Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

Municipal elections in France: the rise of a firewall against far-left parties

In France, a campaign to demonize the far left is underway. During the municipal elections, different left-wing parties joined forces to defeat the right and the far right. The right has labeled most of these alliances as "shameful deals," because they include La France insoumise (LFI), or France Unbowed. Is this the beginning of a real firewall against leftist parties? 

Will the EU carbon market pay the price of the energy crisis?

The EU is looking for answers to the energy crisis. Several EU member states are proposing to revise how the carbon market works, so that it weighs less on prices. But could this actually make a difference?

Will the EU keep its promise on the financial support to Ukraine?

Ukraine will soon run out of money. Four years into the war, the country faces a serious funding issue. The EU has promised a 90 billion euros loan, but it is currently blocked by Hungary. Will the rest of the EU manage to convince Viktor Orban to lift its veto?

Which EU countries are switching back to nuclear energy?

Nuclear energy is no longer just a French affair. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has finally admitted that nuclear power has an important role to play in the EU’s energy mix. But the question is: How many European countries are switching back to nuclear?

Middle-East: why Europe won’t blindly follow Donald Trump's call to secure the Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump keeps turning up the heat on his allies. Over the weekend, he warned that it would be “very bad for the future of NATO” if allies didn’t help secure the strait.

Are Europeans ready to step up and support the U.S.?

EU-Mercosur trade agreement: what to expect from its provisional application?

The EU-Mercosur trade deal has faded from the headlines. Yet, a major milestone is on the horizon: after twenty-five years of negotiations, the agreement is set to enter into force provisionnaly in the coming weeks. Will farmers’ fears actually materialize?

Are conscientious objectors limiting access to abortion for women in the EU?

A court ruling has just ordered the city of Madrid to comply with the Spanish law on abortion, and create a registry of conscientious objectors. These are doctors in the region who refuse to perform abortion procedures. Are there still many of these conscientious objectors in Spain and across Europe?

Is the alliance between right and far right parties the new norm in Europe?

The right has once again joined forces with the far right in the European Parliament to push through a major text on migration. Since the 2024 elections, this pattern has been repeating itself over and over. Could this breakdown of the firewall become the norm across Europe?

Which European countries are sending forces to the Middle East?

France has deployed its aircraft carrier to support Cyprus and the Gulf states, which have been attacked or threatened by Iran. Several other EU countries have joined this effort. What is the scale of European forces sent to the region?

Who really speaks for the EU on the international stage?

The war in Iran has once again highlighted a familiar issue: when it comes to international politics, the European Union does not always speak with one voice. 

Why doesn’t the EU have a single president?

Asylum policy - how does the EU define a country of origin as safe?

Soon, asylum seekers from Bangladesh or Egypt, could see their asylum applications in the EU automatically rejected.

This is what the new regulations on safe countries of origin and safe third countries, adopted in February, provide for.

On what criteria does the EU base its decision to classify a country as safe? And are these criteria foolproof?

Does Pedro Sánchez have real EU backing in his standoff with Trump?

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is standing up to Donald Trump. He condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and denied the Americans access to Spanish military bases. In retaliation, Washington has vowed to cut trade ties with Madrid.

How far can Pedro Sánchez oppose the United States?

will the new 'made in Europe' doctrine revive the European industry?

After several years of industrial decline, the European Commission proposed a ‘Made in Europe’ policy, on March fourth.

Is this a major industrial turning point?

Should Europeans fear a new energy crisis with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran is now blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which 1 in 5 barrels of oil and a quarter of the world’s liquefied natural gas transit.

As oil and gas prices rise, should Europeans be worried about a new energy crisis?

Is the EU still the biggest supporter of international law?

Historically, the EU has placed crucial importance on upholding international law. But after the US and Israeli strikes in Iran, the EU is turning a blind eye to the violation of the principles of the UN Charter. Are we witnessing an erosion of this principle within the EU?

Today on Briefed: Europe Talks Back (Extended Format)

Today’s Briefed Special is a longer conversation from our series Europe Talks Back.

The European Union is one of the world’s most developed regions; yet deep territorial inequalities persist. According to Eurostat, GDP per capita can vary threefold within the same member state, with capital regions often earning twice as much as the rest of the country.

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, produced with ESPON, Léa Marchal explores why many small and medium-sized cities are losing ground — and whether this trend can be reversed.

