Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

Why France and the UK sanction Israeli ministers, but the EU doesn't

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is now banned from entering France. The sanction is largely symbolic, but it matters.

Why aren't other European Union countries sanctioning members of the Israeli government?

The uncomfortable truth about sustainable aviation

The aviation industry will probably miss its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. That’s what Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, recently acknowledged.

So if aviation can’t go green, does that mean that we, as consumers, should stop flying?

Why is the EU negotiating with the Taliban?

A meeting is indeed being planned between European Commission officials and representatives of Afghanistan’s Taliban regime, in Brussels.

Why is the EU negotiating with a regime it does not even consider legitimate?

Associate membership: the future of EU enlargement?

Germany and France believe that joining the European Union has become too slow a process, often taking decades. Their solution? A more gradual path to integration, including a partial participation to meetings in Brussels.

What do candidate countries think about it?

How should European countries regulate sex work?

The French Parliament is examining a bill aiming at decriminalising sex work in the country. For the first time, the text was co-drafted with sex workers. It reignites a debate that regularly resurfaces in France and many European countries.

Why so? How are European countries regulating sex work, with wat effect?

Why is the EU's tech sovereignty package making Americans angry?

In the tech sector, Europeans no longer want to be naïve. They are increasingly willing to restrict access for American tech giants in certain strategic areas.

Why should Americans worry about the new EU tech sovereignty package?

Is tap water in the EU becoming less safe?

A group of French doctors are raising concerns about the contamination of drinking water by pesticides, PFAS, and microplastics. Yet at the same time, the European Commission is considering loosening some water quality rules to make it easier to develop new mining projects.

So what’s the connection between drinking water and mining? And what can we realistically expect for the quality of our tap water?

Why don't Europeans shoot down Russian drones entering their airspace?

This is not the first time Russian drones have entered Romanian airspace. But this time, the incursion that occured on Friday 29 May caused a fire and injured two people in the city of Galați.

So why can't Europeans shoot down Russian drones when they enter their airspace?

Why the EU's next budget talks matter

There are seven months left for European countries to reach an agreement on the EU budget. That is the timeline currently envisioned for the next Multiannual Financial Framework to begin in 2028. But negotiations are moving very slowly.

So what is at stake for Europeans?

What are China’s strategic goals in Europe?

Europeans are struggling to align on China. But hoes does China view Europeans? What are China’s strategic objectives when it comes to the EU?

How cuts to humanitarian aid are worsening the Ebola outbreak

The Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus is spreading faster than ever before. The outbreak currently hitting the Democratic Republic of the Congo is being fueled by armed conflict — but also, and perhaps above all, by the global decline in humanitarian aid.

Do Europeans have a role to play?

Can Peter Magyar convince the EU Commission to release Hungary’s funds?

The new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, hopes to seal a deal this week, to unfreeze 10 billion euros in EU funding.

To achieve that, Magyar needs to present reforms that are acceptable to the EU. Is it possible, and what would these reforms mean for Hungarians?

Does the Western Balkans’ future lie in the EU?

In 2003, the EU promised the Western Balkans that they would one day become members. More than two decades have passed, and they are still out.

Why are they still waiting? And will that day ever come?

This episode was co-written with Emma Belmonte.

Can we, Europeans, actually reduce our gas consumption? Reupload

Briefed is taking a long weekend, so there’s no fresh episode. But I invite you to listen to the episode published on 26 March about the possibilities for the EU to reduce its gas consumption.

Would it be possible to get rid of gas, and if so, when?

Can the EU achieve pharmaceutical sovereignty?

European countries need to become more self-sufficient in medication production in troubled times, but is it possible at all? Six years after the Covid 19 pandemic, the EU will soon adopt its Critical medicines act to tackle medicines shortages in Europe.

How the EU is preparing to crack down on irregular migrants

It will soon become easier to detain and deport irregular migrants. That is the spirit of the future European Return Regulation, which is being negotiated. How far is the EU willing to go to deport irregular migrants?

Energy crisis - why is Giorgia Meloni asking for fiscal exemption?

Why should defence spending benefit from budget flexibility, but not energy crisis spending? That’s the question Giorgia Meloni is asking the European Commission. The Italian Prime Minister wants authorization to increase Italy’s public deficit in order to fund additional energy-related spending.

