Why Macron chose Barnier as France's new prime minister
After months of political deadlock, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister on Thursday (5 September).Barnier faces the challenge of forming a government in a fractured parliament, where the far-right party Rassemblement National holds key influence. His immediate tasks include avoiding a vote of no confidence and setting a unified policy agenda – marking the end of the political standoff but the start of new challenges.To understand how Emanuel Macron reached this decision, who the new PM is, and what the reactions were, we spoke with our Paris-based reporter, Théo Bourgery-Gonse.
6 Sep 202412min
Strategic Dialogue calls for big changes in EU farm funding
The Strategic Dialogue on the future of agriculture concluded on 4 September after almost eigth months of negotiations involving 29 key players in the agrifood sector. The stakeholders have now presented their recommendations, suggesting that the EU's agricultural policy needs a fundamental overhaul to create a more equitable industry. What form should this shift take?In this episode, host Giada Santana and agrifood hub editor Angelo di Mambro analyse the freshly published report and the future of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with comments from an exclusive interview with Strategic Dialogue's chair Peter Strohschneider.
5 Sep 202410min
The EU's plan to reshape its defence policy
As the EU gears up for a new era in defence, the focus is shifting to how the Commission and Parliament will align their differing interests. The new subcommittee's upgrade signals a stronger push for a unified strategy, but uncertainties persist.With a new Commissioner set to take office, how will their approach influence the EU’s defence policy? And with the Mario Draghi report on the horizon, should we anticipate bold suggestions on defence?To dive into what the future holds for EU's defence policy we spoke with our security and defence reporter, Aurélie Pugnet.
4 Sep 202416min
Far-right election success pushes Germany towards political instability
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won about one-third of the votes in the state elections in eastern Germany. This prompted parties across the political spectrum to rule out coalitions with the extremist group. Enforcing a domestic cordon sanitaire, however, could result in unlikely alliances and fuel discontent among voters. In this episode, host Giada Santana and Berlin-based reporter Nick Alipour examine eastern Germany’s history of far-right extremism, the country’s uncertain political landscape, and reactions from leaders across the European Union following Sunday’s vote.
3 Sep 202414min
How the French political impasse is undermining Macron in Europe
Two months after snap elections, France remains without a coalition or prime minister-elect, despite five days of government consultations. For President Macron, the deadlock means spending vital political capital at a time when the country faces a deficit of around 5.1% of GDP. What are the reasons for the delay, and which names are in the mix for the PM job?To better understand what is happening with the turmoil in France, we are joined by our Paris based Politics and economy reporter, Théo Bourgery-Gonse.
2 Sep 202411min
Who is the Telegram CEO and why is he being prosecuted in France?
Paris prosecutors have opened a formal investigation against Telegram founder Pavel Durov as part of a probe into organised crime-related activities on the messaging app, in what is a rare case of a tech executive being held personally accountable for illegal activities on a digital platform.But who is the Russian-born founder of the popular messaging app, and what is the French investigation about? And can the European Commission have a say on the role of tech companies in regulating online content?To break down everything that is happening in the Pavel Durov case, we're joined by our Paris-based technology reporter, Théophane Hartmann.
30 Aug 202411min
Germany's role in the uncertain future of the Schengen area
The nearly 40-year-old treaty that established the border-free travel zone in Europe is under strain as countries like Austria, France, and Germany increasingly flout its rules. While several countries have been criticised for reintroducing controls at their borders, German politicians are now advocating tighter checks at the borders with Poland and Czechia - measures that could be beefed up if the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is currently leading the polls, wins regional elections in eastern Germany this weekend.In this episode, host Giada Santana and Euractiv's energy and environment reporter Niko Kurmayer explore Schengen's uncertain future and Germany's pivotal role in shaping it.
29 Aug 202414min
Why climate NGOs are taking the EU commission to court
Yesterday and today two NGO groups announced the launch of two climate lawsuits against the EU Commission, challenging both the EU’s taxonomy framework and its 2030 carbon emission targets.These legal actions are part of a growing global movement where activists are holding governments accountable for their environmental pledges.In this episode, host Giada Santana and Energy & Environment Editor Donagh Cagney examine the vulnerabilities in the EU’s Green Deal and discuss how recent climate litigations may reshape its future. The discussion features insights from Climate Action Network Europe spokesperson Romain Didi and LSE Policy Fellow Catherine Higham.
28 Aug 202411min
