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Today in the EU

News & Politics Podcasts

Today in the EU is the first daily podcast dedicated to politics and policy in the European Union. Every morning at 6 am, host Giada Santana analyses the latest in the EU bubble with Euractiv’s specialised journalists. Tune in to know what is going on in the bloc. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including EU politics and institutions, elections, shifts in political power among EU parties (EPP, PES, ALDE, GUE, Greens), G7, EU enlargement, member states, economics, finance, tech regulations, environmental policy, climate change, agrifood, agriculture policy, health, and pandemic treaties. Euractiv’s analysis is enriched with the latest reports from esteemed international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and European institutions. The production team includes producers Charles Cohen and Miriam Saénz de Tejada.

Location:

Belgium

Description:

Today in the EU is the first daily podcast dedicated to politics and policy in the European Union. Every morning at 6 am, host Giada Santana analyses the latest in the EU bubble with Euractiv’s specialised journalists. Tune in to know what is going on in the bloc. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including EU politics and institutions, elections, shifts in political power among EU parties (EPP, PES, ALDE, GUE, Greens), G7, EU enlargement, member states, economics, finance, tech regulations, environmental policy, climate change, agrifood, agriculture policy, health, and pandemic treaties. Euractiv’s analysis is enriched with the latest reports from esteemed international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and European institutions. The production team includes producers Charles Cohen and Miriam Saénz de Tejada.

Language:

English


Episodes
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What a supermarket boycott has to do with the Romanian election

2/13/2025
Across the Western Balkans and beyond, the eye watering prices of food products have led citizens to successfully boycott supermarkets in the past two weeks. In Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, sales were down to 30% or more. This weekend, Calin Georgescu, polls’ frontrunner in Romania, called on people to boycott foreign-owned supermarkets, “to support Romanian producers.” In November, the relatively unknown independent politician turned Tiktok star. Georgescu won the first round of the presidential election. However, the country’s top court then annulled the result over alleged Russian interference. How has Georgescu’s platform changed since? And what strategy is the government adopting against foreign interference ahead of the next elections in May? In this episode, host Giada Santana and Bucharest-based Global Focus think thank director Oana Popescu – Zamfir analyse the supermarket boycott phenomenon, and the road ahead the Romanian election.

Duration:00:17:01

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What the EU can expect from NATO talks

2/12/2025

Duration:00:17:53

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Macron’s plan to push Europe’s AI policy ahead

2/11/2025
Eighty world leaders are in Paris for the final day of the AI Summit, a key forum for Europe’s renewed push to close the gap with AI powerhouses—the U.S. and China. For years, the high cost of innovation kept Europe on the sidelines. That’s changing. French President Emmanuel Macron said the country has secured more than €100 billion in private funding to drive technological breakthroughs. Meanwhile, the European Commission is backing a €150 billion investment through a joint venture of private firms aiming to position the EU as a global AI leader. Brussels wants rapid progress. But will that come at the expense of safety and oversight? And how is this summit reshaping the global AI conversation? In this episode, host Giada Santana and tech reporter Jakob Wulff Wold discuss Europe's ambitions voiced at the AI summit.

Duration:00:15:17

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Why the EU won’t stop the development aid’s decline

2/10/2025

Duration:00:22:53

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How Brexit's legacy limits Starmer's EU relationship

2/7/2025
Five years after the Brexit referendum, the UK has undergone its biggest change in a century. In Westminister, five prime ministers have tried – and failed – to stabilise the country's political and financial lifeline. Now, it is Starmer’s turn. In Brussels, hopes rest on his success, especially in rekindling diplomatic ties on trade, defence, and youth mobility. Where are we at in negotiations? And how is Brexit still influencing London's decisions? In this episode, host Giada Santana talks to Euractiv's editor Owen Morgan and BREXIT expert Joël Reland about the future of EU-UK relations.