What would that mean in practice? And is it a realistic option?

Ukraine strikes Moscow with 600 drones: turning point or illusion?

Moscow was hit by 600 Ukrainian drones overnight from Saturday to Sunday. This comes after a May 9 Victory Day parade on Red Square that was noticeably scaled back.

Is Russia starting to lose momentum in its war against Ukraine?

Can the EU really improve cross-border train travel?

It is incredibly difficult to link European capitals by train. That is the observation Enrico Letta made, while he presented his report on the EU Single market. Last week, the European Commission made proposals for easier cross-border transport with its passenger package.

What is it, and can it really improve cross-border mobility?

EU–Mercosur meets reality as Brazil’s meat exports face EU ban

Only two weeks after the EU/Mercosur trade agreement provisionally entered into force, Brazil, the biggest partner in the Mercosur bloc, has just been banned from exporting meat to the EU as of September because it uses antimicrobials to promote animal growth.

What can we learn from this decision?

Episode about the expected impact of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement : https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OEOW3cBHbokwNHdpB62g9?si=TLjQBIjgT6ODLItV1A_Eag

Reupload: Why are the french more exposed to cadmium ?

In France, the National Assembly will debate in June a new bill aimed at reducing the maximum cadmium content in phosphate fertilizers.

In a previous episode of Briefed, I explained why the French are more exposed to cadmium than the rest of Europeans, why it is a public health issue, and how it can be addressed.

European army: myth or a real possibility?

The United States is gradually scaling back its presence in Europe. Donald Trump threatened to remove troops in Germany and possibly elsewhere in Europe. But without American support, Europe’s current military forces would not be sufficient to face a potential Russian attack.

A permanent European army, intergovernmental cooperation—what ideas are being discussed, and which ones actually stand a chance of becoming reality?

Can we live in a world on fire?

The world recorded its highest burned area ever for the period between January and April this year, according to compiled data. The area burned by wildfires literally doubled compared to the recent average for this period. Can we live on a planet with more and more burned areas?

Is the EU backtracking on AI regulation?

Two years after adopting its landmark AI Act, the EU is already preparing to simplify it. Co-legislators in Brussels agreed on Thursday 7 May to revise the regulation. Does this mean Europeans are scaling back their regulatory ambitions on AI?

To listen to the previous episode of Briefed about the AI Act: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0OlVVMedWdPXjGLYcinAwq?si=764c46484e2d4246

Is austerity making a comeback in Europe ?

In the heart of the European capital, Brussels, one hundred thousand protesters rallied in the streets in March to push back against the Belgian government’s austerity plan. We are seeing more and more reforms in EU Member States, like in Belgium, that directly cut public spending and therefore reduce social benefits for people. So in Belgium and across Europe, is austerity actually making a comeback? And at what cost?

EU poverty strategy: Ambition vs reality

Poverty rates are struggling to decline in the EU. The European Commission has presented on Wednesday 6 May a strategy to reduce poverty. It aims at eradicating poverty by 2050. But is it realistic?

This episode will be completed by a second episode on the austerity comeback in Europe.

Will the Green Deal survive the simplification effort of the EU?

One by one, the flagship laws of the EU’s Green Deal aiming at climate neutrality are being put through a “simplification” process, which, more often than not, ends up looking a lot like deregulation.

So, will the Green Deal survive the push for competitiveness?

Trump threatens with increased tariffs on cars, will the EU retaliate?

Donald Trump threatened Europeans with additionnal tariffs on cars (25%). This time, will Europeans show some teeth and retaliate?

One year in office: How is Friedrich Merz really doing?

In May 6 last year, Friedrich Merz was elected chancelor in Germany, after more than 30 years in politics. One year in, what can we make of his record so far?

Reupload - My question to Angela Merkel - This is a dog’s world

Briefed is taking a break this week.

In the meantime, I’m bringing you a German-themed segment featuring one of Europod’s award-winning series: My Question to Angela Merkel. Follow Emilia, a young journalist, as she searches for the perfect question to ask Angela Merkel before she leaves office.

For this final episode of the week, I’m bringing you episode 9 of the series, which looks at the opportunity Angela Merkel had to become the new leader of the free world after Barack Obama left office in the United States.

Briefed will be back on Monday with a special episode on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

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