Friends of Europe podcasts

Jürgen Siebel, Head of Portfolio and International Business at Siemens Professional Education, describes Siemens' approach to vocational education as a powerful instrument to integrate migrants.

Mogens Peter Carl is a former director-general of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Directorate-General for the Environment and author of ‘How to (Br)exit: a guide for decision makers’. This interview clip is from BBC World Service ‘Newshour' programme, broadcast on 29 March 2017. Download the episode at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04xm48k

The event was part of Friends of Europe's Migration Action programme. The debate brought together experts and policy makers from a range of groups, including Jürgen Siebel (Siemens), Belinda Pyke (European Commission), Kajsa Ollongren (Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam), Paul Mbikayi (Refugee Talent Hub) and Yara Al-Adib (From Syria with love).

Benedek Jávor MEP describes the action of the EU and of the European Parliament to contrast deforestation.

Brendan McNamara, Head of Global NGO Engagement at HSBC, explains HSBC's criteria for financing sustainable businesses.

Danielle Morley, European Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), calls for cooperation in finding sustainable solutions to palm oil rising demand.

Nazir Foead, Head of the Indonesia Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG), describes Indonesia's action in forest conservation.

Sebastien Risso, Director of EU Forest Policy at Greenpeace Europe, calls for major political actions for the European Union to become a deforestation-free economy.

Giles Merritt is Friends of Europe's Founder & Chairman. This interview clip is from BBC World Service ‘Newshour Extra' programme, broadcast on 18 March 2017. Download the episode at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04wc8k9

Giles Merritt is Friends of Europe's Founder & Chairman. This interview clip is from BBC World Service ‘Newshour Extra' programme, broadcast on 18 March 2017. Download the episode at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04wc8k9

Mogens Peter Carl is a former director-general of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Directorate-General for the Environment and author of ‘How to (Br)exit: a guide for decision makers’. This interview clip is from BBC World Service ‘Newshour Extra' programme, broadcast on 18 March 2017. Download the episode at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04wc8k9

Our Café Crossfire debate discussed ways to reconcile economic interests and environmental concerns in the light of deforestation. Speakers were experts in the fields of forest conservation, policy, advocacy and business, including Nazir Foead (BRG), Benedek Jávor MEP, Brendan McNamara (HSBC), Danielle Morley (RSPO) and Sebastien Risso (Greenpeace).

Daniel Seymour (UN Women) describes the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit's commitments in the field of gender equality.

Monique Pariat (European Commission, DG ECHO) talks of women’s role in contributing to peace and resilience in humanitarian crises.

Syrian human rights activist and Executive Director of the Badael Foundation Oula Ramadan describes the lack of media coverage on women’s activity in Syrian civil society.

Our policy insight took a close look at how the three Asian powers are reassessing their political and economic ties, in the framework of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat. Speakers included Jong-heon Lee (TCS), Xinning Song (Renmin University of China) and Julian Wilson (EEAS).

Our 8 March debate on the role of women in the new Agenda for Humanity discussed ways to empower women as change agents and leaders in humanitarian action. Speakers included Monique Pariat (European Commission), Daniel Seymour (UN Women), Yumiko Tanaka (JICA)and Syrian human rights activists Oula Ramadan and Marcell Shehwaro.

This interview clip is from BBC Radio 4's 'Analysis' programme, broadcast on 6 March 2017. Download the episode at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08gx81y

The event launched the 2016 G-FINDER report on global funding for research into neglected diseases. Top-level speakers included Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; European Commissioner Carlos Moedas; and Dr Nick Chapman of Policy Cures Research.

Carlos Moedas is the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation.

Bill Gates is Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Viwanou Gnassounou is Assistant Secretary General for Sustainable Economic Development & Trade at the ‎African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Secretariat

Nena Stoiljkovic is Vice President of Blended Finance and Partnerships at International Finance Corporation(IFC)

Our Policy Summit took a look at topical issues related to private investment in fragile states. Speakers included Nena Stoiljkovic (IFC), Viwanou Gnassounou (ACP), Harald Hirschhofer (TCX) and Roberto Ridolfi (DG DEVCO). Shada Islam was the moderator.

We held a conversation with the European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn on 8 December 2016 in Brussels. Moderated by Giles Merritt, Founder and Chairman of Friends of Europe The conversation started with a special sevdah concert performed by Damir Imamovic.