Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

Post-Brexit UK: no country for Black Europeans?

Brexit has made the headlines of the European and British press for years. However, today, the relationship between the UK and the EU is less of a central topic in public debates. Nevertheless, many European citizens’ lives have been heavily affected by Brexit. This is mostly due to the lengthy and intricate process for obtaining the UK settlement status. In particular, anecdotal evidence appears to highlight that European citizens of colour are suffering the most from the consequences of Brexit. In October this year, in the UK, a non-profit organisation under the name of “Black Europeans” was established. Black Europeans’ mission is to challenge systemic racism in the post-Brexit migration policies. And to create a safe environment by breaking down barriers for black Europeans to thrive. On this podcast, host Alexander Damiano Ricci talks to Dahaba Ali Hussen and Angelo Boccato - respectively Dutch and Italian freelance journalists in the United Kingdom -, to dissect the impact of Brexit of European citizens of colour.

Will the Women on Boards Directive finally break the glass ceiling?

According to Eurostat, 229 million women live in the EU. That’s 4.6% more than men. However, fewer women make it to the top of society.  When it comes to decision-making and board levels, women are under-represented. As the Gender Diversity Index shows, there are only 7% of female CEOs and just 35% of women on boards in EU top companies. On the 22nd of November, ten years later than expected, the European Union finally approved a directive that will force all member states to increase the presence of women on boards. Why has it taken so long to have a law aimed at closing the gender gap? How will this help women break the glass ceiling? On this podcast, host Alexander Damiano Ricci and co-host Maria Dios, discuss the approval of the Women on Board Directive in the EU. Also, Maria Dios interviews Hedwige Nuyens, Chair of European Women on Boards, a non-profit association that promotes gender equality in decision making and helps women across the EU accessing board level positions. 

The website of the European on Women on Boards: https://europeanwomenonboards.eu/

Madrid rises up for public healthcare

Spain is one of the healthiest countries in the European Union. It has the longest life expectancy, and its public healthcare service is worldwide recognised. However, the population of its capital region, Madrid, has been suffering from a shortage of medical staff over the past few years. Despite being the region with the highest income per capita, Madrid is also the one that spends the least on primary care. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of the Community of Madrid, led by Isabel Ayuso of the Popular Party, has been criticised for understaffing hospitals and primary care centres. Last November 13, doctors' and neighbours' anger exploded into a massive rally. Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid to protest against the collapse of primary care. On this podcast, host Marìa Dios talks to Isabel Vázquez Burgos, a doctor in Vallecas, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Madrid and to Ángeles Rodríguez de Cara, an active member of the Regional Federation of Madrid’s Neighborhood Associations, which backed the protest movement of November 13. 

What the death of Blessing Matthew tells us about the Franco Italian border

The fight against disinformation in Europe

In October this year, the social media giant META, took down a Russian network of social media accounts spreading disinformation on the War on Ukraine. 

META says it is the largest network of its kind, the company disrupted since the war in Ukraine began. More specifically, identified social media accounts were sharing false information by relaunching fake articles published on 60 websites impersonating legitimate news organisations. Articles published on these websites were shared on social media and messaging apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and Twitter. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci interviews Marìa Dios, editor at Europe Talks Back, about the pro-Russian disinformation operation taken down by META and Trisha Meyer, Professor of Digital Governance and Participation at the Brussels School of Governance of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Professor Meyer leads the Research Centre for Digitalisation, Democracy and Innovation, the BA in Communication and Public Relations, and the Jean Monnet Winter and Summer Schools on EU Policy-Making.

News consumption on social media and distrust in institutions

Eurofound, the EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies, released the results of an EU wide survey on the living conditions of European citizens during COVID19. Among many results, the study shows that when social media is the preferred news source of people trust in institutions plummets. Meanwhile, in the Austrian city of Graz, an engineer is trying to push public institutions and citizens to adopt alternatives to mainstream commercial social media platforms to interact with their peers online. On this podcast, host Alexander Damiano Ricci talks to André Menrath, administrator of Graz.Social instance on Mastodon, and to Massimiliano Mascherini, Head of the Social Policies unit at Eurofound.

The fight for the access to safe abortions in Hungary

Requesting an abortion in Europe is legal in most countries. Yet, even if ending a pregnancy is not banned, accessing this right is not always guaranteed. 

