Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

EU debates 90% emissions cut by 2040 amid record heat

As much of Europe roasts under a heat dome, the EU’s top officials are sweating it out too  but not just from the 40-degree temperatures. 

Today, the European Commission is meeting to decide how much the bloc should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a milestone on the road to net zero by 2050. But is Europe serious about tackling the climate crisis, or is it too hot for political courage?

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Denmark takes over the EU wheel: What’s at stake?

As of today, Denmark holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months, inheriting it from Poland. The official priorities for the Danes are security and defense, economic resilience and competitiveness. 

But why is this presidential term more important than ever before?

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Resignations and responsibility: Mitsotakis under fire over EU funds fraud

Today’s Cabinet meeting in Greece is a real crisis management moment. Because over the past 72 hours, Greece has witnessed the resignation of one minister, Makis Voridis, three deputy ministers, and two senior party officials, all following allegations tied to a massive EU subsidy fraud. 

But what’s this scandal about and can Mitsotakis claim political responsibility while dodging legal accountability?

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Budapest pride ban and transparency law: What’s at Stake in Hungary? - with MEP Daniel Freund

All eyes are on Budapest this weekend, where the annual Pride march has been banned by Hungarian authorities, citing laws against so-called “LGBTQ propaganda”. But the parade is going ahead anyway on Saturday,  and so are the politics.

Among those attending is MEP Daniel Freund, who has long criticised Viktor Orbán’s government for its attacks on democracy, civil society, and LGBTQ rights. In this episode, we speak to him about the proposed Transparency of Public Life law, the ban, what’s at stake for Hungary and the EU, and is Brussels finally ready to get serious?

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€72,461 per bed at Meloni’s offshore migrant hubs in Albania

€72,461 per bed. That’s how much Italy is now spending to build offshore migrant centres in Albania, more than 11 times the cost of similar facilities at home according to an investigation published by Follow the Money. 

This was Giorgia Meloni’s grand plan: a tough-on-migration deal to transfer those intercepted at sea to Albania, fast-track their asylum claims, and repatriate them. Her government called it “extraordinary”, and the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen even praised it as “out-of-the-box thinking.”

But why has Italy’s offshore migration policy evolved into a costly and legally questionable scheme?

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NATO summit: Historic decisions, more spending, less trust?

The NATO summit is underway in The Hague. Leaders have gathered, speeches are being made, and Mark Rutte, NATO’s Secretary-General is doing his best to keep the vibes up and the Americans on board. But what’s at stake and what can we expect on the war in Ukraine and Iran?

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One Union, many families: The fight for rainbow parenthood

What does it really mean to be a rainbow family in the European Union? In this episode of Europe Talks Back,we explore the promise, and the shortcomings of the European Certificate of Parenthood, a regulation meant to ensure that parenthood rights are recognised across all 27 EU countries. From Spain to Bulgaria, Italy to Poland, we look at what’s happening when same-sex families cross borders, only to find that their legal status doesn’t always travel with them. 

To unpack the legal grey zones, the clash between national sovereignty and EU law, and what all this means for the children caught in between, we spoke with Professor Alina Tryfonidou, an expert in EU law and a leading voice on LGBTIQ+ rights. Despite hopeful rulings from EU courts, many rainbow families remain in limbo, a stark reminder that equality on paper doesn't always mean equality in practice.

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Greenwashing rules withdrawal: Politics undermine EU environmental rules

The European Commission announced it intends to withdraw the Green Claims Directive, a law proposed to stop companies from falsely marketing themselves or their products as environmentally friendly, unless those claims are backed by solid evidence. 

This directive had already made it through several rounds of negotiations between the European Parliament and national governments and it was close to being finalised. So, how did we get here and who is pushing the Commission to withdraw it?

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From Gaza to Hormuz: The EU foreign affairs council put to the test

Today Foreign Affairs ministers are gathering in Brussels for a Council that was never going to be easy. Because in the last 72 hours, everything has turned into a geopolitical balancing act. 

EU foreign ministers arrived expecting to discuss Israel’s war in Gaza. That alone is a diplomatic minefield. But then came the twist with US President Donald Trump ordering airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, dragging the EU into a broader Middle East crisis, whether it’s ready for it or not.  But will the EU follow through with action or just statements?

