With the ongoing escalation of violence in the Middle East, the number of displaced individuals continues to rise rapidly.The UN refugee agency UNHCR has reported that thousands of Lebanese and Syrian refugees in Lebanon have already fled towards the Syrian border to escape Israeli strikes.Experts warn that the current situation could mirror the 2015 refugee crisis, when the Syrian conflict forced many to seek refuge in Europe.However, this time the EU may be less willing to accommodate a new influx of refugees. The bloc is already grappling with the impact of Russia's war in Ukraine, while the growing influence of far-right and anti-immigration parties in several European governments could further reduce the willingness to accept migrants and refugees from the Middle East.Is Europe at risk of facing another refugee crisis? And is the EU doing enough to prevent large-scale displacement? Euronews's Isabel da Silva discusses these concerns with UNHCR representative in Lebanon, Ivo Freijsen, speaking from his office in Beirut.We also bring you the latest developments in the EU deforestation law saga after the European Commission decided on Wednesday to postpone its implementation.And finally, Radio Schuman will tell you what are the top neighbourhoods in the world. We won't spoil the entire list, but a French district tops the list.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 Brussels, exit interviews are often particularly insightful, especially with a commissioner responsible for a complex portfolio where decision-making predominantly rests with individual governments.While Kyriakides did not always assume a central public role during the COVID-19 crisis, her team was tasked with overseeing vaccine procurement in Europe and introducing numerous other significant legislations. These included the EU’s Cancer Master Plan, the extension of smoking bans to outdoor areas, a European action plan for mental health, and the creation of the first EU Health Data Space. However, the healthcare sector faces additional challenges, such as a rapidly ageing population, strained national healthcare systems, and an industry grappling to remain competitive. Moreover, as the EU's budget negotiations approach, there is a risk that health may be deprioritised in favor of defense, climate, and migration, which are expected to dominate the political agenda. Euronews' health reporter Marta Irraola Irribaren interviewed Kyriakides yesterday.Today's Brussels agenda includes a key meeting at the European Parliament and two high-profile visits.In the final part of the show, we'll discuss the country where children are the unhappiest—spoiler: it's located in Northern Europe.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.

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, or FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, is one of Europe's biggest opponents of migration, including ending asylum rights and promoting “remigration” — a vague concept of shipping foreigners away to protect what sounds like its racial and religious purity.Even without the FPÖ in power, the Alpine country already enforces strict immigration laws and has abstained or voted against some key files of the EU’s migration pact so far.If the FPÖ forms a coalition with the centre-right ÖVP, how would Austria handle migration? What would this mean for Brussels, especially with Magnus Brunner, Austria's migration Commissioner-designate, poised to shape European policies? Could the FPÖ's influence reshape both Austria’s and the EU's approach to migration?Today Radio Schuman enlists the help of Dr. Judith Kohlenberger, migration expert at the University of Vienna, to try and answer these questions.The European agenda today brings us a crucial appointment at the European Parliament, the official ceremony to mark the transition between Jens Stoltenberg and Mark Rutte as NATO secretary general, and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's first public speech at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.Finally, saving the best for last, we want to know which European countries are best for ageing well.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.

As EU Ombudsman since 2013, Emily O'Reilly oversees an independent body tasked with holding EU institutions accountable. She investigates cases of maladministration, either on her own initiative or in response to complaints from EU citizens.O'Reilly has also urged the Commission to combat secrecy, which she argues undermines public trust. In 2022, her office criticised Ursula von der Leyen's undisclosed text messages with Pfizer's CEO during the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, she called for the publication of a secret protocol sent to Mercosur, pressed for human rights protections in the EU-Tunisia migration deal, and demanded clarity from Frontex on its role in Mediterranean search and rescue operations. In her latest action, O'Reilly opened an inquiry into the Commission’s decision to relax environmental standards in the Common Agricultural Policy following protests by European farmers.Today Radio Schuman transmit some parts of Euronews's Isabel Silva's interview with O'Reilly, which will be published in full this week.Some points in the European Parliament agenda today, including a discussion with special guests on the Capital Markets Union and the new plan to finance Ukraine.In France today, a trial begins involving the far-right National Rally party, accused of using EU funds to pay its own party employees.And to finish off the show, let's talk about whether and when therapies involving psychedelic drugs might become legally approved in Europe.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.

