BRUBBLE

This week, the European Commission published their strategy on “Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.” But to as someone who isn’t an expert in this area, we thought: so what? Is the so-called “Metaverse” even relevant anymore? So to shed a bit of light on “web 4.0”, “virtual worlds” and the “Metaverse”, we’re joined today by Alexandra, Gianluigi, and Patrick, who are all specialized in metaverse policy her...

Every year, the GLOBSEC think tank in Bratislava runs its annual Bratislava forum where pressing global issues, with a focus on Eastern Europe, as discussed among some of the top world leaders. This year was no exception, featuring remarks from leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,...

In Brussels, we all have a bad habit to focus on the biggest, highest levels of governance. But other units of governance also play an important role in driving policy innovation across all levels of governance, including the institutions we know and love here. And one of those levels that is arguably most interesting is cities. How are cities evolving their role in today’s changing world? How are...

Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron visited China, where he was warmly received. But - was this visit successful? What were Macron's goals? What does this mean about the France-China, and the larger EU-China relationship? And finally, where does strategic autonomy fit in? Joining me to provide his insights is Alain. ________________ Alain's most recent piece: https://thediplomat.com/2023/...

The BRUBBLE podcast is back after a brief hiatus to look back at Spring 2023, and determine what the top stories of this season were. In this podcast, Simon is joined by Joao, Julien, and Nikoloas as we explore topics including EU-China relations, strategic autonomy, the Critical Raw Materials act, and the Turkish elections. Let us know what you thought the biggest story of 2023 was! _____________...

Emotions play a bigger role in politics than one might think - disregarding how and where you work. Emotions can also be used, abused and instrumentalized to influence others, shape decision making processes or provoke reactions. - How do emotions in politics work? - Why do emotions matter in European politics? - How can we learn to navigate through emotional waters? Joining Simon to share some in...

In the past years, countries like Canada, Germany, and France have all adopted feminist elements into their foreign policy approaches. So, on International Women’s day, we’re gathering to discuss a bit about what a feminist foreign policy is: who’s doing it, who’s doing it well, and how it can be improved. Joining Simon to shed some light on this approach is Sofiia. Sofiia Shevchuk is an Independe...

Energy was a top three issue in 2023 for Europe. But, by the end of the year, we were all sitting nice and warm. Did we really "solve" the 2022 energy crisis? And, more importantly, how will the Energy issue evolve over 2023? Joining Simon today to discuss these issues is Conall and Giovanni, who work at Bruegel on energy issues. ________________ If you want to check out more of Giovanni and Conal...

As the year draws to its close, what have been the biggest, most important stories of the past year? On this year-end episode of the BRUBBLE podcast, we come together, debate, and create a collective list of the biggest headlines of 2022. Joining Simon to dissect all this are Joao, Nikos and Julien! Let us know what you think! ________________ Follow us on Twitter: Nikos: twitter.com/NikTheos Juli...

Space has been a domain that's been getting more and more heated up in the past few years. But this time around, the focus is not on the exploration: but the connectivity elements instead. So, how will space transform our lives? Where is the EU's role in space? And, has the 'space race' returned - or did it never really leave to begin with? Joining me on this out-of-this world episode is Lea! ____...

As the year draws to its close, what have been the biggest, most important stories of the past year? On this year-end episode of the BRUBBLE podcast, we come together, debate, and create a collective list of the biggest headlines of 2022. Joining Simon to dissect all this are Joao, Nikos and Julien! Let us know what you think! Also, do you want to see our faces? This podcast is also available on Y...

A few weeks ago, the largest annual gathering of climate experts and voices wrapped up in Egypt. While many climate and sustainability topics were discussed, are we happy with the results? Joining Simon today is Salome - who is fresh back from COP27! Join us as we talk about the Loss and Damages fund, the 1.5 degree targets, food security - and give a final assessment of how successful this confer...

Blockchain is one of the biggest buzzwords that has ever existed - but behind this buzz is a real technology that promises to revolutionize much of our world. So what can Blockchain do? What industries is it most poised to shake up? How does it relate to Crypto? And, perhaps most importantly from our EU Brussels Bubble perspective, where does regulation fit in? Joining me today to share some insig...