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French champagne producers on trial for human trafficking

In France’s Champagne region a high-profile human trafficking trial is raising serious questions about working conditions in one of Europe’s most luxurious industries.

Three people, a woman from Kyrgyzstan, a Georgian man, and a French national, are on trial in Châlons-en-Champagne. They’re accused of trafficking and exploiting over 50 undocumented workers during the 2023 grape harvest. How widespread is exploitation in the seasonal labour force and what does this mean for the industry? 

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Europe’s top diplomats push for Iran talks while Trump considers a strike

A brewing foreign policy storm is putting the EU’s diplomatic resolve to the test.Foreign ministers from some of Europe’s most powerful countries, France, Germany, and the UK, are meeting with their Iranian counterpart in a bid to de-escalate a crisis that risks spiraling into an all-in war between Israel and Iran. 

Can European diplomacy influence the course of this crisis?

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Infighting over the EU budget puts von der Leyen on a tightrope

The EU’s most powerful member state is clashing with its biggest political party and the fight is about money. Yes, the EU’s budget is back in the spotlight, and it’s starting to look like a family feud. 

The European People’s Party says: if we expect Europe to do more, then we need to spend more. But Berlin is holding the wallet tight and is refusing to contribute a cent extra. But what does this mean for the EU’s next budget and for the political power play behind it?

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Trump walks out of G7, slams Macron, still no plan for Iran-Israel escalation

The G7 summit in Canada ended up delivering more drama than diplomacy. US President Donald Trump cut his visit short, skipping the final day of talks, including a key session with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and publicly insulted French President Emmanuel Macron on his way out. 

So, where does this leave the resolution of the conflicts in Gaza, Israel and Iran, and Ukraine?

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Israel-Iran escalation, Trump and Ukraine top G7 agenda

Today world leaders are gathering in the Canadian Rockies to kickstart what promises to be… well a high-stakes political retreat with plenty of dramatic potential: the G7 Summit.

The group includes Canada, the UK, the US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union. While the original agenda focused on global economic turbulence, Ukraine, and the climate crisis, one issue has bulldozed its way to the top: the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. So, what can we expect from this summit?

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Israel strikes Iran; Tehran vows to retaliate

Israel has launched a major military attack on Iran, during the night and the world woke up to a scarier reality today. 

The operation involved over 200 fighter jets and targeted dozens of Iranian military and nuclear sites, including the enrichment facility in Natanz and high-ranking officials. But how is Iran planning to retaliate and what are the reactions so far?

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What does the ‘historic’ deal on Gibraltar mean for its people?

The EU, the UK and Spain have struck a deal over Gibraltar ’s post-Brexit future, the last unresolved issue of Brexit. 

The territory has been in a kind of diplomatic limbo ever since, but now all sides have agreed to remove border and customs checks between Gibraltar and Spain. But how will this affect everyday life for people living in the area?

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Tusk’s confidence vote: what is he trying to prove?

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is expected to win a symbolic but politically significant vote of confidence in parliament today. 

His coalition government holds 242 seats in the 460-member Sejm, Poland’s lower house, making the outcome largely predictable at least for now. But what message is Tusk trying to deliver today?

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Israel deports Madleen aid ship activists

After being intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, the 12 passengers of the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament, have been transferred to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. 

Israeli authorities say the group of activists is currently being processed for deportation. However, according to international media reports, some of the activists are refusing to sign deportation documents. So, what happens next and what are the reactions in Brussels?

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Citizenship and workers’ rights on the ballot in Italy’s referendum

On Sunday and Monday, June 8 and 9, Italians are heading to the polls for five referendums. These are abrogative referendums, meaning citizens are being asked whether to repeal existing laws or parts of them. 

And to be valid, turnout must reach 50% plus one of eligible voters. But what is at the core of these referendums and can they pass? 

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Fast fashion and dark tactics: Shein faces EU scrutiny

Consumer watchdogs from 21 countries, coordinated by the European Consumer Organisation, BEUC, have filed a complaint against the ultra-fast fashion Shein to the European Commission and EU consumer protection authorities. 

What is the complaint about and what could this case mean for fast fashion in Europe?

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EU leaked report on Gaza increases pressure on Israel and Brussels

An internal report written by the EU foreign service in late 2024 has resurfaced this time, in full.

