Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

On Monday night in New York, European Council President António Costa announced that a majority of EU member states, 16 in numbers, now officially recognise the State of Palestine. The list includes Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Portugal, Malta, France and Luxembourg.  Costa didn’t directly call for other countries to follow, but his tone made c...

This week, the spotlight is at the United Nations General Assembly and it isn’t just on global crises like climate change, war in Ukraine, or artificial intelligence. It’s also firmly on France’s Emmanuel Macron, who is pushing for formal recognition of a Palestinian state. But will this move, backed by a handful of Western countries, actually change the political reality on the ground? Join us on...

In Germany, a dispute over public broadcasting has reached the political spotlight. Julia Ruhs, a journalist and presenter of Klar , a programme that often covered right-wing themes such as immigration and COVID-19 policy, has been dropped by northern Germany’s public broadcaster NDR.  The decision triggered a strong reaction from the Christian Democrats. Their general secretary, Carsten Linn...

Today marks the passing of the deadline set by the United Nations General Assembly for Israel to end its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  Yesterday, on 17 September, EU ambassadors gathered in Brussels to discuss the European Commission’s latest proposal for sanctions against Israel. Why are EU countries still hesitating to act and who is stalling sanctions once again?...

Amundi Investment Solutions. You may not have heard of them, but they’re Europe’s largest asset manager and one of the ten biggest worldwide, handling more than two trillion dollars in assets. The company claims to focus on green and responsible investments.  But when IrpiMedia and Voxeurop looked closer at where the money actually goes, a very different picture emerged. So, how sustainable a...

After a night of intense bombardment, Israel has launched an expanded operation in Gaza. The military says it is targeting Hamas’ infrastructure and has once again warned civilians to flee south. But for many in famine-stricken Gaza, leaving is impossible: the roads are dangerous with ongoing military operations, and the south is already overcrowded. And today, the UN Commission of Inquiry present...

Loneliness doesn’t stop at city limits or country borders. In this episode of Europe Talks Back ,we explore how isolation takes root in both Europe’s bustling cities and its quiet rural towns. With insights from sociologist Jasper de Witte, we unpack why loneliness isn’t just about being alone but about social ties, inequality, and the structures that shape our lives.  From young people in fa...

This weekend, US President Donald Trump once again made waves in Brussels with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. In what he described as a “letter to NATO nations,” Trump demanded that every member state stop buying Russian oil and gas.  His message was blunt, as long as countries like Hungary, Slovakia, and even non-EU NATO ally Turkey continue to purchase Russian energy, th...

The political storm in France continues with new players but the same problems: paralysis in parliament, financial strain, and mounting social unrest. In the midst of this turbulence, President Emmanuel Macron once again turned to a trusted ally, Sébastien Lecornu.  But what do we know about France’s new Prime minister? Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European contine...

Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace yesterday, sparking the first direct clash between NATO and Russian forces in over a decade. Polish and Dutch fighter jets, backed by German and Italian support, shot down several of the drones, while at least 19 were recorded crossing into Polish territory.  Four airports, including Warsaw’s main hub, were shut down, and flights were diverted as the...

Today, Ursula von der Leyen delivered her annual State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg, where she, for the first time, proposed sanctions on Israeli officials, acknowledged the backlash over the EU-US trade deal, and underlined the importance of competitiveness for Europe. But can these promises restore trust in her leadership, or will they deepen the divisions inside the EU? Join us on...

After just nine months in office, Prime Minister François Bayrou has been ousted in a crushing confidence vote. Only 194 MPs backed him, while 364 voted against.  Bayrou, a 74-year-old veteran centrist and long-time Macron ally, called the vote himself a gamble. He said France was sinking in a “swamp of debt” and that he needed parliamentary backing for €44 billion of austerity measures. That...

Greece has announced a sweeping €1.6 billion tax reform aimed at tackling what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls one of the country’s greatest threats, the demographic crisis.  But are these measures enough to reverse Greece’s demographic decline and ease the cost of living or are they simply quick fixes to distract from soaring prices and corruption scandals? Join us on our journey th...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned today, Friday, that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine before a peace agreement is signed would be treated as “legitimate targets” by Moscow’s forces. This statement comes hours after 26 of Ukraine’s allies pledged to send troops as part of a so-called “reassurance force”. But what does this “reassurance force” entail, and how does it fit with Putin’...

On Wednesday evening, Lisbon’s historic Glória funicular derailed on its route between Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto climb in the city centre. The yellow-and-white tram came off the tracks, crashed into a building and toppled over.  The result was catastrophic: at least 15 people were killed, and 18 were injured, including a child. Five are in critical condition. But what led to th...

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is once again in the spotlight for his closeness to Moscow. Yesterday, Tuesday, he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing where the Russian leader praised him for pursuing what he called an independent foreign policy.  But what does this so-called “independence” really mean for Slovakia, for Ukraine, and for the European Union? Join us on our jou...

Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, announced overnight that the country will recognise the state of Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York. But the move comes with conditions.  Recognition will only be formalised once Hamas releases all remaining hostages taken on the 7th of October 2023, and once the group no longer has a role in governing Palestine. Wh...

European capitals are preparing “pretty precise plans” for a multinational troop deployment to Ukraine, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the Financial Times .  The plan will be on the table again this week in Paris, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, with leaders including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, the UK’s Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mar...

An explicit content website in Italy called Phica , a misspelt slang for female genitalia, was finally shut down on Thursday after it was circulating photos of women without their consent. Among those targeted were some of Italy’s most high-profile figures like Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, opposition leader Elly Schlein, European Parliament member Alessandra Moretti and others. The images were o...

Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland apologised officially this Wednesday for the roles of their countries in the historic mistreatment of Greenlandic Indigenous girls and women, including forced contraception under the so-called “Spiral Case.” But can an apology alone deliver justice? Join us on our journey through the events that s...

France is staring down at yet another political crisis. Prime Minister François Bayrou has announced a confidence vote for the 8th of September, a move that could very well bring down his government.  Bayrou is pushing through an austerity plan worth 44 billion euros to cut France’s soaring deficit, currently at 5.8% of GDP, nearly double the EU’s target. His proposals include scrapping two p...

They call it Europe’s backbone: the rural heartlands. Covering more than 80 percent of the EU’s territory but home to less than 30 percent of its population, rural areas are vital for food, biodiversity, and climate resilience, yet face population decline, ageing communities, poor infrastructure, and limited digital access.  In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Evi Kiorri explores what life...

On Monday morning, Israeli forces launched not one, but two strikes on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The first hit just after 10am. Then, around ten minutes later, as journalists and medics rushed to the scene, a second strike hit the same spot.  At least twenty people were killed. Among them: five journalists and four health workers. The journalists were working for outlets...

Over the weekend, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stepped in to defend the EU- US tariff deal, after sharp criticism from Mario Draghi, economist, former ECB chief and former Italian prime minister who, just last year, was asked by von der Leyen to compile a report with ideas to ramp up the EU's economic growth.  So, is the tariff deal a smart compromise, or proof of Europe...

Our daily news podcast Long Story Short is currently on a break for the Summer period until the 25th of August. As a Summer treat for our audience, we are dropping every day an episode of one of our most successful podcast series: Disconnected in 2050. So, to make the most of this episode make sure you have listened to earlier episodes of Disconnected in 2050 on this feed. About Disconne...