Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

Épisodes

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  What would a coalition of the right and far right in Spain mean for Europe? 09.10.2026 4min

  Spain is heading for early elections, after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap vote last week. According to current polls, the conservative People's Party, or PP, is ahead of Sánchez's Socialists, while Vox is also making significant gains.So, what would happen if the PP and Vox decided to govern together? And what would that mean for Europe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Are student protests in France actually being fuelled by Mélenchon's party LFI? 08.10.2026 4min

  France has been seeing growing protests by high school and university students in recent weeks. The movement is continuing today with a fourth day of mobilisation. According to the government, the far-left opposition party is fuelling the protests. For Donald Trump, the movement is the result of mass migration and the presence of Islam.But what are young people actually protesting about? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Are we heading for a trade war with China? 07.10.2026 4min

  Chinese carmakers are taking an increasing share of the European car market, particularly when it comes to electric vehicles.Why are some European carmakers now opening their factories to their Chinese competitors? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Right to Stay: Can we truly make it a reality in each region of the EU? 06.10.2026 30min

  In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we talk about the 'Right to Stay,' a concept that aims at making outmigration within the EU, a choice, rather than a necessity. Léa Marchal speaks with Eleonora Peruffo, researcher at Eurofound, who is working on a new Freedom to Stay index, and Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and member of the European Committee of the Regions. Together, they discuss regional disparities, shrinking areas, access to services and the role of place-based policies in helping people stay and thrive where they live.Production by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research and policy.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is the EU actually willing to speed up enlargement? 06.10.2026 4min

  The EU wants to bring new countries on board faster.But after years of waiting, will the Commission’s new proposals actually make enlargement easier? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Will Germany come back to nuclear energy? 05.10.2026 4min

  Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants in 2023, bringing Angela Merkel’s nuclear exit policy to its conclusion. But now, nuclear power is making a strong comeback everywhere in Europe. Will Germany return to nuclear policy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Can EU countries bring back border controls whenever they want? 02.10.2026 5min

  Italy brought back border controls with Spain in August, and has now extended them until at least 15 October. Giorgia Meloni’s government fears that migrants who arrived in Ceuta, reach the continent and Italy.Are these restrictions legal in the Schengen area? What are the EU’s levies to avoid such controls? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump’s AI pact: how does it compare with the EU? 01.10.2026 4min

  Donald Trump is betting on voluntary commitments from AI companies. On Tuesday, he unveiled a self-regulatory agreement drawn up with some of the biggest names in the AI industry.What does it mean, and how does it differ from the EU’s Code of Practice for general-purpose AI? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Spain’s housing crisis: did the government address the protesters’ demands? 30.09.2026 4min

  Hundreds of people were still camping yesterday at Puerta del Sol in Madrid. They were demanding action on housing, as rents and property prices continue to rise.Following an outcry triggered by the eviction of an 83-year-old woman from her home, and the mobilization of tho usands of people across Spain, the government adopted two housing decrees.Did they take the protesters’ demands into account?Listen to the episode on the EU Commission proposals for affordable housing.Read the article from El Salto about the Spanish government response to the housing crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Will EU countries agree on the next long-term budget on time? 29.09.2026 4min

  The EU is negotiating its next long-term budget, worth 2 trillion euros. But reaching an agreement among the 27 Member States is proving difficult. The deadline is approaching, and the stakes are high.Will the EU Member States be able to agree on the budget? And what are the different options? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How are Europeans contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza? 28.09.2026 4min

  Rebuilding Gaza will require tens of billions of dollars. European countries have just approved new funding for water and waste management.But with the ceasefire still fragile, can reconstruction really get underway? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How are European authorities responding to masculinist threats? 25.09.2026 5min

  This summer, a group of 45 men was arrested in France. the reason: their adherence to masculinist ideas and incitement to hatred in a Telegram group with more than 1,700 members. In the UK, several young men linked to the misogynistic movement have been arrested in recent years.Are European authorities finally taking this threat seriously? And how are they responding to it?Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on an article written by Blanche Ribault for StreetPress and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What is 'EU Inc', and what would it change for European companies? 24.09.2026 3min

  Creating a company that operates across several EU countries could soon become easier. But the proposed 'EU Inc' regime is also facing strong opposition.So what exactly is EU Inc, and why is it proving so controversial? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Can Giorgia Meloni actually limit the number of foreign pupils in classrooms? 23.09.2026 4min

  Giorgia Meloni wants to introduce a limit on the number of foreign pupils in Italian classrooms.Does such a measure exist elsewhere in Europe, and is it legally sound? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Should the EU press pause on new regulations? 22.09.2026 4min

  Eleven EU countries are calling on the European Commission to stop proposing new legislation for a whole year. They say Europe needs to focus on implementing and simplifying the rules it already has.Is a one-year regulatory pause realistic, and what would deregulation actually mean for European businesses? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fuel prices : Where does the debate over windfall taxes stand? 21.09.2026 4min

  Oil prices are back above 100 dollars a barrel, pushing up fuel prices as fighting intensifies around the Strait of Hormuz.Could taxing the windfall profits of oil and gas companies help governments support consumers? And what is the EU doing about it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How does the EU plan to ban social media for under-15s? 18.09.2026 5min

  Yesterday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new proposal aimed at protecting children online.How can the EU reach this objective? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Nine years after Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, why hasn't justice been done? 17.09.2026 5min

  Yesterday, several dozen people gathered in Valletta to demand justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese investigative journalist who was murdered in 2017. Nine years after her murder, the person who allegedly ordered it has still not been convicted. How can such impunity still exist in Europe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What can we expect from Ursula von der Leyen on climate? 16.09.2026 4min

  After a summer marked by heatwaves, wildfires and droughts, climate is back on the European agenda. But is it really? What can we realistically expect from Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  'Made in Europe', a new trade battle with the US? 15.09.2026 3min

  The US is unhappy with the direction European industrial policy is taking. Washington has made its concerns very clear to the EU.So, what exactly is the problem, and how could the EU solve it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.