Europe Today

Today Radio Schuman questions whether the EU adopt outgoing US president Joe Biden's approach towards Ukraine regarding the supply of weaponry, together with Euronews's Sasha Vakulina.On Tuesday, Ukraine reportedly employed six US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets within Russian territory. These long-range missiles, with a range of approximately 190 miles, had previously been restricted for use within Ukraine’s international borders.However, the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region prompted Biden to revise this policy.This shift marks a significant change in US military strategy. Should the European Union follow suit? The matter is particularly contentious in Europe, especially in Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz has declined to supply Ukraine with Germany’s Taurus long-range missiles, citing concerns over potential war escalation and domestic political considerations, including his re-election prospects.In the second block, we take a quick look at the latest development of deforestation law and the EU trade Council on today's agenda - spoiler alert: trade ministers will discuss the US.In the final part of the show, Radio Schuman explores lesser-known European villages to visit as alternatives to mass tourism destinations.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moldova applied to join the EU in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the country has set 2030 as a target to join the bloc.But it is is deeply divided between its pro-EU aspirations, and the temptation to side with Russia, which has supported Moldova’s Transnistria since the eastern region declared its independence 30 years ago.Earlier this month, Moldova's pro-Western incumbent president Maia Sandu won a second term in a race that was marred by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud and intimidation. The EU also held its breath when Moldovans voted in favor of EU membership by only a razor-thin majority of 50.35%.The country’s foreign affairs minister Mihai Popşoi was in Brussels this week for meetings with his European counterparts and MEPs to discuss progress along Moldova’s path to the EU.Euronews's Sergio Cantone had an interview with him, today featured in Radio Schuman.A quick overview at the agenda today, with pivotal events behind closed doors among political group presidents at the European Parliament.On the last part of the show, Radio Schuman looks at the best and the worst places in Europe to speak English.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Foreign Affairs Council, EU member states showed little support for Josep Borrell's proposal to suspend political dialogue with Israel.Borrell aimed to force a clear stance on Israel’s actions and suggested banning imports from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. However, suspending dialogue requires unanimous approval, highlighting existing divisions over the Israel-Hamas conflict.Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani dismissed the idea as nonsensical, while the Czech minister argued it would be ineffective. Meanwhile, countries like France focused on additional sanctions, either against Hamas or violent Jewish settlers.Why did Borrell make this proposal, and what is the status of EU sanctions against Israel?Today Radio Schuman answer these questions with Maria Luisa Frantappie, who heads the Mediterrean, Middle East and Africa program at the Italian think tank Istituto Affari Internazionali.A quick look at the agenda today, with potential tense discussion among EU defence ministers over Ukraine, Ukrainian president Vlodomir Zelenskyy addressing the European Parliament in Brussels and a European court case in Luxembourg against Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ+ law.In the last part of the show, Radio Schuman looks at which European country use plastic bags the most.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken by Russian authorities. So far, Kyiv has managed to bring back only around 1,000.Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, recently addressed the European Parliament to denounce this war crime. Many of these children have had their identities changed and are being enlisted into the Russian army. Moscow denies the accusations, with the president of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin even commending Russian Children’s Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for relocating 700,000 Ukrainian minors in what he termed a “humanitarian effort” to protect them.Radio Schuman interviewed Lubinets during his visit to Brussels, where he met with MEPs and ambassadors.A quick overview at the agenda today, with the EU ministers for foreign affairs gathering in Brussels and discussing particular hot topics. Guess which ones?On the last part of the show, Radio Schuman looks at the new holiday trend 'Coolcations'.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doubts are growing over whether the European Parliament be able to approve the new European Commission, the EU's arm executive, on 27 November as planned.On Wednesday, the European People's Party (EPP), set to secure the most European commissioners, threatened to block the appointment of Spain's Teresa Ribera.They demanded the competition commissioner designate explain in a Spanish court why her government failed to anticipate floods in Spain that resulted in over 200 deaths and called for her resignation if she is found responsible.In response, socialists and liberals stated they would not support the Italian candidate Rafaele Fitto, a member of Giorgia Meloni's party, or Hungarian candidate Oliver Varhelyi, due to their far-right affiliations and controversial stances.The political deadlock has prompted EU executive President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene, urging party leaders to reach an agreement before next week's Parliament plenary session.Today Radio Schuman analyses the situation together with Euronews' Gerardo Fortuna.We also take a quick look at the agenda today, with the so-called 'Pfizer gate' hearing at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and EU ministers in Brussels set to make important decisions on the 2025 annual EU budget.On the last part of the show, Radio Schuman looks at how high-speed battery powered trains will change European rail travel.