Europe Today

What is there to fear for the EU about the BRICS summit, the group whose swelling ranks now account for 45% of the global population and 28% of the world’s GDP?Established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the group aimed to reduce reliance on the US dollar, but has evolved into a geopolitical counterbalance to the G7, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE joining, and NATO powerhouse Turkey looking to become a member.The current summit appears less a display of unity among like-minded nations so much as a demonstration of Russia’s influence in shaping a new global order, despite its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, from which three of the founding BRICS members have abstained from condemning in the UN resolution.Radio Schuman takes you to the summit today with Euronews reporter Jack Schickler.We also look at the announcement of the Sakharov Prize winner at the European Parliament, and which EU countries haven't yet started to implement the EU minimum wage directive, with the deadline for implementation approaching...Finally we check in on where most of millionaires will live in 2024 - spoiler alert: the leading European country is not in the EU.Today's Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday (21 October), Moldovans narrowly voted in favour of continuing the country's path toward EU membership, with the "No" vote leading until the final moments. The country's president Maia Sandu condemned Russian interference and accused "criminal groups" of attempting to undermine the vote in the former Soviet republic.Moldova will now hold the second round of presidential elections next month, where Sandu will face a pro-Russian opposition leader. This has raised concerns in Brussels about the continuation of Russia's "hybrid war" tactics, which could further destabilise Moldova and derail its EU aspirations.Similar concerns extend to Georgia, which holds parliamentary elections this Sunday and has long grappled with Russian interference.To discuss the potential political instability in Moldova and Georgia, we speak with Amanda Paul, Deputy Head of Europe in the World Programme and Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Center, specialising in Turkey, Ukraine, and the South Caucasus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims 10,000 North Korean troops are in training to support Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, risking the conflict escalating into a “world war”.European officials are yet to verify that, but if it's confirmed, there are fears North Korean involvement could intensify the war. Russia and its ally recently signed a partnership agreement to provide mutual military assistance in case of attack.Today we speak to senior Euronews reporter and Ukraine expert Sasha Vakulina on the implications of this for the EU, and whether it might accelerate Ukraine’s NATO membership bid.We also check in on the Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, where MEPs are voting on a significant legislative file about Ukraine, and on Moldovan politics, with EU reaction to the election results there.In the final part of the show, Radio Schuman explores top listed eco-friendly European cities and their transport options - spoiler alert: a huge overcrowded city is leading the ranking...Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abir Al Sahlani, a Swedish MEP from the Renew group, dives into the pressing issues of EU migration policies. She critiques the idea of outsourcing migration management, highlighting its ethical dilemmas and inhumane outcomes, especially for migrants in Libya. Al Sahlani emphasizes a more compassionate approach to migration, reflecting on the repercussions of current strategies while advocating for adherence to democratic values. She also touches on the geopolitical tensions affecting migration in Eastern Europe, revealing the complexities in the broader narrative.

The high-stakes European Council summit concluded on Thursday, with migration policy dominating the agenda.For the first time, leaders discussed so-called "return hubs" — centres in third countries where migrants within the EU, whose asylum claims have been rejected and cannot be repatriated, would be held.This, along with discussions around the European Union's asylum and migration pact, set to be implemented in 2026, signalled that leaders were potentially radically rethinking how the bloc approaches migration.However, final council conclusions made no mention of return hubs, and failed to provide a timeline for the EU's new migration pact.Leaders did, however, call on the European Commission to propose new legislation on deporting rejected asylum seekers still residing in the EU, and supported Poland's call to give nation states the right to temporarily suspend asylum applications.In a first, Ursula von der Leyen suggested that temporary and proportionate measures might be legally feasibleAlso on the podcast, Radio Schuman looks at the first ever far-right Patriots of Europe pre-summit meeting with exclusive sound bites from Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders.Finally, we ask where in Europe do people say they are the happiest? Spoiler alert: high rates of happiness tend to correlate with the amount of sun.