EU Decoded

Recently, the Europol and Eurojust, in cooperation with several national authorities, cracked an international drug trafficking ring, allegedly led by the Italian Ndrangheta. 31 suspects were arrested, 3,8 million were seized. But this is only a drop in the bucket. The statistics show that only about 2% of proceeds from organised crime are frozen, and only 1% is confiscated. How can we do better?...

The nature of labour market is changing significantly, many new skills will be needed, but we also see a gap in the market regarding some existing skills and professions.  It's only logical to ask - is Europe's workforce future-proof? What are the skills that will be needed, and who should gain those skills?  We discussed this topic in our latest episode with MEPs Dennis Radtke and Lidia...

About one in five children in Europe are victims of some form of sexual violence. That violence extends to the online world. In this episode we discussed how we can prevent online sexual abuse of children. How can we protect the young ones? How can we create a safer online environment for the new generations?  Our guests: - MEP Javier Zarzalejos, rapporteur on the proposal for the Regulation...

How to combat the "silent epidemic" of violence against women in the EU and beyond? How is the EPP Group working to get all EU27 countries to ratify the Istanbul Convention against gender-based violence? In this EPP Group podcast, MEP Frances Fitzgerald talks about her efforts on the European Parliament's Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee, including a new Directive on combatting violenc...

How can we make fast and wasteful fashion out-of-fashion? Is there potential for Europe to lead a global change towards a more sustainable textile sector?  In our latest episode, we talked about the textile industry’s impact on the environment and the EU’s response to it, mainly through its textile strategy.  Joining our discussion were MEPs Pernille Weiss and Henna Virkku...

The European Union's economy is heavily focused on international trade. For this reason, new trade agreements are often a topic of Brussels policies. Even now we see new potential agreements with the USA, Latin America, Australia, Asia... As our economy is going through the green and digital transition, we will need more and more critical raw materials. Can we get that through new trade agreements...

In the past few years, many lessons were learned in the area of public health. So, what to expect from the EU in the post-pandemic era? What initiatives should we see? What will be the priorities? In this episode we talked to MEP Dolors Montserrat and prof. Nuria Mas, of University of Navarra. Don't miss it! And if you have a topic you would like to hear discussed in this podcast, please get in to...

How to save money and create more jobs in Europe’s defence industry? In this week's episode, we look at the EU’s EDIRPA legislation - European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act - aimed at building and buying arms jointly among the EU27. We spoke to key EPP Group MEPs in the effort: Sara Skyttedal of Sweden and Michael Gahler of Germany. The war in Ukraine has added urge...

Chips, or to be more technical - semiconductors - are being used today in phones, computers, cars, appliances.... and the EU imports most of them.  So, how can the EU close this production gap and avoid potential crises and shortages amid global tensions?  In our latest episode, we talked to Eva Maydell, the EPP Group's lead MEP on the Chips Act.  Don't miss it!  And if you hav...

What is the European Union doing on critical technologies in defence with a war on our doorstep, and high tensions elsewhere?  How are we developing AI, robotics, quantum computing, hypersonics, drones - all the technologies that a modern defence industry uses.  In this week's episode we talked to Riho Terras, former commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, and Member of the European Pa...

Did Brexit encourage Putin to invade Ukraine? Has Brexit made the UK stronger or weaker? What has it done for relations with the EU?    In our latest episode, we talked about the post-Brexit UK and its response to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.    For this discussion, our MEPs Andrius Kubilius and Sean Kelly were joined by British security expert and writer Mr. Edward Lu...

With natural gas generating 20% of our electricity and 40% of our heat in Europe, a new gas package of EU legislation aims to speed the shift to hydrogen and other renewables.   In this podcast, the EPP Group's Jerzy Buzek and Angelika Niebler discuss how the package will help through financing and smart regulation, to encourage private sector investment. Both MEPs are on the European Pa...

The EU's Cohesion Fund supports less developed members of the Union to catch up with the more developed parts.  Many projects that were financed by this Fund were in the transportation field.  It includes large-scale projects such as a bridge in Croatia and a railway in Slovakia, and smaller projects such as new electric buses in Bulgaria.  In this podcast episode, we talk about the...

What did Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mean by a "greener, safer, freer" EU when outlining his goals whilst presiding over the European Council in the first half of 2023?  EPP Group MEPs Tomas Tobé, Anna-Michelle Asimakapoulou and Paulo Rangel give their take on the tasks ahead. These include the war in Ukraine, the rising cost of living, jobs, migration, the green transition, trade,...

More than 300.000 people crossed European borders illegally in 2022. Only on the Balkan route did we see an increase of almost 170%. These are the highest numbers since 2016.  The reception capacities in Member States are at their limits, and serious action is needed.  In our latest episode, we discussed this new potential migration crisis with MEPs Tomas Tobé and Jeroen Lenaers.  D...

In our latest episode, we tackled the topic of the future of agriculture. More precisely - how to make farming more attractive to younger generations.   Ahead of the European Congress of Young Farmers, we talked to two of our MEPs - Michaela Šojdrová and Herbert Dorfmann - and Bram Van Hecke, President of the Flemish Groene Kring organisation.   Is food production stable? How can we get...

As we witness the unprovoked brutality of the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine, we increasingly realise that Russia’s aggression will only end if Ukraine wins this war and Russia itself undergoes a fundamental transformation.  In this episode, we talk with MEP Rasa Juknevičienė and a prominent Russian-American historian, Yuri Felshtinsky.  D...

A resolution in the European Parliament calls on the EU to brand Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. In this EPP Group podcast, we talk with MEPs Radosław Sikorski of Poland and Michael Gahler of Germany on the potential impact, such as redirecting frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine ravaged by the Russian invasion. It can also further isolate Russia in the world and send a warning to oth...

In the week following the US midterm elections, we discuss two significant threats facing modern democracies - disinformation and authoritarianism.     For this episode, Chris Burns sat down with MEP Vladimír Bilčík and Trygve Olson from the Washington-based Lincoln Project. They covered everything from the admitted Russian disinformation campaign regarding the US midterms to t...

As of today, 15 November, many women in the EU will work for free until the end of the year - if we compare their salaries to their male colleagues doing the same job. The gender pay gap is still 13% - on average - and EU Equal Pay Day aims to raise awareness of this inequality that jeopardises women's economic independence. Anna Gumbau talked to Maria Walsh MEP, Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP and Mary Col...

For the past 24 years, the EPP Group has had an active Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue. It’s the only Group within the European Parliament to have this.  From understanding different cultures and religions to building trust and ultimately bringing people closer together – that is where the importance of this Working Group lies.  In our latest podcast episode, Chris...

We are only a few days away from COP27 - the United Nations Climate Conference which will be held this year in Sharm el-Sheikh. And since last year's COP in Glasgow, the circumstances have changed significantly. We are witnessing a war, we are witnessing an energy crisis, and ultimately the rising cost of life and cost of doing business. Throughout 2022, the EU has been dealing with its Fit For 55...

It all started in 1993. with four basic freedoms - the free movement of goods, people, services and capital. And next year we are celebrating 30th anniversary of the EU's Single Market. In 2019 there was a study that showed that that GDP across the EU is nearly 10% higher because of this Single Market. So what are the concrete benefits that it brings us, all of us across the EU27? For our latest p...

What is Cohesion Policy? The simplest answer to this question would be - it's billions of euros in funding that the EU provides to develop regions, to correct imbalances and to make sure every part of the EU27 is developing. But since we're talking about billions of euros, given the current geopolitical situation and rising energy prices, we must ask - what can Cohesion Policy do in the context of...

The news of mobilisation order in Russia caused strong reactions around the world. Just as annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. So how can Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian territories change the situation on the ground? What should EU countries do with Russians that want to escape mobilisation?  In this week's episode, Chris Burns sat down with our MEP...