Joined by Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Professor at the London School of Economics and Chair of the High-Level Group on the Future of EU Cohesion Policy, the discussion looks at demographic decline, policy blind spots, and the limits of current cohesion funding.

Are these cities doomed to fall behind - or can smarter investment and stronger local institutions help them thrive again?

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

A podcast by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research with policies

“This podcast series is cofunded by ESPON. However, the opinions and views expressed are solely those of the authors. ESPON can't be held responsible for them.”

Will the death of activist Quentin Deranque weaken antifascist movements in Europe?

“Far-left kills.” That’s how extreme-right protesters have described the death of Quentin Deranque. A formula also used by various political figures in France and abroad to blame far-left and antifascist movements in a broader sense.

Can this dramatic event weaken antifascist movements across Europe?

The fabricated controversy around Spain’s Therian subculture

In Spain, the Therian community—people who spiritually identify as animals—has been the subject of heated debates on social media and in the press. Yet, the phenomenon exists primarily in the mouths of its detractors. Why has such a minority movement received so much attention in recent days?

How Poland is preparing for a potential war?

Poland isn’t just preparing for war—it’s rewriting the rulebook on how to get ready. The defence training programmes adopted in 2025 should train some 400 000 people this year only.  Meanwhile, the rest of the EU is slowly catching up on defence. What can we learn from Poland’s approach?

How does the EU respond to US sanctions against Europeans?

The U.S. President keeps putting pressure on the EU

Whether it’s sanctions against International Criminal Court judges or threats of tariffs, Donald Trump is using coercion to sway European decisions.

So what is the EU doing to protect its independence from American pressure?

Are we serious about regulating AI ?

AI can be tricked into saying almost anything. That’s what a BBC journalist recently discovered. He found an easy way to make AI say whatever he wanted.

Are authorities doing enough to regulate AI? At the EU level, is the AI Act doing its job?

Should the EU stay away from Trump’s board of peace?

In Brussels, several EU member states are angry with the European Commission. These countries did not appreciate that the EU’s executive body attended the first meeting of the “Board of Peace” launched by Donald Trump.

What was the alternative for the EU? Should Europeans stay away from this initiative?

Has the EU given up on participating in the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia?

A new negotiation session ended yesterday between Ukraine and Russia, under the leadership of the United States. The EU, once again, did not take part in the peace talks, despite having long asked to do so. Has the EU given up on participating in the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia?

Orbán on the brink in Hungary - what is at stake for the EU?

In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could lose the next elections after 10 years in power. And this, despite having the open support of Donald Trump. If Orban were to actually lose the elections, what would this mean for the EU? Could the traditional Hungarian veto become a thing of the past?

Could EU migration policy lead to ICE-style raids?

The European Union will soon have a new regulation that should make it easier for EU countries to deport irregular migrants. A group of 64 NGOs is worried that EU countries could use deportation methods that resemble what the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, ICE, does in the US. Is the EU going in that direction?

After Trump’s climate rollback, how solid are the EU’s green rules?

US President Donald Trump has just announced that his administration no longer recognizes that a range of greenhouse gases poses a threat to public health and the environment. Meanwhile, the leaders of the EU, considered the most ambitious bloc on the green transition, are discussing rollbacks of existing green rules. Should Europeans be worried about the future of climate policies?

Why is the Kurdish diaspora protesting in Europe?

The Kurdish diaspora has been demonstrating in major European cities for weeks now. Protesters are urging European and international authorities to respond to the takeover of the Kurdish autonomous region called Rojava by Syria’s new government. They fear that their community is at risk of disappearing. What is the diaspora hoping from the European and international authorities?

Is the EU rolling back its pesticide rules?

French senator Laurent Duplomb is back with a controversial proposal: reintroducing pesticides that are currently banned in France. 

Last year, his first attempt was blocked by the constitutional court. This time, the debate returns, as discussions at EU level also suggest a possible softening of pesticide rules. Are we witnessing a broader rollback of pesticide regulation in Europe?

can Macron convince the rest of the EU to impose stronger 'made in Europe' rules?

“We need to protect our industry. The Chinese are doing it, the Americans too.”

This is what Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has been advocating for a while now: more European protectionism.

Is he on the right track to convince his European counterparts?

Giorgia Meloni handles protests at the Winter Olympic Games using Trump-style

Giorgia Meloni has called protesters at the Winter Olympic Games "the enemies of Italy" — a kind of shortcut we often see in Donald Trump’s interventions.

Is the Italian prime minister, replicating Trump’s recipe for success?