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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

This episode is based on a story written by Sara Plaza Casares for El Salto and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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?

Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.

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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.”

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