Europe, Day by Day

A glimpse into the respect of children’s rights in Europe

Published yesterday, the KidsRights Foundation published its annual ranking which measures how far children’s rights are safeguarded across the world. 

Out of the ten highest-scoring countries, 8 are members of the EU - however other European countries have seen their score plummet this year, with the report revealing some worrying trends when it comes to the health and equality of children on European soil.

So today we ask: what does this report tell us about the environment European countries offer their children ?

What’s behind EU’s decision to freeze Georgia’s accession?

Euphoria swept through Georgia last December when the country was officially recognised as an EU member candidate - something Georgians overwhelmingly longed for.

But this enthusiasm was crushed last week when the EU halted Georgia’s accession process and froze the 30 million euros in assistance to its Defence Ministry.

Why? Because of a specific law adopted by the Georgian parliament.

What’s this bill all about? And how will it affect Georgia’s path to becoming a member of the EU?

Italy eyes nuclear comeback after 35 years

What Trump’s assassination attempt means for Europe

Weekend Special - Labour's Landslide in UK, Orbán's Controversial EU Council Presidency, Frontex Under Fire

What political weeks these have been: snap general elections in France, another snap general election in the UK, the top job at the EU institutions up for grabs, Hungary taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months, the Dutch far-right government forming a coalition government 223 days after the elections - the list goes on and on. Here’s what happened this week and what it means for Europe.

Stranded in Cyprus

More than thirty asylum seekers have been stranded in the buffer zone that divides Cyprus. They can’t go back, and the government won’t let them in. And conditions are bleak. Having fled Cameroon, Syria, Iran and Afghanistan, this small group seeking refuge in Cyprus are now stuck in no man’s land, itself ironically a relic of an unresolved war. What does this say about the EU’s increasingly hostile policy towards migrants? And how does this expose the failure to reach a solution to one of its longest running frozen conflicts?

A day to remember Srebrenica

‘Remember Srebrenica’. You can find these two words tagged on walls in different cities across Bosnia Herzegovina, accompanied by a number: 8 732 ; the number of muslim bosniak men and teenage boys killed in the infamous Srebrenica genocide of 1995, towards the end of Bosnia’s civil war which killed around 100 000 people. Today marks 29 years since what is considered to be the worst atrocity committed on European soil since the end of World War II. In this episode, Europe, Day by Day remembers Srebrenica, and asks why this year’s anniversary is particularly significant.

Croatian women fight to protect their right to abortion

Legally speaking, Croatian women have the right to get an abortion. But why do so many cross the border to Slovenia to find the medical care they require?

Yesterday, the Association Autonomous Women’s House Zagreb called on the government to intervene to protect women’s right to abortion, which in practice is scarcely respected in the predominantly Catholic country.

Today, we ask: what are pro-choice organizations’ demands in Croatia? And as we retrace the history of abortion rights in this Balkan country, we wonder why Croatian women are now struggling to terminate their pregnancies.

Europe, Day by Day is Europod's first daily podcast, in co-production with Sphera Network

The executive producer of Europe, Day by Day is Alexander Damiano Ricci.

The host of Europe, Day by Day is Emma Belmonte.

The scriptwriter of this episode is Emma Belmonte


This episode was produced and edited by Seden Anlar.

Original soundtrack by Thomas Kusberg.

Barcelona Locals Have Had Enough of Tourists

As visitors enjoyed their meals in Las Ramblas, one of the most touristy areas in Barcelona, they were sprayed with water pistols by locals who were chanting “Tourists go home”, an experience probably not listed by their guide book.

Barcelonians seem to have had enough with the way tourism is currently done, so as we near summer holidays, we ask why and what does this tell us about the reality of travelling today?

If you want to learn more about practical ways to switch to slow travelling, here are some resources you can check out: 

How the French left beat the far-right

As pundits and polls predicted the far-right National Rally would become the first party in the French Assembly, the second round of the legislative elections yielded shocking results.