Duration:00:22:07

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How a budget bill could end the French left

2/6/2025
For the first time in 60 years, France started the year without a budget bill after December’s vote triggered the collapse of Prime Minister Barnier’s three-month-old government. But this week, new PM Michel Bayrou managed to push through the budget – avoid the New Popular Front alliance's no-confidence vote and secure his own job in the process. Now, the opposition is pointing finger at one party in particular: the Socialists, who broke away from the NFP and decided not to rally behind the group’s vote. The party divisions in the NFP could mark the end of the alliance, and leave France’s left in limbo. Could the socialists deal the final blow to NFP? In this episode, host Giada Santana and Paris-based politics reporter Theo Bourgery-Gonse make sense of the french left's fragmentation and PM Bayrou's latest moves.

Duration:00:15:53

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Making sense of Trump’s tariffs, what should the EU expect?

2/5/2025
After Canada, Mexico, and China, the EU could be next to face the threat of tariffs as Donald Trump’s latest remarks suggest levies on European goods may be imminent. Is Brussels prepared to retaliate? And how might the bloc get entangled in a global trade war? In this episode, host Giada Santana and economy reporter Thomas Moller-Nielsen break down Trump’s strategy—and what it could mean for the EU.

Duration:00:19:06

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After California, DeepSeek makes the EU nervous

2/4/2025
The new Chinese AI model DeepSeek R1 is making waves worldwide as the start up behind it says it runs at a fraction of the cost of all existing models on the market. That seems impressive. Or sort of. In the EU, at least eleven member states have promptly reacted to the launch, demanding the platform clarification on its privacy policy. Brussels' investigation, on the other hand, has yet to reach conclusions. What rules could the Chinese startup be in violation of? Where does the data go? In this episode, host Giada Santana and tech reporter Claudie Moreau ask DeepSeek some of these questions directly and analyse what measures Brussels can implement to protect users.

Duration:00:15:02

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Why the Commission is failing to ease farmers' worries over MERCOSUR

2/3/2025
Concerns over the EU’s trade deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay have stalled negotiations for two decades. Now, the agreement is signed – but its opposition is far from sealed. Farmers worry it means unfair competition and fear cheaper, less-regulated imports could threaten their livelihoods. Economy Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen stepped in last week to ease tensions over Mercosur’s impact. Was it enough? And how is the Commission handling the pushback? In this episode, host Giada Santana and agrifood reporter Maria Simon Arboleas analyse the fragmentation around the Mercosur agreement and the Commission's plan to move forward.

Duration:00:15:32

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Commission VP Ribera on political tensions in the way of the Clean Industrial Deal

1/31/2025
Less than a month before the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal, executive commissioner Teresa Ribera speaks to host Giada Santana and EET editor Donagh Cagney about competitiveness, environmental NGOs lobbying and the hostile political climate standing in her way.

Duration:00:23:07

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What the uprising toppling Serbia’s PM means for the country’s EU accession

1/30/2025

Duration:00:16:57

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Von der Leyen’s Competitiveness Compass explained

1/29/2025
European Commission's President von der Leyen unveils today her 'North Star' of economic strategy: the Competitiveness Compass. Beyond the motto of simplifying and unifying, the document has drawn praise from businesses and raised alarms among unions. What impact will it have on the Union's economic future? In this episode, host Giada Santana talks to Euractiv's economy reporter, Thomas Moller-Nielsen, to unpack the Compass' key takeaways.

Duration:00:15:04

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How Alice Weidel redefined Germany’s far right

1/28/2025
By becoming the moderate face of the AfD, Alice Weidel helped transform the party from a fringe movement into a dominant force, forcing its rivals to rethink their electoral strategy. However, Weidel's private life reveals contradictions some argue clash with the traditional values of the far-right movement. She has lived abroad, is openly in a same-sex relationship, and splits her time between Germany and Switzerland. But rather than hindering her rise, these complexities have fuelled Weidel's climb to power, positioning the 46-year-old as a contender for the chancellorship. In this episode, host Giada Santana is joined by Berlin-based politics reporter Nick Alipour to examine the AfD's transformation under Weidel’s leadership.

