The Ring

Belgium has become a key battleground in Europe's fight against organised crime. With the Port of Antwerp serving as one of the continent's main entry points for cocaine from Latin America, drug trafficking is fuelling violence, corruption and growing concerns about public security. As authorities step up their response, one question remains: is Belgium doing enough to tackle the drug trade? &nbsp...

For two years, farmers have taken to the streets across Europe, protesting against rising production costs, environmental regulations and growing competition from abroad. While Brussels has responded with concessions and financial support, the debate over the future of European agriculture is far from over. Can the EU keep providing a political shield to farmers as it shifts its focus to defence a...

A record-breaking heatwave is baking Europe - have politicians failed to protect citizens? Is air-conditioning the answer? As temperatures continue to rise, a critical question emerges: is Europe prepared for a hotter future?   This question is the centre of this edition of The Ring, featuring Italian Green Benedetta Scuderi and German EPP Andrea Wechsler. Scuderi and Wechsler discuss the pol...

What has Brexit taught Europe about sovereignty, migration, and disinformation? Has it strengthened the case for deeper European integration? And will the United Kingdom ever rejoin the EU?   Ten years after the UK voted to exit the European Union, the debate over Brexit's legacy is far from over. MEPs Barry Andrews (Renew Europe) and Sander Smit (European Conservatives & Reformists) go h...

Can the EU reinvent its economy for a new era of global competition? Is deeper integration the answer, or does Europe need fewer rules and more risk-taking? From Artificial Intelligence to rare minerals, from Trump's tariffs to China's cheap exports - in this edition MEPs Jörgen Walborn (EPP) and Lina Gálvez (S&D) debate about the global economic challenges that lie ahead and that impact all o...

The World Cup is on, the single biggest sport event of the year, followed by millions of people around the world. But so far, the vibes of the tournament are strangely subdued.   Has the world’s most popular sport finally reached the upper echelons of global politics? Is football no longer “just a sport”? Is it first and foremost a private event that brings joy and entertainment to people's l...

Should the EU and NATO strengthen their air defence posture and adopt a tougher deterrence strategy? Or is there a risk that further military escalation could make Europe less secure?  As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth summer, Europe faces a growing security dilemma. Russian drones continue to violate EU and NATO airspace, raising concerns about the continent's readiness to respond to an...

I rapporti del governo italiano con Stati Uniti e Israele sembrano molto più tesi, in particolare dopo la richiesta di sanzioni europee contro il ministro della Sicurezza Nazionale israeliano Itamar Ben-Gvir. Si tratta di azioni di facciata o di un cambiamento radicale in politica estera?   In questa edizione speciale di "The Ring", dai fori imperiali di Roma, partecipano al dibattito Claudio...

Is higher defense spending in Europe a strategic investment or a random act to please Donald Trump? Europe finds itself at a moment of profound uncertainty, caught between wars on its borders, growing geopolitical rivalry, economic anxiety and questions about the future of the transatlantic alliance. What should Europe's answer be?   Two members of the European Parliament, Lukas Mandl from th...

The European Political Community’s first meeting in the South Caucasus last week reflects the stretching contours of Europe, geographically, politically and strategically. Is Europe truly becoming an independent global power? Should the  EU respond to external pressure with deeper integration? Will Canada join the EU someday? In this edition of our weekly debate show The Ring, Damian Boeselag...

Is a trade war with China looming? Can the EU still strike a balance between protection and cooperation? How will the EU deal with a country it needs but that doesn’t share its set of values?    In this edition, MEPs Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D) and Nicolás de la Parte (EPP) discuss what could be one of the most consequential topics on the EU's political agenda.   Trade tensions bet...

In this special football edition of The Ring, we deconstruct a Champions League game that will go down in history as one of the best ever. Nine goals - can top quality football really be any better? Our experts also weigh in on what else is moving Europe's most popular sport. To talk about what happened on that memorable Tuesday and what else is moving European football these days, host Stefan Gro...

Should governments impose strict rent controls to limit price increases? Should foreign investors face limits or bans on buying residential property? Can the EU play a stronger role, or should housing remain primarily a national responsibility?    From soaring rents in major cities to shortages of affordable homes across the bloc, pressure is mounting on national governments and EU insti...