While the pro-life narratives spread all over Europe, far-right governments tighten abortion rules. Hungary is the latest example. In this country, from September 15, women can request an abortion only if they listen to the fetus' heartbeat. What is behind this new and cruel decree? On this episode of Europe Talks Back, Marìa Dios interviews Júlia Bakó, a Hungarian Budapest-based feminist women's rights activist, and Mara Clarke, founder of Abortion Support Network, an organisation that helps women all over Europe to access safe abortions.

Bulgaria's two year long political deadlock

In the Summer of 2020, mass protests shook Bulgaria: citizens were calling for a stop to endless corruption. And a change in the political system. Since the protests of 2020, four Parliamentary elections have been held in the country, the latest of which took place in October this year. However, following any of these elections, no party-negotiations were able to grant a stable government to the country, and one that that would implement the demand for change of its citizens. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci interviews policy analyst, Tania Lessenska, and Zlatina Siderova, a Bulgarian expat living in the Netherlands.

The Cost of Living Crisis in Ireland

The War on Ukraine has provoked rising inflation across Europe. For many people, this implied: rising costs to heat homes, buy food, pay for services.  

It’s what economists and journalists define “a Cost of living crisis”. These days, nowhere across Europe, the cost of living crisis appears to be as strong as in Ireland. That’s why, recently, the current Irish government, led by a coalition of centre, centre-right and green parties committed 11 billion Euros to fight the cost of living emergency in the country. But will it be enough to help Irish citizens go through winter? On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci discusses the roots and causes cost of today's living crisis in Ireland with Eddie Conlon from the Cost of Living Coalition and with Robert Sweeney, senior policy analyst at TASC - Think Tank for Action on Social Change.

Modern sexism in Europe

Over the past few months and years, across Europe, far-right parties have gained electoral support. From recent elections in Italy and Sweden, to France, Germany, Spain, Poland or Hungary: a conservative wind appears to blow over the Old Continent. One narrative all these far-right political forces have in common is a return to traditional gender norms. But why are these narratives so successful? And what does this tell us about the relationship between younger generations, social class and conservative world-views?

The Italian elections and the rise of Giorgia Meloni

After a hectic electoral campaign running over the Summer, this weekend, Italian citizens are called to the ballot boxes to elect a new Parliament. Pundits see the far-right party, Brothers of Italy, leading the contest. And a new leadership is rising: the one of Giorgia Meloni. Should Brothers of Italy obtain most of the votes, it is likely that Giorgia Meloni will try to form a coalition government. Meloni could be the first woman leading an Executive in Italy. However, the International press defined a potential victory of Giorgia Meloni, as a resurgence of modern-fascism in Italy. Meanwhile, only half of the electorate appears to have decided who to vote for. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci discusses the outlook of the Italian elections with Andrea Fioravanti, the editor-in-chief of Linkiesta.

Belgrade Bans EuroPride

On September 13, 2022, Serbian authorities banned the iconic EuroPride march, which was supposed to take place next Saturday in the country’s capital, Belgrade.

The march would have been the culmination of EuroPride week, the leading yearly event in Europe, through which the LGBTQI+ community gathers and voices its demand for stronger rights and equality. The announcement of the ban came after that, in August, the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, hinted at the likely cancellation of the event. But until this Tuesday, the organizers of EuroPride had re-affirmed it was not up to the President to cancel a public event. In fact, as of September 15, 2022, so also after the official ban, the people behind the EuroPride continue to say that “they will march”. The ban of the EuroPride march inevitably puts Belgrade and Serbia under the spotlight. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, Alexander Damiano Ricci talks about the ban of the EuroPride in Belgrade and the situation of the LGBTQI+ community in Serbia and the Western Balkans.

“Only Yes Means Yes” Law Approved in Spain

Trigger warning: Rape

Sex without consent is rape. Yet, according to the NGO, Amnesty International, in Europe, only 13 countries, feature laws, that define rape, in terms of the absence of consent. The latest country adopting such as a definition of rape is Spain, where, on the 25th of August 2022, the national Congress approved the so-called  “Only yes Means Yes Law”. The journey for the approval of this law, began six years ago, after a Spanish court, ruled, that five young men, raping an 18 years old girl, in the city of Pamplona, was only an instance, of sexual abuse. That case - also known as “La Manada case” or, internationally, as "Wolfpack case," literally shocked Spain. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci discusses this law with Maria Dios, junior editor of Europe Talks Back, who is from Spain and has followed the La Manada case from its beginning.