The document, originally kept confidential, was published yesterday by the EU Observer and it outlines findings from a human rights audit that was ordered by the EU’s then, foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. But what is in the report and what could it mean for the EU- Israel trade agreement?

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Dutch government falls: Far-right Wilders quits over asylum dispute

This Tuesday morning, the Netherlands woke up to a political earthquake, again. Geert Wilders, the leader of the anti-migration PVV party, announced on X that he is pulling out of the coalition government, causing the collapse of Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s cabinet. 

But what led to the fall out and what does this mean for the country’s stability?

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How Nawrocki’s win in Poland puts Tusk’s reforms at risk

So… Poland has a new president. And not the one the exit polls predicted.

Right-wing opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki (Navrotski) has narrowly won Poland’s presidential runoff election, with 50.89% of the vote, just edging out centrist Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who landed at 49.11%. A result so close it feels like a decimal-point drama. But what does this result mean for Poland and for Europe?

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A Grain of Power: Who controls the grain? 6/6

In the last episode of A Grain of Power, we cast a light on the functioning of the market of grain and wheat at the global level. Until now, this series has focused on the responsibilities of nations and supranational institutions, but in this sixth episode, we focus on the power of private companies and, also, financial markets. 

Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South.

Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances.

And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

Narration: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Reporting and field research: Futura D’Aprile

Author: Futura D'Aprile

English adaptation: Futura D’Aprile and Alexander Damiano Ricci

Original soundtrack: Epidemic Sound

Original Sound Editing: Jeremy Bocquet

Sound editing and mixing English version: Daniel Gutierrez Ortega

Cover artwork : Watermelon Collective

Editor-in-chief: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Production: Futura D'Aprile 

Executive producer: Ana Ribera

Editorial and production coordination: Alexander Damiano Ricci

A Grain of Power  is a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. 

Slovak ECB governing council member convicted of bribery

The Slovak central bank governor, Peter Kažimír and member of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council, you know the body that decides monetary policy for 20 eurozone countries, has just been convicted of bribery. 

Yes, he has been convicted and fined €200,000 and with a warning that if he doesn’t pay, he’s looking at a year behind bars. But how did we get here and what does this mean for the ECB?

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Period poverty is real. Why is the EU still ignoring it?

Yesterday was International Menstrual Hygiene Day, and chances are, it passed without much notice. But something that affects nearly half the population, every single month, for around 40 years, deserves a bit more attention. Periods might still be treated like an uncomfortable secret, but they’re not. 

And the most important thing isn’t the discomfort, it’s the cost, the stigma, and the silence that continue to surround them. But why is something as basic and essential still so expensive and so ignored in Europe?

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The EU is gearing up for an anti-Orbán pushback

The rule of law and democracy were the two topics at the heart of the General Affairs Council this week in Brussels, and Hungary was once again the elephant in the European room. 

This time, the vibe was already set by many EU countries who called Hungary to reverse the ban on Pride celebrations and scrap the law that cracks down on independent media and NGOs. Is the EU finally ready to make the move and hold Hungary accountable?

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Are Europe’s culture wars just a distraction from class struggle?

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we explore how Europe's so-called culture wars are used to divert attention from structural economic issues. 

 With insight from political scientist and member of the Social Democrats Justus Seuferle and Politics Professor at the University of Bath, Aurélien Mondon, the episode examines how political and media discourse has shifted away from material concerns like wages, housing, and labour rights, towards debates on identity, migration, and “wokeness.” 

Our guests argue that this cultural framing distorts the concept of class and often benefits elite interests, while marginalising those most affected by economic inequality. Through this lens, we question who really shapes the public narrative in Europe, and who is excluded from it.

Germany lifts range limits on weapons sent to Ukraine, but what does it mean?

Germany has just joined the US, the UK, and France in lifting range restrictions on the weapons it sends to Ukraine. 

Which means that Kyiv is now officially allowed to hit targets inside Russia using Western-supplied weapons. But why is this decision coming now and what does it mean for the war?

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Trump delays threatened 50% EU tariff after call with Von der Leyen

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that he will delay the implementation of a 50% tariff on European Union goods. 

The tariffs were originally set to take effect on June 1 in a few days, but the new deadline is now moved to the 9th of July. But what does this signal for the future of the trade relations between the EU and the US?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.