Voices from Brussels

This five-year term will be characterised by strong leadership from Ursula von der Leyen and an unstable majority in the European Parliament.   An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.       Commission president von der Leyen and HRVP Kallas © Alexandros Michailidis - Shutterstock    

The EU is pulling out all the stops to achieve its goal of a green car fleet, while preserving its automotive industry. This includes reviewing the timescales for this transition, thinking strategically about electric batteries, ensuring a sustainable supply of essential raw materials and providing direct support to European industry. But are we not too late? Journalist Léa Marchal reports from Br...

With a Commission and Parliament more right-wing than before, and with member states often showing little support, the next five years are unlikely to bring progress on equal rights in the EU.   An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.     Image © SibRapid / Shutterstock

Why is the future of the European car industry so bleak? In this first episode of a two-part series, journalist Léa Marchal deciphers the ills of the automotive industry with MEP Jens Gieseke (EPP, Germany), Neil Makaroff, director of the Strategic Perspectives think-tank, and Simon Schütz, spokesman for the German automotive industry association VBA.   An episode by Léa Marchal, brought to you by...

The EU will have to show that it means business when it comes to defending Europe.   An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.   Image: Modern camouflage howitzer with a runway and 155 mm gun ammunition © Shutterstock - ZenitX

Nationalist and conservative representatives have gained ground in the European Parliament, but the centrist majority should retain control of key policies. An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.   Image: JK21 on Shutterstock

Outgoing Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is standing for re-election, but a new mandate is not a foregone conclusion. Vincenzo Genovese looked into this for us.    An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus     Image: © Alexandros Michailidis - Shutterstock

With the rise of far-right parties in the polls across Europe, the political choice of the European People's Party, the centre-right party and the largest party in the European Parliament, will be crucial. Vincenzo investigates from Brussels to find out how things might shape up in the next European assembly.   An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.     Image: EPP Congres...

With extreme right parties on the rise across Europe, the next European Parliament will inevitably see an increase in the number of nationalist MEPs. What might that look like?   An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus   Image: Nicola Procaccini (ECR, Italy) and Marco Zanni (ID, Italy) at an EP plenary session © European Union 2023 - Source : EP

The reform of the founding treaties, a long-standing thorn in the side of the European Union, is back on the agenda to meet the challenges of enlargement of the bloc. An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.   Image © Maxx-Studio / Shutterstock

While the immigration issue is having a major impact on the functioning of the Schengen area, Bulgaria and Romania are (im)patiently waiting at the borders of the area to enter - but it is not certain that the issue will be resolved by the end of the year.   This is the second part of a series of two episodes on the state of play in the Schengen area, by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Eurane...

The vulnerability of the Schengen area of free movement to the vagaries of European migration policy and the regular exceptions made by member states to its smooth operation have made reform increasingly necessary.   This is the first part of a series of two episodes on the state of play in the Schengen area, by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.   Image © Pasquale Senatore on Shut...

With the presence of drugs on the rise in Europe, what is the EU doing to put a stop to it and prevent dramatic consequences? An episode by Léa Marchal, brought to you by Euranet Plus   Image: Rudmer Zwerver / Shutterstock

By financing arms production, the EU is killing two birds with one stone: continuing to support Ukraine and developing its defence industry.   An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus Image: SviatlanaLaza / Shutterstock 

Instead of a European sovereignty fund, Brussels’ new clean tech financing facility falls short of investment expectations. A podcast by Léa Marchal, brought to you by Euranet Plus.       Image: giSpate / Shutterstock

The glimmer of hope brought by the “historic” agreement in the Council on a reform of the Pact on Migration was short-lived, as major obstacles remain. A podcast by Vincenzo Genovese - brought to you by Euranet Plus.     Image © Adam Radosavljevic on Shutterstock

Russia's war on Ukraine has made the European Union wake up to its vulnerability to hybrid threats. But given their scale, potential impact and rapid evolution, the task of defending against them is daunting.       Image © Alex_Po on Shutterstock

The European Union has brought out its "strategic compass" to strengthen its future defence and security, in particular by increasing its capacity for action. But will the path it has charted be relevant - and sufficient? Journalist Vincenzo Genovese followed its path and met MEP Andrius Kubilius (EPP, Lithuania) and experts Zach Paikin of CEPS and André Sapir of the Bruegel think tank.   Image: S...

In this episode journalist Léa Marchal looks at the EU's Net Zero Industry Act, Brussels' attempt to prevent clean tech companies from relocating their manufacturing to the US.   Image: Shutterstock

The war on the European continent has resulted in a new effort to strengthen the European Union's defence capabilities. However, beyond military support for Ukraine, is there a shared EU vision for its future security and defence policy?   Image: Shutterstock

In this episode Léa Marchal meets the leaders of the largest political groups in the European Parliament to reveal what MEPs are hoping to achieve in the run-up to the next European elections. Beyond the war in Ukraine, they want to show concrete results in the fight against inflation, social justice, easing migration flows and creating jobs.   MEP Iratxe Garcia Pérez at a plenary voting session e...

The war in Ukraine has reshuffled the cards of the bloc’s defence and security policies and its relationship with NATO. Whether this will serve its geostrategic ambitions is still unclear. Listen to the first episode of a series on EU defence and security by journalist Vincenzo Genovese.   EU-NATO leadership sign third joint declaration in January 2023 © NATO, 2023

The EU has just put the finishing touches to a series of important texts targeting CO2 emissions in industry. While hitting the mark in terms of ambition, this latest Green Deal move is not likely to bear fruit as quickly as Brussels might have liked.   Coal plant / Shutterstock / kamilpetran

Search and rescue vessels in the central Mediterranean cause tensions among EU countries in the EU, while the Western Balkan route has seen the biggest increase in arrivals, causing great concern in Austria. Vincenzo Genovese takes us through interviews with MEPs and experts in Brussels to give us fresh - even chilling - news on EU migration policy.   Photo: Shutterstock

Nine months after the start of the war and eight sanction packages later, the Ukrainian army is making significant progress in pushing back the Russian army. This progress has not come about thanks to the restrictive measures imposed by the EU. But then what do these sanctions achieve?    Anti-war rally in Spain © Photo by Al More on Shutterstock