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s European Council, EU leaders will discuss mainly Ukraine, the Middle East, and migration. In particular, there is the implementation of the €50 billion loan agreed at the G7 and call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, continued humanitarian aid, and an end to Israel's attacks on UNIFIL in Lebanon.However, migration will be the summit's key issue, especially the bloc's Migration and Asylum Pact, set to be enforced by 2026.Some EU countries, under pressure from rising anti-immigration sentiment, have reintroduced temporary border controls. Leaders are expected to focus on to focus on migrants whose asylum claims are rejected, with proposals for return hubs and stronger return policies under consideration.Today Euronews's Maria Psara brings us into the summit.The second part of Radio Schuman is dedicated to other minor points up for discussion and some agenda points in Brussels to keep in mind.And in the last part of the show, there's a report about how Gen Z seems to be faring in the workplace. Key point: results indicate that many companies are not very happy with recent graduate hires. Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today marks the first-ever summit between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, part of the EU's new strategy to strengthen ties with Gulf countries, focusing on climate and trade relations.Radio Schuman brings you a part of our colleague Shona Murray's interview with Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.There's also a brief comment by European Commission spokesperson for foreign affairs Peter Stano on how the EU will approach its partners in the Gulf, particularly on what divides them — such as the geopolitical approach towards Russia and its invasion in Ukraine.We also discuss a report by the European Social Insurance Platform highlighting a steady increase in pharmaceutical spending in Europe. Spoiler alert: it's not a good thing for taxpayers.And on the last part of the show, Radio Schuman explores the best places to go skiing this winter, after many resorts shuttered last season due to snowless slopes.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is outsourcing migration management the new trend in Europe?In this episode, Radio Schuman examines the external dimension of migration by discussing the model of Italy’s new migration centres in Albania.The outsourcing of migration to non-EU countries has become a new trend, whether it is by sending money to countries of origin or by looking into the possibility of building processing centres outside of the EU borders. But are these options viable?Radio Schuman talks about this issue with Euronews's Vincenzo Genovese.There are also the new EU sanctions against Iran, approved on Monday, and the news items on today's agenda — Albania's EU accession conference and the Energy and General Affairs Council, all taking place in Luxembourg.And finally, we'll tell you where to find Europe’s best slices of pizza outside of Italy (but you should really go to Italy for pizza if you can, let's face it).Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2024, the EU's humanitarian aid amounted to €1.8 billion, and the bloc is now the largest international donor of humanitarian aid in Palestine.Yet the word "humanitarian" is mentioned only a handful of times in European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's mission letter to the future Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, who will lead the EU's humanitarian aid policy.Will humanitarian assistance be relegated to a less important matter in the next Commission? We talk to Mette Petersen, director of the Red Cross's EU office.On Monday's agenda, EU ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to address environmental and foreign affairs issues. Expect new sanctions against Iran and frustration over Hungary’s vetoes on two Ukraine-related items, but likely no big breakthroughs. At the same time, EU environment ministers will discuss the Commission's proposal to delay the deforestation regulation by one year. The law, which aims to stop imports linked to recent deforestation, has been delayed by the EU executive after pressure from industry and third countries, which say they need more guidance.   Lastly, Radio Schuman brings you an overview of the best and worst cities for public transport in Europe. Just to give you an idea, satisfaction levels range from 29% in Rome and Tirana to 91% in Vienna — so, if you’re a fan of seamless city commuting, you might want to consider these figures.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Paula Soler, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her proposals for the new batch of European Commissioners, the legal affairs committee, also known as JURI, has been in charge of examining the conflict of interest declarations for each candidate.However, many members of the committee from the Greens and The Left walked out of the meeting, arguing that the examination was a total scam as the Parliament has no real powers to investigate - so what is the point of scrutinising financial interests? We speak to MEP Manon Aubry (The Left/France).Radio Schuman will also have a look at today's agenda. This Friday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Cyprus for the 11th summit of the southern countries of the European Union, discussing EU-Jordan relations and Mediterranean priorities for the new institutional cycle. And in case you missed it: EU justice ministers have once again failed to agree on the controversial EU regulation to detect online child sexual abuse content.For the proposal to be adopted, a minimum of 15 of the 27 member states, representing at least 65% of the EU population, must support it - and the numbers are not there yet, EU diplomats say. Lastly, what is the most popular EU country for studying abroad? Think of a sunny and beautiful country in southern Europe and you'll get the answer: Spain is the most attractive short-term study destination for European students - but watch out! The top picks change in the long-term studies of international students.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Paula Soler, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.