios Kouloglou tells us why exposing the wiretapping scandal is essential, what the role of the European Commission is, and what does it mean for the country’s press freedom.

8 Sep 202223min