Today in the EU

Sunday (30 June) marked the deadline for EU countries to submit their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), outlining how each member state will deliver domestically on the EU’s emission goals by 2030. However, only a handful of countries have met the deadline so far. Is the EU at risk of missing its climate neutrality target?In this episode, host Giada Santana and energy and environment journalist Niko Kurmayer analyse the importance of NECPs and the road to achieving net zero emissions.

2 Juli 202412min

The French headed to the polls to decide on their next government after President Emmanuel Macron announced a snap election a few weeks ago. Jordan Bardella’s far-right Rassemblement National emerged victorious in this first round of legislative elections, with a record score of 34%. But what signals is this result sending ahead of the definitive second round, and what could the outcome mean for Emmanuel Macron’s future? To look at the results of the first round of the French elections, the reactions and what to expect we’re joined by our Paris based politics reporter Théo Bourgery-Gonse.

1 Juli 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.

28 Juni 202410min

EU leaders are gathering in Brussels as of Thursday (26 June) for the last summit under the current mandate, to seal the deal on the distribution of the bloc's top jobs following the June European elections.At the same time, they will be addressing a swath of key policy issues for the EU and agree on the EU's strategic agenda, a policy plan that sets the EU’s direction and goals for the next five years.  To dive into the topics on this summit’s agenda, we are joined by our Global Editor Alexandra Brzozowski.

27 Juni 202411min

"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.

26 Juni 202411min

The forthcoming report by former Italian prime minister and former European central bank president, Mario Draghi, on the future of European competitiveness is a valuable opportunity to shape the EU policy agenda for the coming EU legislative term and beyond. The report will focus on the EU's aim to leverage its numerous strengths and competitive advantages while also tackling existing challenges and facilitating the twin transition towards a sustainable and digital economy.But why has Draghi’s report been delayed and what reactions can we expect to it?  To understand this better we spoke with Euractiv's economy reporter Thomas Moller-Nielsen.

25 Juni 202416min

The promise of halting migration to Europe has been at the heart of centre-right and far-right parties' election campaigns across the EU for June's elections. While the strategy worked and garnered wide public approval, voters are now expecting politicians to deliver and leaders are looking beyond the EU for solutions.In this episode, host Giada Santana and Berlin correspondent Nick Alipour analyse what influence UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda model might have on future EU migration policy.

24 Juni 202415min

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) announced on Wednesday they've overtaken the liberal Renew group to become the third-largest political group in the European Parliament. This shake-up impacts the negotiations for EU top jobs as - at least in theory - it makes the ECR entitled to one of them. But is ECR really interested in one of the top jobs? How is Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni planning to use her power? And what next for Ursula von der Leyen? To discuss this further, we’ve invited in our studio our politics editor Aurélie Pugnet.

21 Juni 202412min