Greece defies European trend, adopts six-day work week

The Greek government has just announced that starting next week, some private sector industries will move to a 48-hour work-week, - meaning a 6-day work-week! This decision goes against the global trend. Why did the Greek government make such a decision and what does it mean for our societies and economies?

The Dutch far-right takes its first steps into office

This week, the King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander swore in Dick Schoof as PM along with his newly formed cabinet while civilians protested outside the palace walls, concerned that the new government poses a threat to Dutch democracy and the rule of law.

But today, left-wing Dutch politician Timmermans is filing a motion of no confidence against two ministers of this newly formed cabinet which was sworn in only two days ago.

This is a prompt reaction to the accession of far-right politicians to ministerial roles for the first time in Dutch history.

So as the Netherlands become another case of the far-right accessing power we ask: what is on its agenda now that it is in coalition with the moderate right? And how is it going to navigate the reality and responsibility of actually governing?

Europe, Day by Day is Europod's first daily podcast, in co-production with Sphera Network

The executive producer of Europe, Day by Day is Alexander Damiano Ricci. 

The host of Europe, Day by Day is Emma Belmonte. 

The scriptwriter of this episode is Emma Belmonte

This episode was produced and edited by Seden Anlar.

Original soundtrack by Thomas Kusberg.  

What will a Labour win mean for the UK?

Even the ruling Conservative Party have started conceding defeat a day before the UK general election in which the Labour Party are widely predicted to win. 

But whether it gains the biggest majority in British political history as one government minister claimed this morning remains to be seen. 

But after fourteen years of Conservative Party rule, what challenges would a Labour government face? And what do we know about their policies?

Europe, Day by Day is Europod's first daily podcast, in co-production with Sphera Network

The executive producer of Europe, Day by Day is Alexander Damiano Ricci. 

The host of Europe, Day by Day is Emma Belmonte. 

The researcher of this episode is Juli Simond.

This episode was produced and edited by Seden Anlar.

"Make Europe Great Again": Hungary takes over the EU Presidency

Make Europe Great Again.

That’s the slogan of the Hungarian government for their presidency of the Council of the European Union, which they take over this week. 

As one of their first actions, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is in Kyiv today, marking his first visit since the start of Russia’s 2022 war on Ukraine.

This surprise visit comes amid concerns across the EU regarding Hungary’s six-month presidency, given Orban’s undemocratic, authoritarian, and Russia-friendly politics.

So, what can we expect of Hungary’s presidency?

And how might the tensions between Orbán and Brussels play out?

Europe, Day by Day is Europod's first daily podcast, in co-production with Sphera Network

The executive producer of Europe, Day by Day is Alexander Damiano Ricci. 

The host of Europe, Day by Day is Emma Belmonte. 

The researcher of this episode is Juli Simond.

This episode was produced and edited by Seden Anlar.

As France votes, New Caledonia’s struggles expose colonial tensions

Since May, pro-independence protests have rocked France’s overseas territory of New Caledonia. With a storied history of resistance and activism, the indigenous Kanak people are fighting to have their voices heard by politicians thousands of kilometres away in mainland France.

Last weekend, in the leadup to the French snap elections, the government imposed a ban on gatherings and extended the curfew that the islands have been under since the beginning of the unrest.

But what’s been happening in New Caledonia in the past months? 

And what does this situation reveal about the French government's ability and willingness to address its colonial history?

EU Border Agency accused of overlooking migrant pushbacks in new report

Who watches the watchmen? This question about the abuse of power, dating back to Roman times, is relevant today after fresh allegations of rights violations by FRONTEX, the EU border agency. With anti-migrant sentiment rising across Europe, is the EU becoming further detached from its commitment to human rights values?

Militarisation at the heart of a political year in Lithuania

With presidential, referendum, and European and parliamentary elections, 2024 is a busy political year for Lithuanians. Yet, the debate mainly focuses on Russia rather than domestic issues. Since the Ukraine invasion, the Baltics have faced renewed tensions with Russia. This month, newly re-elected President Gitanas Nausėda has accelerated Lithuanian militarisation. How is the war in Ukraine shaping Lithuania's political landscape? And how does it compare with the rest of Europe?