EU Enlargement is a topic that has been thrust back into the EU discourse, following the Russian War of Agression in Ukraine. After all, we now have two new candidate states: Ukraine and Moldova. But what does EU enlargement actually mean and entail? And what do we think of the Ukraine case study? Will we soon be 28 strong again? Join Indre and Simon as we dissect this topic! ________________ Be s...

We're on the eve of the U.S. Midterms. But what is really happening on the 8th? What can we expect? What trends can we see emerging that will influence politics both in and out of the U.S.? And, perhaps most importantly for us sitting here in the Brussels Bubble, can this impact the EU-US relationship? Joining me today to help unpack this election is Paul Verhagen. ________________ Check out more...

Another month... and another "Month in Review"! October saw a lot of EU news and headlines - but what do they really mean? How relevant are the Macron-Scholz tensions? Is the EU really moving forward on Energy Security? Was Josep Borrel in the right with his controversial speech? And, how important will the European Political Community really be? Joining Simon to dissect all this are Joao, Nikos a...

Artificial Intelligence has always been a big buzz word in technology. But, in the past decade, AI has really entered our everyday lives like never before. And with this newfound significance, there are new risks. Thus, the European Commission has proposed the "Artificial Intelligence Act" - which now sits in a key part of the legislative process. So, what is AI? Why does it need to be regulated?...

As Ireland nears their 50th year of EU membership, it's time to take a look not only at how the EU has changed Ireland, but also what Irish citizens think of the EU! Today, Ciarán O' Driscoll from the European Movement Ireland joins Simon to break down what impacts the EU has had on Ireland. In addition, he shares some results and insigts from EMIreland's recent "Ireland and the EU Poll", which ex...

Agriculture is a policy issue that impacts us all - especially given recent shocks, such as the Russian war in Ukraine, the summer 2022 drought, and the lasting impacts of COVID. So, what are the agriculture issues impacting us today? Should we really be worried about food security in the months to come? Joining me today to dissect this topic is Natasha, a food and agriculture journalist working w...

What were the big takeaways for EU Policy from September 2022? In Part 2 of our 2 part "September in Review" special, we discuss some of the key themes in Europe: the Italian Elections, the Rule of Law threats, and Europe's larger role in the world. What does Meloni's Election mean for Italy in Europe, and the larger right-wing movement? Is Europe taking the right approach in their stance on Rule...

What were the big takeaways for EU Policy from September 2022? In Part 1 of our 2 part "September in Review" special, we discuss two of the top headlines: Ukraine and Energy security. What do Russia's recent threats (and battlefield struggles) mean for the future of this conflict? Where can EU policy do more? How will this impact our energy security in days to come? Joining Simon on this episode a...

The state of the union speech by European Commission President von der Leyen is one of the most anticipated political events in the Brussels Bubble. This year made for an especially interesting speech, touching on themes such as Ukraine, energy security, the economy, and democracy. But - did von der Leyen stick the landing? What did the state of the union speech really say? Julien joins us today t...

On September 25th, Italians go to the polls (again) to elect their new Prime Minister. This time around, their election is dominated by issues of energy, conflict, and economy - all making for a tantalizing political environment, where we've seen the rise of new parties, like Georgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Itali. But... what do we make of this? What will the impacts be? Today, Laura joins Simon to gi...

Recently, the European Youth Forum started a petition to ban all unpaid internships in the EU. So, why are unpaid internships harmful? How does this relate to larger issues of youth rights? And what can you do to help? Maria and Francesco from the European Youth Forum join Simon today to discuss these questions and more! ________________ To learn more about the petition to ban unpaid internships,...

A few weeks ago, Boris Johnson announced he would be stepping down as the UK Prime Minister. Given the ever-present Brexit fallout and the shifting UK role in the world, what does this say about the UK? Today, Anna and Ben join Simon to discuss the UK 'state-of-play'. Tune in to find out what to expect of the Johnson resignation, and the UK in months to come! *Please note that this podcast only co...