Two years ago, the EU adopted a ground-breaking deforestation law, set to take effect in January, aiming to ban imports of products linked to forest loss, such as coffee, soy, timber, and cocoa.The regulation requires suppliers to certify that their goods are not sourced from areas that were recently stripped of woods to make way for farms and plantations.While supported by environmental groups and left-leaning politicians, it has faced opposition from governments, trading partners, and conservative MEPs, who argue it could disrupt supply chains, increase prices, and add administrative burdens.Despite this, the European Commission has stood by its original deadline.How serious is the backlash against deforestation? Is the recoil another sign that the EU’s Green Deal is under threat? Will conservative governments continue to oppose laws linked to the Green Deal's implementation?Today Radio Schuman answers these questions with Virginijus Sinkevičius, outgoing European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.There is also the agenda for this weekend, with the Austrian parliamentary elections a major event to keep an eye on.And finally, we'll reveal Europe's top tax havens — spoiler alert: it's not the same place for everyone.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.

Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to nominate Olivér Várhelyi raised many an eyebrow in Brussels — and elicited a couple of hearty chuckles.When the European Commission president made the announcement during a press conference in Strasbourg earlier this month, it drew laughter from journalists and sent EU-themed meme-making social media accounts into overdrive.Várhelyi, a former Commissioner for enlargement, was Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s preferred candidate for a second term. However, given Várhelyi's contentious reputation and the ongoing tensions between Brussels and Budapest on several issues, von der Leyen, in the end, did her best amid what turned into a very delicate situation.Euronews health reporter Marta Marta Iraola Iribarren is here to tell Radio Schuman more about the key controversial aspects of this nomination.There's also a quick overview of the agenda in Brussels, including a European Court of Justice ruling on Catalan leaders Carles Puigdemont and Antoni Comín, yet another discussion in Brussels on Mario Draghi's report, and finally, the nominations for the European Parliament's top human rights prize are about to be made public. In the final part of our show, we talk about a new study that predicts a sharp increase in the number of children affected by nearsightedness by 2050. Spoiler alert: the figure exceeds half a billion.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.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her plans for the new top team at the European Commission last week, but the reactions were mixed. Many politicians argued that the portfolios were too broad and overlapped each other.The fear is that the upcoming commissioners will constantly step on each other's toes, as many did in the previous mandate.But the underlying question might actually be: why do we need 27 Commissioners? What would have to change at the political and administrative level to make the institution more efficient from a recruitment point of view?Today, the president of one of the EU's major trade unions, Renouveau & Démocratie, Cristiano Sebastiani, talks to Radio Schuman about the main recruitment problems the EU executive is facing.On a lighter note, we explore Albania's plan to establish a new microstate, set to become the smallest in the world.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.has context menu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chose Lithuania's former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius as the EU’s first defence commissioner.The EU does not have strong army and is not responsible for each member state's armed forces. Yet, defence has become a crucial issue in Europe, especially since Russia's war in Ukraine highlighted the bloc’s weak and fragmented defence industry.Will the position of defence Commissioner be powerful and independent enough to achieve an EU defence alliance and boost Europe’s military capabilities? How can the EU catch up with military powers like the US and China?Today Radio Schuman answers these questions with Maria Martisiute, a defence expert at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre think tank.Also, the General Affairs Council is meeting today, where EU ministers are set to prepare for the upcoming summit: has the agenda been drafted? Diplomats share their insights with us.On a lighter note, would you consume less alcohol if a label showing the calories was attached to the bottle?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.

On Saturday, Michel Barnier, France's newly appointed prime minister and former EU Brexit negotiator, unveiled his government, which is dominated by conservatives and centrists from French president Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party.Among the most contentious appointments is Bruno Retailleau as interior minister, a staunch conservative who has consistently opposed same-sex marriage and voted against enshrining abortion rights in the French constitution.Barnier faced the challenging task of assembling this cabinet in the wake of elections that left the French National Assembly without a clear majority.What would such a government mean for Brussels?Today Radio Schuman answer this question with Euronews's French reporter in Brussels Gregoire Lory.A quick overview of today's Brussels agenda, highlighting the main appointments not to miss.In the last part of the show, we talk about new restrictions Instagram has put in place to protect minors.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 EU policy on equality going to take a backseat in the upcoming mandate of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen?Back in 2019, von der Leyen named Malta's Helena Dalli the EU's Commissioner in charge of equality. But last week, when she announced her proposal for the new team of European Commissioners, von der Leyen ditched the equality portfolio, combining it instead with "preparedness and crisis management".Many NGOs defending women's rights reacted to what they saw as von der Leyen's worrying lack of consideration for the issue at a time when far-right parties — which oppose the idea that gender issues are crucial — are entering the government all over Europe.What happened to the equality portfolio? What should we expect from the EU Commission on this issue?Today, Radio Schuman talks about the subject with MEP Lina Gálvez (Spain/S&D), who presides over the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, aka FEMM.We also offer a quick look at the agenda today, with von der Leyen's trip to Kyiv taking centre stage and particular paradoxes plaguing new Commissioner portfolios.On a different note, we end the show with an overview of the strongest passports in the world: how are Europeans performing?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.