What Malta's economic struggles reveal about Europe's financial blueprint

Malta’s GDP is booming, surpassing the EU average, yet Maltese households find their purchasing power lower than pre-pandemic levels. Why is this happening, and what does it reveal about the economic model many EU countries follow? 

We explore the recent EU Joint Employment Report, inflation, wage stagnation, and the broader implications for economic policies across Europe. Is it time to rethink growth-driven economies?

The fight to restore nature on both sides of the Channel

Central London erupted over the weekend as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to call for climate and nature action to be prioritised in the upcoming general election campaign in the UK. Meanwhile, in the bloc that the UK left, conservationists are cautiously welcoming the EU’s approval of the Nature Restoration Law last week. But financing concerns and the resurgence of climate sceptic forces may set the stage for further battles to come. How significant these new laws are for Europe’s environmental future? Do they signify an end to biodiversity decline, or has the fight just begun?

French feminists rally against Le Pen’s facade feminism

Thousands of French feminists took to the streets last weekend to protest the “feminist facade” of Le Pen’s National Rally. In recent years, Le Pen and her party have attempted an image makeover to appeal to more women voters. But beneath this rebranding, has the far-right really changed its stance on women’s rights and gender equality?

OLAF: 1 billion Euros of EU taxpayer money wanted

How did we come to the point of Hezbollah threatening Cyprus?

As Europe confronts war in Ukraine, its Mediterranean border is looking increasingly fragile as Lebanese militant group Hezbollah threatens Cyprus over its role in the wider Middle East conflict. We explore the geopolitical conundrum that puts Cyprus in the eye of conflicts abroad, and at home. 

What the heck is wrong with Helsinki’s municipal housing?

In Finland, a shocking number of municipal housing units are vacant — some for over a year. All the while, approximately 10’ooo applicants wait to hear back if they can move in. So, what is happening to city-owned housing in Finland? And what about the rest of Europe? 

Number of reported anti-Roma incidents in Germany doubled over a year

A new report released by the the German Reporting and Information Centre on Anti-Roma sentiment, or MIA, shows that discrimination against Roma people is on the rise in Germany. Across Europe, daily life for Roma people is challenging and precarious. On top of that, Roma people face many misconceptions about their culture and backgrounds. So what is being done to ensure equal rights for Roma people across the EU? 

Why Ireland’s President Higgins is calling for citizens to protect libraries

Over the past year, Irish libraries have been faced with far-right protests at their doorsteps. One of the reasons they are being targeted is for holding LGBTQ+ reading material, or drag readings. In Hungary, a similar wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in reading material is underway. How close are we to living out the story of Fahrenheit 451? And what does this mean for the future of free speech and representation?

From the 2006 World Cup to Euro 2024: How Germany (and Europe) have changed

The 2006 World Cup in Germany is fondly remembered as the “Sommermärchen,” or summer fairy-tale: marked by a growing economy in a peaceful continent, with Angela Merkel as a popular chancellor. But tonight, the 2024 Euro Cup tournament opens under notably different circumstances for the host nation: with a land war in Europe, stagnant economic growth and the political rise of the far right. 

Why the Klimaseniorinnen case matters for the whole of Europe

The Klimaseniorinnen, a climate activism movement made up of women over the age of 65, took Switzerland to court over the government’s violation of the right to climate protection. In a landmark ruling, the activists won. But now, Swiss lawmakers have voted to reject the court’s judgement. In Switzerland, and across Europe, the relationship between institutional politics and activist movements is shifting. Do the people still have the government’s ear?

Report casts shadow over recent Hungarian local elections

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Europe Day by Day dives into the trends and events of Europe's politics, societies and culture, in just 5 minutes. Join the ride by subscribing to the series now.

New episode releases at 6 PM every day, starting Wednesday - 12/06/2024.