Ist Deutschland wieder einmal der kranke Mann Europas? Angesichts der wachsenden Herausforderungen könnte man das meinen. Was sind die Ursachen der Wohnungsnot? Bewältigt Deutschland den Reformstau? Was bedeutet das für die EU? Im „Ring“ stehen sich zwei deutsche Politiker gegenüber, die unterschiedliche politische Lager vertreten und in verschiedenen Parlamenten tätig sind: Sepp Müller, stellvert...

What does Orbán’s defeat mean for the future of the EU? Beyond potential improvements in relations with Hungary, the EU still faces a broader question: Does it need radical reform to avoid being sidelined on the global stage?   German MEP Daniel Freund (Greens) and Dutch MEP Sander Smit (European Conservatives & Reformists)step into The Ring to defend their views on future reforms of the...

Can the EU balance stricter migration policies with growing human rights concerns?   The European Parliament has adopted a reform enabling member states to set up “migration return hubs” in third countries for rejected asylum seekers. The measure allows deportations to external facilities negotiated with partner states.   What does the European Parliament’s rightward shift on migration m...

As the war in the Middle East enters its fourth week, Europe finds itself at a crossroads — balancing calls for restraint with mounting pressure to take a clearer stance. While EU leaders continue to urge de-escalation and the protection of civilians, divisions remain over whether Brussels should step up its role on the global stage. In this edition of The Ring , recorded at the European Parliamen...

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the impact is being felt far beyond the region — especially on global energy markets. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have tightened supply routes, pushing prices higher and adding new uncertainty for European economies. Where does Europe stand as the pressure builds? MEPs Fabrice Leggeri, from Patriots for Europe, and Jussi Saramo, from The Left, go he...

Europe is facing spiralling healthcare costs, driven by an ageing population and the growing burden of chronic diseases. At the same time, demand for cutting-edge treatments is rising — bringing a fundamental question into focus: who should pay for healthcare innovation, and to what extent should health be treated as a business? MEPs Tilly Metz, from the Greens, and Stine Bosse, from Renew Europe,...

As the war in Iran enters its second week, the ripple effects are reaching Europe — from rising energy prices to growing security concerns on the EU’s southeastern flank.   Where does Europe stand as the conflict escalates? MEPs Daniel Attard , from the Socialists & Democrats group, and Antonio López-Istúriz , from the centre-right European People’s Party, go head to head to debate how th...

A spiralling conflict has erupted in the Middle East, risking major regional spill-over and dragging in European Union countries. Was the EU right to refrain from criticising the initial attack on Iran? Are EU nations now inevitably being dragged into war? And what are the implications for Europe's economy, security, and stability? MEPs Hana Jalloul and Reinhold Lopatka go head to head to debate t...

Should Ukraine be given fast-track membership into the European Union? The majority of MEPs seem to think so. Although they may not see eye to eye on the how or the exact when, most MEPs think Ukrainian EU membership would send a strong message of support to Ukrainians and one of defiance to the Kremlin. To mark four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, this week on The Ring,...

Dez dias após a segunda volta das presidenciais, o cenário político em Portugal continua em análise. António José Seguro venceu de forma clara André Ventura, travando a chegada da extrema-direita à Presidência da República — mas as questões de fundo permanecem. Foi esta uma reafirmação dos valores democráticos ou uma coligação tática para conter o populismo? E o que revela este resultado sobre um...

From parliamentary debates to cultural moments that spotlight identity and belonging, migration is not just about policy — it’s about who belongs, who decides, and what kind of Europe is taking shape.   This week on The Ring , we look beyond technical language and legal definitions to ask a broader question: can Europe reconcile national migration choices with collective responsibility? The E...

How far should the EU go to protect children online? Should there be EU-wide age limits, stricter rules for social media platforms, and bans on addictive design features like infinite scrolling? Or does Brussels risk overreach — infringing on national competences and limiting children’s digital rights and freedoms? This week on The Ring , we turn to one of the most sensitive questions facing the E...