Over the past decade, addressing crises has become “the New Normal” for European leaders. The narrative of crisis, however, extends far beyond that of Brexit, the so-called ‘refugee crisis’, or the COVID-19 pandemic. It cuts to the very core of the EU itself. This begs the question: are crises one-off events, or are they a structural feature of the European project? Episode 1 season 3 of Burst the Bubble is all about “crisis management”. In this episode, we talk to the former EU High Representative Federica Mogherini about the EU’s handling of crises, the importance of leadership, and how her experience informs her current role as Rector of the College of Europe.

Hosted by Cornelia Lillis and Angelica Mastro

Written by Emma Diab and Vasiliki Liakopoulou

Produced by Giulio Gipsy Crespi and Antoine Lhereux

Quels sont actuellement les défis majeurs pour l’Union européenne? Quelle doit être l’approche de l’UE pour les aborder? Dans cet épisode nous nous pencherons sur les enjeux majeurs internes et externes auxquels l’Europe doit faire face et apporter des réponses unies. Par conséquent, nous arrivons à la question récurrente de la construction d’une identité europénne commune et de son élaboration.

Selon Enrico Letta, ancien premier ministre italien et directeur de l’École d’Affaires Internationales de Sciences Po Paris, l’euro a été un des instruments fondamentaux à la création initiale de ce sentiment européen. Cependant, il maintient que pour compléter l’élaboration de cette identité commune, l’UE doit combler le vide gigantesque qu’elle laisse aujourd’hui en dehors de ses frontières. De plus, la Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe devra trouver des réponses aux phénomènes qui menacent l’européanisme (Brexit, déficit électoral, technologie, etc.). Ensuite David Carretta, journaliste pour le journal italien « Il Foglio », nous explique qu’il est difficile de dépeindre cette identité européenne. Il survole entre autres le manque de médias véritablement européens et donne quelques conseils de vocabulaire aux ressortissants de la ‘bulle européenne’.

En collaboration avec l'Italian Society du Collège d'Europe. (4 March 2020)

Presented by: Anna Kompatscher & Pilar Roig Minguell

Music: "Open Flames" by Blue Dot Sessions (album "Aeronaut")

This track is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0:

The EU institutions are battling over the level of the long-term budget, in jargon the MFF (Multi-annual Financial Framework), in the post-Brexit years. The European Council, convened in a special session on 20th and 21th February, failed to reach an agreement over the level of spending, being torn between so-called "Friends of Cohesion" and "Frugal Countries". While the Commission urges EU leaders to finalise a deal in quick time, the European Parliament threatens to veto any agreement that doesn't meet the Union's political ambitions.

Today we’re joined by Spanish MEP and College alumnus Luis Garicano (Renew Europe), who guides us through the MFF negotiations and the position embraced by the four main political groups of the European Parliament. This episode was recorded at the radio studios of the European Parliament in Brussels. (24 February 2020)

Produced and hosted by: Giulio Gipsy Crespi and Anne Malavaud

Music: "Open Flames" by Blue Dot Sessions (album "Aeronaut")

This track is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0:

"The EU does not have the means to fulfil its ambitions and this could be very dangerous for the Single Market... The EU needs to step up to the plate". Do you agree with this statement? Is it too pessimistic or just realistic?

Stay tuned for our next episode on the MFF negotiations featuring Luis Garicano, Spanish Member of the European Parliament ➡️ out tomorrow!🎙

Introducing to you the first episode of Pills of Knowledge, our new series dedicated to provide brief and accessible factual information on the most important political processes taking place in the EU institutions. Our first topic is the Conference on the Future of Europe, a high-flying, 2-year long, quasi-public consultation process about the direction the European Union should take in the coming years. The Conference hopes to produce a result that places citizens closer to the centre of the EU decision-making process, and to bring deep reforms the way the EU works. But whose idea was it to have this Conference? What form is it going to take? What kind of changes could it bring about? In this episode we’re taking a look at the positions of the three main EU institutions (the European Parliament, European Commission and Council) on this topic, and looking at where discussions on the Conference are likely to lead. (10/02/2020)

Hosted by: Erica Duffy and Giulio Gipsy Crespi

Produced by: Simon Bosmans, Erica Duffy and Giulio Gipsy Crespi

Music: "Open Flames" by Blue Dot Sessions (album "Aeronaut"), "Ode to Joy" by Ludwig van Beethoven, "Convoy Lines" by Blue Dot Sessions (album "Truck Stop").

This week on Burst the Bubble, we continue our conversation on communicating Europe and bridging the gap between citizens and institutions. This time we take the point of view of the European Commission, which, under Ursula von der Leyen, has committed to bring new impetus to the democratic process and citizens' involvement in EU affairs. Our guest is the former Chief Spokesperson of the Juncker Commission, now Vice-President of the Commission, leading the newly created portfolio on "Promoting the European Way of Life". Together we discuss the state of EU identity and equal distribution of information across the Union. (6 December 2019)

Presented by: Erica Duffy and Roy Tzivra

Music: "Open Flames" by Blue Dot Sessions (album "Aeronaut")

"We have a duty to show that the Commission and the Brussels' institutions are able to burst the Brussels' bubble"... Doesn't this sound familiar? 🤔

Stay tuned for our next episode featuring Margaritis Schinas, European Commission's Vice-President and Greek Commissioner for "Promoting the European Way of Life" ➡️ out tomorrow!🎙

This week on Burst the Bubble, we sit down with Politico Europe's former Political Editor, Ryan Heath (who is now Senior Editor at Politico in Washington), to discuss information in the EU. Politico Europe is one of the few news sources which centres entirely on the politics of the EU and its member states, giving them a unique perspective from which to divulge into the complexity of communicating the Europe. (19 November 2019)

Interview by: Erica Duffy

Music: "Welcome Home Sonny" by Blue Dot Sessions (album "Sunday at Slims")

Hmm... wondering what the EU’s ‘original sin’ was? 🤔 Listen to our interview with Ryan Heath and let us know if you agree! 🗣

Out tomorrow!

This week on Burst the Bubble, we’re talking all things agriculture in the EU. Primarily, what are the challenges of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP)? In today’s episode we will explore the EU’s increasing role in reforming agricultural policy to respond more closely to societal concerns. Following that, we will hear from Paolo De Castro MEP, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development under the (now concluded) eighth legislature about what pressing issues we see in agriculture today, and the ways in which the EU seeks to tackle them. In particular, he will explore the success story of the fight against Unfair Trade Practices (UTPs) and the added value of the EU in preserving agriculture while considering environmental impacts. (18 September 2019)

Interview by: Maria Giovanna Caruso

Music: