European Liberal Forum

What role should nuclear energy play in Europe's transition to a cleaner, more secure energy future? As the continent works to meet its climate goals while navigating rising energy demands and geopolitical instability, nuclear is once again part of the conversation. In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) speaks with Manuel Fernández Ordóñez, Dir...

What is the role of human rights advocacy in a full-scale Russian war in Ukraine? What part do Europeans play in this struggle? And how to fight the growing sense of indifference? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Oleksandra Matviichuk, a human rights defender who works on issues in Ukraine and the OSCE region. She heads the human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties, whic...

How do we build a European budget that’s fit for the future? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) sits down with Lukas Sustala, Political Director of NEOS and head of the NEOS Lab think tank, to dive into the ELF-NEOS Lab publication “Future-proofing the European Budget.” Together, they explore how the EU budget has evolved, what’s holding it...

Could the AFD party come to power in Germany? What would it mean for the German democracy and Europe? Why is the current historical narrative of the Bundesrepublik becoming useless? And what will be the identity of Germany in the future? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Klaus Bachmann, Professor of Political Science at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (SWPS) in Wars...

How does Turkey navigate its strategic balancing act between Russia and the EU? Turkey stands at a geopolitical crossroads between Moscow’s influence, Brussels’ expectations, and its own shifting ambitions. In this episode, we dive into how Turkey manages its complex relationships with both Russia and the European Union, what “strategic autonomy” really means, and how domestic politics play into g...

What does the forthcoming presidential election in Poland mean for Europe? What are the main issues and divisions between the candidates that occur in the ongoing campaign? And how will the election result influence the current government and its policy? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Adam Jasser, an economic and political analyst with 30 years of professional experience as a jou...

Why are voters turning to radical populists, even when their promises threaten the very foundations of democracy? In this episode, Juan Pina, Secretary General of the Foundation for the Advancement of Liberty, dives deep into the rise of radical populism. He explains why this isn’t just a fringe movement but a fundamental challenge to democratic norms, fuelled by powerful external influences and s...

Why are students protesting in Serbia? What are the social and political reasons for the upheaval? What is the state of the Serbian democracy? Is the European Union choosing interests over values? And should we fear the recent geopolitical tensions in the Balkans? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Ivan Vejvoda, Permanent fellow at the IWM. Ivan is the head of Europe’s Futures progra...

Despite shared democratic values and growing trade ties, the EU continues to treat Taiwan as a “second-tier partner”, prioritizing economic engagement over political or security commitments. The EU’s balancing act between Taiwan and China remains a central challenge, with diverging views among member states complicating a unified approach. In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Sil...

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), welcomes back Amb. Nino Kalandadze, founder and executive director of the Chavchavadze Center in Tbilisi, Georgia. They talk about the situation on the country, the courage of Georgians fighting for a better future, and what we can all do to help.  This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in...

Why were the presidential elections in Romania annulled? Who was behind the TikTok campaign of Călin Georgescu? And what is the state of democracy in Romania ahead of the repeated elections? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Georgiana Gheorghe, the Executive Director of APADOR-CH, a leading human rights organization based in Bucharest, Romania. Tune in for their talk! This podcast i...

What should we know about Europe’s defense industry? What capabilities does Europe need to develop to deter the Russian aggression? What are the consequences of the German debt brake reform? And is a common European defense single market possible? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Guntram B. Wolff, a Senior fellow at Bruegel. He is also a Professor of Economics at the Université lib...

What does it take to keep a democracy alive in the midst of war? What happens when a nation’s fate rests not only on soldiers and politicians but on the courage of its people? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), talks with Dr Svitlana Kovalchuk, the Executive Director at Yalta European Strategy (YES) where she shares how Ukraine’s civil soci...

Is Donald Trump's presidency the beginning of a new era in the global world order? What is there to know about economic disruption and globalization in this context? And is the European Union overreacting in its response to the recent events or rather attempting to 'make Europe great again'? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Matthew Kaminski, POLITICO's Editor-at-Large, writing regu...

Liberal Europe Podcast host Ricardo Silvestre talks to Austrian liberal MEP Anna Stürgkh who shares her journey from Austria to the European Parliament, her passion for the European Union, and her work on energy security and reform. We also dive into pressing issues like the future of Europe, the rise of populism, and the importance of delivering on Europe's promises to its citizens. This podcast...

What does Donald Trump understand about politics that others don’t? What is the impact of Trump's presidency on Europe (and the Polish political scene in particular)? And what should we expect from the forthcoming Polish presidential elections? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Andrzej Bobiński, the Managing Director of Polityka Insight. Tune in for their talk! This podcast is produ...

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberte!) and Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) discuss the evolving role of NATO and the European Union in global security amidst shifting U.S. foreign policy under the second Trump administration. They explore whether Europe can step up as a security provider, how transatlantic relations are reshaping, and what...

Over-fragmentation of the European defense market is a major issue that weakens the EU’s military capabilities and efficiency. The EU countries have too many different weapon systems, national procurement processes, and military standards, making interoperability difficult and reducing cost-effectiveness. To be a stronger security player, the EU must reduce fragmentation, develop a more unified de...

Many people with disabilities are disenfranchised completely from voting in Europe, but physical barriers are not the only ones preventing them from taking a more active role in politics. There is still a lot to do to encourage political participation and proper representation of this minority group. Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) is joined by Alva Finn, the Executive Director of ELF...

Crisis after crisis, the youth need politicians who will not ignore their problems but propose solutions so they can feel they have a future. In such a volatile environment—with wars and COVID still in the back of our heads—security and stability are something that we are all craving. Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) talks to Ines Holzegger, resident of LYMEC - Liberal Youth about the...

What brings 2025 to Europe? And how should we prepare for that? Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) talks to ELF President MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen about EU strategic autonomy, the balance of power at the European Parliament and his motivation to be ELF Board President; This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liber...

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), talks to MEP and ELF Board Member, Jeannette Baljeu. They talk about the document "The future of European competitiveness – A competitiveness strategy for Europe", also known as Draghi Report, from a political perspective. This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimen...

While sovereignty and sustainability are vital, competitiveness is essential to achieving both. Without competitiveness, taxpayer money could be wasted on lofty goals that fail to deliver results. In the new episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), talks to Professor Gerard Pogorel, Senior Fellow at ELF, about the Draghi Report, and about how the EU is f...

How can the European Union woo Donald Trump? Why immigration is beneficial and morally right? And what is the EU's potential for change and reform? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Philippe Legrain, a former economic adviser to the president of the European Commission, a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics’ European Institute, and the author of "Them and Us: Ho...

In the latest episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), talks to the MEP Lucia Yar, Vice President of the European Liberal Forum, about her journey from journalism to politics, Progressive Slovakia’s mission, and the importance of gender equality in EU policy. This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal S...