Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

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?

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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?

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