Today in the EU

Around the globe, the number of citizens who show unwavering support for democracy is on the rise but there are also more and more of those voting for leaders who may undermine democracy.Today, for the first time ever, more than half of the global population supports such leaders. We spoke to United Nations Development Programme's Pedro Conceiçao and Euractiv's politics hub editor Aurelie Pugnet to zoom in on the implications for the upcoming European Union elections.

15 Aug 202415min

Ursula von der Leyen convinced 401 members of the European Parliament to vote in her favour, out of 707. This time, she was re-elected as Commission President with a 41-vote lead, emerging from the first plenary with a stronger mandate.Before the vote, von der Leyen delivered a lengthy speech reaching out to centrist and left-wing parties, while excluding the far-right. She outlined the priorities for her next mandate, appearing more confident than ever, but also raising some questions. To break down what happened during the vote for the President of the European Commission, we are joined by our politics editor Aurélie Pugnet.

14 Aug 202414min

UK citizens head to the polls today for a general election widely expected to end the 14 years of Conservative rule and return the Labour Party to power, prompting questions about what it will mean for the EU-UK relations and why - while Europe is shifting to the right - the UK is turning left.To understand the implications of the vote, the major players, and the European consequences, we're joined in the studio by Catherine Feore, Euractiv’s editor, with insights from Mathew Nicolson, Europe Elects deputy team leader and UK correspondent.

13 Aug 202412min

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has successfully leveraged her exclusion from the EU top job talks to reinforce her party's Eurosceptic narrative and position herself as a champion against the EU's elitism. But how is her strategy playing out in Brussels?In this episode, host Giada Santana and Euractiv Italy's Alessia Peretti discuss what Meloni wants from the European Council’s meeting and what she obtained.

12 Aug 202410min

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" is a saying that feels particularly relevant in Brussels as Hungary prepares to take over the presidency of the European Council—one of the EU's most crucial brokering positions—in less than a week.From the choice of a provocative motto to its declared priorities, Budapest appears unafraid of escalating tensions with Brussels, disappointing those who hoped this role might prompt a Hungarian realignment with EU values.In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics hub editor Aurelie Pugnet discuss the direction in which Hungary intends to take the union and the history of bad blood between Orbán and the EU.

9 Aug 202411min

Defying expectations the French left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, overtook Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, coming first during the second and final round of France’s snap elections on Sunday (7 July). The left-wing coalition, however, has not secured an absolute majority, therefore questions arise about who will be the country’s next prime minister, and which parties could collaborate to form a government. To break down what the future holds for French politics, I’m joined by our Paris-based reporter Théo Bourgery-Gonse.

8 Aug 202411min

As Ursula von der Leyen worked to get re-elected for a second mandate at the European Commission's helm, she offered concessions across the political spectrum and these tactical negotiations have largely shaped the Commission's next mandate. But what does her manifesto entail, and which points will von der Leyen truly prioritise?In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics reporter Magnus Lund Nielsen delve into the next European Commission's political guidelines, informed by exclusive documents reviewed by Euractiv.

7 Aug 202411min

Ursula von der Leyen is campaigning to secure a second term as Commission president after her party's success in the European Parliament elections and her nomination by EU leaders. She is negotiating with key groups, including the Socialists, the liberals, and the Greens, to secure the 361 votes needed for her confirmation in Parliament.  At the same time, far-right leaders across Europe, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, are forming a new alliance with nationalist parties from Austria and the Czech Republic. To understand the motives behind the talks, the reshuffling, and the ongoing powerplay, our politics reporter Max Griera is here with us today.

6 Aug 202415min