Europe, Day by Day

In this second part of a special two episode closure to the first season of Europe, Day by Day, executive producer Alexander Damiano Ricci hosts Emma Belmonte and Seden Anlar, respectively producer and host of the podcast. The team behind Europe, Day by Day discusses the trends that have been shaping EU-bubble politics and what is likely to come up in the next months, in 2024 and 2025. Europe, Day...

In this first part of a special two episode closure to the first season of Europe, Day by Day, executive producer Alexander Damiano Ricci hosts Emma Belmonte and Seden Anlar, respectively producer and host of the podcast. The team behind Europe, Day by Day discusses the trends that have been shaping European politics and what is likely to come up in the next months, in 2024 and 2025. Europe, Day b...

Italy saw some major mobilisations this week, all pushing back against government policies. One was a campaign to collect signatures calling for a referendum to cut in half the residency period required for foreign nationals to apply for citizenship in Italy. The other one came in the form of demonstrations across the country against a new bill that threatens to criminalise activism and penalise a...

Centuries of European slavery and colonialism are still fueling  poverty, wage disparities, and unequal access to public services for racialised communities across the continent. These are the findings of an alarming new report by the European Network Against Racism which delves into the economic legacy of Europe’s colonial history. So how can Europe face up to its shameful past and end the c...

This week, the Estonian Trade Union Confederation and the Estonian Employers' Confederation sat down  for the first time to discuss next year’s minimum wage.  Meanwhile, starting on October 1st, Romania’s minimum wage will rise by 10%. So, as the increase of minimum wage becomes a hot topic across Europe, we take a closer look at the current reality of minimum wages and explore whether i...

Italians have been rallying behind a petition to push for a referendum that would cut in half the time foreign nationals need to live in Italy before applying for citizenship. Just last week, many media outlets were still doubting that they’d reach the required 500,000 signatures in time. But yesterday, it did - meaning the proposal will now move forward in the referendum process. Today we explore...

Finally! Montenegro’s government can once again communicate with its citizens online. Back in August 2022, the country’s open data portal had suffered a major cyberattack that crippled much of its public administration’s digital infrastructure. But now that it's back, what challenges await Montenegro's open data portal?  And how prepared is Europe against the growing threat of cyberattacks? E...

Ireland’s air quality might be in serious trouble, falling short of the World Health Organisations’ strict pollution targets set for 2026. That’s according to a recent air quality report by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, which identifies two main culprits: the burning of solid fossil fuels and traffic pollution. So, today we ask: How serious is Ireland’s air quality issue? And what mea...

“I wish you were here” — a sentiment that didn’t ring true for many locals in Europe this summer. Instead, what echoed through the streets, in chants and graffiti, was a clear message: “Tourists, go home.” Here’s how tourism hit a breaking point this summer and what it means for Europe. Europe, Day by Day is Europod ’s first daily podcast, in co-production with Sphera Network . The executive produ...

Burned vehicles, gutted buildings including a destroyed McDonalds... This is what the streets looked like this week in Martinique, a French overseas department of the Caribbean, as locals protested the rising cost of living. In response, the French government has imposed a night-time curfew from 9 pm to 5 am. So today we look into: what exactly  has been happening in Martinique over the past...

A vote of the EU’s Trade Defense Instruments Committee scheduled next week was expected to once and for all impose significant tariffs on Chinese imports of Electric vehicles into European markets. But yesterday, Politico reported that the vote had vanished from the official schedules, without any given explanations. One thing is clear, this delay comes amid a brain-wracking debate in Europe betwe...

Amid campaigning for the upcoming regional elections in the Czech Republic, a billboard in Prague sparked outrage and triggered lawsuits. The poster and its anti-immigration slogan, got widely criticised as blatantly racist - leaving many wondering who could have created such a bluntly-racist visual?   Three words: far-right and artificial intelligence. So, how has AI made its way into E...

