MCC Brussels Podcast

In this episode of Deep Dives John O'Brien talks to Richard J Schenk, Research Fellow at MCC Brussels, about his report 'The Silent War on Farming - How EU policies are destroying our agriculture’. The report explains how, under the guise of environmental concerns, European regulation has slowly squeezed farmers – especially livestock farmers – to breaking point. The report examines the transformation of European agricultural policy into a tool of environmental policy as farms disappear across the EU. Links: Read the full report – The Silent War and Farminghttps://brussels.mcc.hu/uploads/defau... Watch the short film of The Silent War On Farming, that exposes how environmental extremism is killing small farmers, featuring Daisy and Gunter Klaasen, poultry farmers, Turnhouts Vennengebied region.   • The Silent War on Farming: how Europe...  Watch the interview and Deep Dives with Thomas Fazi about EU Farming and the End of Food Sovereignty   • Deep Dives: EU Farming and the End of...  

The election in France has become a desperate scramble by the establishment to keep out the Rassemblement National. But the cordon sanitaire no longer works. We also ask: As Hungary assumes the EU presidency, what can we anticipate from Viktor Orbán, and what do the UK elections hold? We end by asking why have the European Championship games been so dull?Joining Jacob Reynolds are:Professor Frank Füredi, Executive Director MCC BrusselsRichard Schenk, Research Fellow

The rise of the populist National Rally has EU technocrats in an uproar and they are trying everything to stifle popular anger. The team delve into why this election is so pivotal for France - and for Europe. Then, we turn our attention to the "Green Coup" in the EU council which forced through the controversial Nature Restoration Act. We finish with a discussion of the emerging shape of political groups in the new European Parliament.Joining Jacob Reynolds are:Professor Frank Füredi, Executive Director MCC BrusselsPhilipp Siegert, Deputy Research DirectorRichard Schenk, Research Fellow

A special live edition of the podcast where MCC Brussels, friends, and commentators digest the results of the European Parliament elections in a relaxed but intellectually serious environment. When the Brussels Bubble seems so distant from the concerns of ordinary Europeans, our analysis of the election will go beyond the traditional obsessions of the "bubble" and shift from focusing on political group machinations to examining what truly matters in individual nation states.Our speakers include Frank Furedi, Executive Director of MCC BrusselsRichard Schenk, Research Fellow at MCC BrusselsEllen Kryger Fantini, Managing Editor of European Conservative Scarlett Karoleva from Riks Europe TV.

In this episode of Deep Dives John O'Brian talks to Thomas Fazi about his MCC Brussels report 'Reclaiming Food Sovereignty: An alternative approach to trade and agriculture'. The report explains how EU policies have systematically hindered food production in Europe and argues for a renewed focus on food security.Massive farmers' protests have swept across European countries, largely opposing the European Union’s climate and environmental regulations as manifest in the Green Deal. These policies threaten small and mid-sized farms without providing significant climate benefits. The public needs to understand the broader context: small and mid-sized farmers have long struggled with rising costs, over-regulation, unfair competition, and corporate practices. Farms are disappearing rapidly across the EU. 

Welcome to Deep Dives, a new addition to the MCC Brussels podcast family.In Deep Dives, we let MCC Brussels' esteemed researchers explain in detail their groundbreaking reports, thoughtfully exploring the insights and implications of their work.In our first episode, join MCC Brussels' Jacob Reynolds for an eye-opening interview with Dr. Norman Lewis, author of a groundbreaking report on the EU's approach to online speech. 📚✨A deep dive into the package of laws, regulations, and agreements between EU institutions and Big Tech, aimed at controlling what 448 million Europeans can say online. The EU claims this is to protect democracy from hate speech and misinformation. But is that the whole story?Key points: - The EU's restrictive measures might reflect an anti-democratic stance towards its citizens.- Are European citizens being protected from hate speech or silenced by elite prejudices?- The upcoming European Parliament elections could see a surge in national parties opposing centralised EU control.- The expanding censorship system is set to stifle open debate and challenge to EU orthodoxy.👉 Report available here: https://brussels.mcc.hu/uploads/default/0001/01/05d8121ef5fe2c17a560ae2d3a52d8f1378ca301.pdf

Free speech is in big trouble in Europe. In this episode Head of Policy Jacob Reynolds, MCC Brussels Chief of Staff Tony Gilland and Policy Analyst Bence Szabó talk about what happened at NatCon and why MCC Brussels is launching the Free Speech Declaration. Jacob is also joined by Head of Cultural Engagement Agnieszka Kolek to talk about the real reason why the EU has dropped the rule-of-law proceedings against Poland.  And finally Jacob, Bence and Senior Research Fellow Maren Thom talk about how the political circus around this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö is part of a greater debate between EU elites and the general population.

In this episode, Jacob Reynolds is joined by our executive director Frank Füredi, head of EU Affairs Bence Akos Gat and senior research fellow Arta Moeini. In contemporary political discourse, there is a tendency to classify anything diverging from the left-liberal ideology as "far-right." The team delves into the rationale and ramifications underlying the transformation of the "far-right" label into a potent weapon within modern politics.Next the team talks about the medicalisation of politics and, consequently,  everyday life in general. Medical language now shapes public perceptions of political issues and influences policy debates. Frank and Jacob delve into the concerning matter of how gender clinicians have been able to carry out highly dubious medical procedures, particularly involving children, as revealed in the recently uncovered WPATH files.

In this episode, Jacob Reynolds is joined by our executive director Frank Füredi, head of communications John O'Brien and research fellow Richard Schenk.Populism is plainly not going anywhere. The group discuss the populist revolt of the Irish referendum and the success in the Portuguese elections of the populist party Chenga. MCC Brussels is holding the conference Is the Future of Europe Populist? on March 21 in Brussels, in order to discuss the meaning and future of populism in Europe.

In this special episode of the MCC Brussels podcast, Jacob Reynolds is joined by our executive director Frank Füredi and the seasoned Brussels journalist Bruno Waterfield. The group ask what happened to Qatargate, why Hungary - and its demonisation - dominated European discussion, why populism is not going anywhere, and what we can hope for in 2024.This episode was recorded on the 18th December.