Duration:00:14:53

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Why the EU’s new crisis force won’t be deployed just yet

1/27/2025
The European Union approved its first-ever crisis response unit, a 5,000-strong force designed to address threats outside its borders. However, as EU foreign ministers convene today to once again deliberate on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, one thing seems clear: the newly minted crisis unit doesn't look set to be heading to Kyiv – or anywhere else – in the immediate future. Why is the EU keeping its crisis response corps on standby during one of the most significant security challenges in its modern history? And if Ukraine is off the table, what types of crises or regions might eventually trigger their first mission?

Duration:00:11:38

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Everybody wants Greenland, but what does Greenland want?

1/24/2025
Greenland has come into the limelight after Donald Trump suggested buying the island in late December. The controversy reignited a wish for independence in the world's largest island, and thrown the government in Copenhagen into a political quagmire. In this episode, host Giada Santana speaks with politics reporter Magnus Lund Nielsen, who has been covering the latest developments in Greenland on the ground for the past two weeks.

Duration:00:19:45

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Von der Leyen's Davos economic vision for Europe

1/23/2025
As European leaders and the world's most powerful companies descended upon Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum this week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used the summit to unveil plans aimed at boosting the EU’s competitiveness, expanding trade, and attracting much-needed talent. But is the market buying into it? Business leaders might see the EU blueprint short on specifics, as sluggish growth continues to weigh on the bloc, and the potential effects of US tariffs remain difficult to gauge. Can Brussels steer Europe through mounting global challenges? And how robust is its economic playbook for the future? In this episode, host Giada Santana speaks with economy reporter Thomas Moller Nielsen about the EU’s stance on innovation, competitiveness, and tariffs as publicised in Davos.

Duration:00:22:12

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How a spy scandal exposed EU's failure to protect its officials

1/22/2025
The EU is facing some serious questions about the lack of robust counter-intelligence measures after an investigation revealed that Hungarian secret forces spied on the European Anti-Fraud Office between 2015 and 2017. During this time, the office investigated corruption linked to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's son-in-law. How could the espionage go unnoticed for three years? And what does it say about the EU’s counter-intelligence efforts – or lack thereof? In this episode, host Giada Santana speaks with Szabolcs Panyi, the lead Hungarian journalist who uncovered the spy scandal, and Greens MEP Daniel Freund about the EU's failure to shield its civil servants from foreign espionage.

Duration:00:18:27

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What the EU stands to lose from Trump 2.0

1/21/2025
For his first full day in office as 47th president, Donald Trump is expected to sign as many as 100 executive orders on climate, tariffs and national security. Meanwhile, the European Union remains without clear leadership, as member states such as France, Germany, and Austria grapple with domestic political challenges. What did Trump pledge in his inauguration speech? And what could his presidency mean for Europe? In this episode, host Giada Santana speaks with Peter Rough, Director of the Center on Europe at the Hudson Institute, and Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, to explore the implications of Trump’s return to the White House.

Duration:00:21:30

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What makes 2025 the lucky year for EV buyers

1/20/2025
German carmakers are under pressure. They must meet new EU carbon emission targets. Chinese manufacturers are gaining ground with cheaper, subsidized electric vehicles. A new German government could bring policy changes for the industry. How are German carmakers trying to save the EV market? In this episode, host Giada Santana talks to Jasper Steinlein, a reporter covering energy, the environment, and transport. They discuss the crisis facing German carmakers and how political parties are promising to fix it.

Duration:00:17:42

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Why Brussels isn’t at the Israel-Hamas Peace Talks—But Should Be

1/17/2025
Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks are hanging by a thread, despite months of brokering from Qatar, Egypt and the United States. Talks are stalling over how far Israeli troops should withdraw, according to what an informed US official told the Associated Press. Despite contributing over €500 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians over the past 25 years—and pledging another €120 million—the EU still doesn’t have a seat at the table. So, why isn't Brussels be part of the peace process? In this episode, host Giada Santana speaks with Relief International Gaza Program Manager Yara Mowafy about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. To analyze the EU's involvement, she interviews ECFR Middle East expert Hugh Lovatt.

Duration:00:19:43