 New leaks reveal that the European Commission is preparing a ban on smoking in some outdoor public spaces, including cafe terraces and bus stops. A ban that would not only cover traditional cigarettes but also extend to vapes and e-cigarettes.  So today, we dig into the details:  How would this regulation be implemented and could it be a significant step towards a smoke-free Europe...

A stark warning came this weekend from a leading economics think tank at the informal meeting of EU economic and financial affairs ministers in Budapest. The EU will face severe economic challenges in the coming decades if it fails to balance its ageing society with its working age population.  Can Europe avoid this looming demographic time bomb? Europe, Day by Day is a Europod productio...

The European Court of Justice recently delivered two major rulings against Apple and Google. Apple was fined for corporate tax avoidance, while Google faced penalties for abusing market dominance. Together, the fines amount to more than €15 billion. Will the EU be holding big tech accountable for their shady practices? So, here’s what happened this week and what it means for Europe. Europe, Day by...

The Swedish appeal court made the news this week by sentencing a Former Swedbank chief executive to 15 months in prison on charges of fraud and market manipulation. She is the highest-ranking Swedish banker to be condemned as part of one of Europe’s largest money laundering scandals. What does this say about white collar criminality in Europe?  And what is the EU doing about it? Europe, Day b...

The newly elected Labour government is facing a crisis in the prisons system, and forced to release thousands of prisoners early from rapidly overflowing jails. Could a deal to rent out Estonia’s empty prison spaces be a solution? Europe, Day by Day is a Europod production in partnership with Sphera Network .  The executive producer of Europe, Day by Day is Alexander Damiano Ricci.  The...

September marks the return to school for most kids, but not for 126 children with special needs in Ireland who remain without a school place this month. And the reason for that? As reported by The Irish Times, schools are prioritising teachers for mainstream classes, sidelining those who need the most support. However, this issue is part of a broader crisis in public education funding affecting co...

Taxes on everyday Europeans bring in 13 times more revenue than taxes on wealth. That's according to a new Oxfam analysis published this week, which reveals that rates on Europe's richest individuals and corporations have plummeted over the last few decades, while taxes on ordinary citizens, like labour taxes, have all increased. What does this mean for Europeans, and is a fairer tax system possib...

On Saturday, Belgrade witnessed its largest-ever pride march as thousands filled the streets waving rainbow flags, asking for change. A pride flag was even hung from a window of parliament, drawing cheers from the crowd, adding to this moment of hope. But beneath the surface, are LGBTQ+ rights truly improving in Serbia? Europe, Day by Day is a Europod production in partnership with Sphera Network...

Another summer is over—another season marked by extreme weather events that remind us of the harsh reality of climate change. However, there were also signs of progress towards tackling the climate crisis. So, here are some of the positive developments that happened this summer and what they mean for Europe. Europe, Day by Day is Europod ’s first daily podcast, in co-production with Sphera Ne...

With mass arrests of dissenting voices. An army accused of ethnic cleansing. And a President who calls his country’s gas reserves a ‘gift from God’, what on earth is happening in Azerbaijan, the country that will host the UN Climate Summit this year and how the EU is engaging with it? Europe, Day by Day is a Europod production in partnership with Sphera Network .  The executive producer...

After a rapid push through the EU accession process over the last two years, Moldova is now facing quite a conundrum. According to Balkan Insight, the country’s civil service is struggling to find highly educated workers to help implement essential reforms. Why? Many of them have simply left Moldova- seeking better job opportunities and salaries in EU countries. What dynamics are shaping this...

The sky over Athens turned orange last month, an apocalyptic sight for the residents of the Greek capital who saw wildfire flames at the city’s doorstep - with ash-filled smoke looming over the 2 thousand years old Acropolis. Looking back at this summer, Greece was not alone. Much of Southern Europe faced the same nightmare of devastating wildfires. Although climate change and rising temperatures...

As students re-enter their classrooms after the summer break, many will be doing so without their mobile phones in hand. Across Europe, an increasing number of countries are proposing bans on mobile phones, as well as individual learning institutions taking charge of this matter. Why is this the new hot topic in education? And what impact could this have on children's schooling? Europe, Day by Day...