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barroso, a former Portuguese Prime Minister, was President of the European Commission twice, from 2004 to 2014. It was under his presidency that Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU and that Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.In an interview with Euronews's Shona Murray, Barroso made clear that despite the backsliding of the rule of law in Europe, the EU should not solve political problems with institutional tools like treaty change; he also called Crimea a “special case,” and agreed with those who think the EU is much better prepared now if the re-elected US president Donald Trump withdraws the US from Ukraine.One of the highlights of the interview is when Barroso recounted a conversation with the president of the Russian federation Vladimir Putin, telling him he considered Ukraine was an “artificial country” created by the CIA and by the European Commission.Barroso also mentioned how many times he met Putin during his mandate at the European Commission. Can you guess how many?A quick look at the agenda today, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen xxx.A brief overview of the European Parliament vote today on the deforestation law: will MEPs change the deadline for implementation and some parts of content of the legislation as the centre-right is proposing?On the last part of the show, we look at which famous national dishes risk to disappear because of climate change.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's too early to point the finger over deadly floods in Valencia, as tens of thousands protest a government response they see as inadequate, Spain's economy minister Carlos Cuerpo told Euronews in an exclusive interview that we feature on Radio Schuman today.Spain will do “whatever it takes” to help those afflicted by devastating floods, but it’s too early to start assigning blame, Cuerpo said.The deadly flooding in Valencia has claimed hundreds of lives, and led tens of thousands of protestors to take to the streets and call for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazón. Cuerpo visited Brussels to request EU funding for reconstruction, particularly from agricultural and cohesion funds.In a packed agenda today, in Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz will address parliament with an election date now foreseen, while in Brussels both diplomats and the European Parliament have the US election outcome to chew over.In the last part of the show, Radio Schuman tells you how air taxes impact your wallet.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will UNRWA, which has provided emergency, education services and healthcare to millions of Palestinian refugees since 1949 survive the conflict in Gaza? The answer is not clear. Since the October 7 attack launched by Hamas against Israel, the UN agency has been at the heart of a controversy that puts its survival at risk. In October, lawmakers from the Knesset – Israel’s parliament - passed legislation that banned the agency from operating in Israeli territory months after claiming that 12 UNRWA staff members had been involved in the 7 October attack. The serious accusation caused fears that UNRWA had been infiltrated by Hamas, which is listed by the EU and the US as a terrorist organisation. It also led the European commission to review its support to the UN agency and a raft of EU countries - including France and Germany - to temporarily suspend funding, creating humanitarian challenges for Gazans struggling to access food, water and shelter.Last August, a UN internal investigation cleared 10 UNRWA employees and fired nine others for possible involvement in the 7 October attack. Most countries have resumed their financing of UNRWA… but what would be the consequences of the Israeli ban of UNRWA on the ground? What is UNRWA’s relationship with Hamas?Euronews's Stefan Grobe sat with Scott Anderson, the director of UNRWA in Gaza.We also take a quick look at the last round of commissioner-nominee hearings beginning today at the European Parliament.On the last part of the show, Radio Schuman looks at the future for AI driving - where the car might tailor the driver experience to personal tastes.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With some European leaders boycotting the COP 29 summit, opening in Baku today days after the re-election of Donald Trump as US president, who has compared climate change to a hoax, Radio Schuman talked with Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wilks about the prospects for the conference.With thousands of leaders, diplomats, climate experts, NGOs and journalists beating a path to the United Nations Climate talks in the Azeri capital, is there a real chance of success in their mission to hash out a new financial plan to develop clean energy and overcome the repercussions of extreme weather?We also take a quick look at the agenda today, with the European Parliament set to decide the fate of one nominee for the European Commission who's candidature has still not met with their approval - guess who?On the last part of the show, Radio Schuman look at the 2024 top travel destinations according to a travel agency.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe was unprepared for a Trump victory and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could become the US 47th president's key interlocutor, former French European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton told Radio Schuman in an exclusive interview we feature today.We spoke to Breton as European leaders convened in Budapest for the Informal European Council, seeking to forge a unified stance on Trump’s declared intentions to end the Ukraine war “within 24 hours” and to impose tariffs on all foreign-manufactured goods entering the United States.According to Breton, Europe’s response will hinge on the EU’s institutions, which he believes must take on a stronger leadership role.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.