Teachers Protest in Hungary

In the past months, teachers in Hungary have been on strike, protesting against a public educational system which, as they say, risks collapse. What teachers complain about is low pay and deteriorating working conditions: the number of working hours for Hungarian teachers is very high while their salaries are among the lowest in the EU. Staff shortage is also an escalating problem in the country. According to the national Teachers’ Trade Union (PSZ), if nothing improves 22,000 teachers will leave the public education system over the next five years. Only 7 percent of educators are under 30. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci meets with teachers in Hungary and Viktória Serdült, journalist at HVG.hu, to discuss the situation of teachers in the country.

Resistance Against Data Centers in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the top data center markets in Europe, hosting approximately 200 facilities such as Google and Microsoft hyperscale data centers which exceed 5,000 servers and 3,000 square kilometres. The development of new projects has spurred debate and protests in the country, with local communities opposing the building of such centers, denouncing their effect on the landscape and energy infrastructure. In February, the Dutch government announced a nine-month block on permits for data centers larger than 10 hectares while new stricter rules are worked out. The Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning cited a lack of space in the country and the “disproportionate amount” of renewable energy that hyperscale data centers require. While the government is working on new regulations, local communities fight for their territories. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci meets with Susan Schaap, Chair of the DataTruc Zeewolde Foundation, and Julia Rone, post-doctoral researcher at the Minderoo Centre for Democracy and Technology at the University of Cambridge, to discuss the resistance against data centers in the Netherlands.

One of the Worst Cases of Gentrification

The housing crisis in Lisbon is caused by one of the worst cases of rapid, violent gentrification. Lured by programs to attract foreign investment, new real estate developments and tourist accommodations have multiplied throughout the city. A third of houses in Lisbon’s historical center are listed on websites for short-term rental services such as Airbnb. Over the past twenty years, Lisbon has become one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Europe. This has created what some critics have called the “perfect storm for the real estate sector”. Lisbon’s real estate market is defined by analysts as one of Europe’s “most dynamic”. But at what cost? Around 10,000 people live in a precarious housing situation. According to data from the national statistical institute, reported by Bloomberg, prices of homes rose 13% between the first quarter of 2021 and 2022. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci meets with Mariana, a Lisbon local, and Sarah Gainsforth, freelance journalist, to discuss the housing crisis in Europe.

Depopulation is Causing Wildfires in Europe

As Europe is seeing intense and unprecedented heatwaves, with temperatures spiking above 40 degrees, huge wildfires are raging across several countries in the region. Thousands of hectares of land were destroyed, and people had been evacuated from towns threatened by flames. In some areas droughts are making it hard to control the fires. Italy is one of the most affected countries, together with Spain, Portugal and France. The number of wildfires recorded so far in 2022 is already three times higher than average. The Mediterranean area always had to deal with wildfire, especially during summer, but what has changed is the amount, the scale, and the intensity. Huge fires are now becoming more frequent, and they last longer. The answer is linked to depopulation. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci meets with Laura Cocco, sufferer of a wildfire in Italy, and Davide Mancini, freelance journalist, to discuss the relationship between depopulation and wildfires.

Greece Criminalizes the Work of NGOs

During the month of June, Mary Lawlor, the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, went on a 10-day long mission to Greece. At the end of her mission, in a preliminary observations and recommendation document, Lawlor wrote being “concerned about the increasing criminalization of humanitarian assistance in Greece”. Lawlor also came to understand that the nature of cooperation between the Government and civil society, and the overall perception about the role of civil society and human rights defenders in Greece, has undergone a significant shift since 2019. Lawlor says that since 2019 human rights defenders have found it increasingly difficult to carry out their work. This is particularly tangible in relation to those human rights defenders who defend the rights of asylum seekers, migrants and refugees. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci meets with Dimitris Choulis, lawyer specialized in fighting human rights violations, and Dialekti Angeli, reporter from Greece for EFSYN, to discuss how Greek institutions are criminalizing the work of human rights defenders at the borders of Europe.

Biggest Dutch Farmers Protests in Decades

Over the past few weeks, Dutch farmers have been taking to the streets of their country. They are in revolt against their government's plan to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia by cutting the country's livestock by 30%. Farmers claim the government acted top-down on them, imposing targets that are poorly conceived and unfair. On some occasions, the protest turned violent, featuring clashes with the police. Meanwhile, environmental groups and movements oppose the farmers’ protest, claiming the agricultural sector historically benefited from a political system that acted in its favor. On this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Alexander Damiano Ricci meets with Roy Meijers, farmer and chairman of the Dutch Young Farmer Association (NAJK), and Sarah Tekath, freelance journalist, podcaster, and foreign correspondent, to discuss the biggest farmers protests in decades.