The Ring

Από τις Βρυξέλλες και το Στρασβούργο στην καρδιά της Αθήνας, με θέα την Ακρόπολη. Το «The Ring» ταξιδεύει στην ελληνική πρωτεύουσα για μια πολιτική μονομαχία με θέμα τη μετανάστευση, τη στεγαστική κρίση και το ένταλμα σύλληψης για τον Νετανιάχου Η πολιτική συζήτηση «πήρε φωτιά» και το μεταναστευτικό επέστρεψε στην κορυφή της ατζέντας. Οι βουλευτές Δημήτρης Καιρίδης και Μιλένα Αποστολάκη διασταυρών...

After Ursula von der Leyen's address to the European Parliament this week, the debate: MEPs Li Andersson (The Left) and Lukas Mandl (EPP) deconstruct the EU Commission president's speech in a live edition of The Ring. What did the President promise — and what can she actually deliver? From Ukraine and European defence to the economy, migration and the EU’s response to a rapidly changing world, the...

Did European solidarity fail after the Ceuta crisis? Is Europe really united on migration? From Morocco’s role and Spain’s response to whether EU member states are doing enough to help out when one member state comes under pressure, the debate raises more questions than answers. The same week that Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, travelled to Brussels in a cry for help, we are joined by Czech...

All eyes are on the election in the small East German state of Saxony-Anhalt. A potential absolute majority for the far-right there could shake up German politics and rattle Europe. The beginning of a new crisis? Is Saxony-Anhalt simply expressing frustration with the political establishment? Or are we about to witness a turning point for Germany — and potentially for Europe? And who is to blame?...

From migration and trade to the rising cost of housing, Europe continues to face complex political challenges with far-reaching consequences. As the migration debate returned to the EU Parliament, who decides who belongs in Europe? Will the EU-Mercosur agreement boost Europe's economy or put farmers and environmental standards at risk? How can Europe help tackle the housing crisis and make homes m...

From energy security to migration and foreign policy, the current geopolitical context raises difficult questions about Europe's role in a changing world. Who will pay for Europe’s defence spending? How should Europe respond to growing tensions and instability in the Middle East?   These questions sparked some of this season’s debates on The Ring between EU lawmakers, including left MEPs...

Can a country of fewer than six million people steer the European Union through some of its biggest challenges? What will Ireland's priorities be during its six-month presidency of the Council of the EU? And can Dublin leave a lasting mark on the bloc's agenda?   These questions sparked this week's debate between Irish lawmakers Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) and Rose Conway-Walsh (Sinn Féin). &n...

What is causing Europe's economic slowdown? Should the EU expand common debt? And what happens if the EU fails to reach an agreement?   These questions spark this week’s debate between EU lawmakers Pasquale Tridico (The Left) and Markus Ferber (European People’s Party).   Both MEPs clash over whether common debt is the answer to Europe's stagnant economy and weakened competitiveness afte...

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...