EU Untangled

This episode unravels the complexities of the Spitzenkandidat process ahead of the European elections on 6-9 June. Discover what a Spitzenkandidat is, the story behind its creation, and how it works, or doesn’t. From its origins to the current candidates and the tug-of-war between the European Parliament and the European Council, we dive deep into this key element of EU politics. Whether you’re an EU enthusiast or just curious (or confused), this episode will give you the insights you need ahead of the next European elections. Tune in and get untangled with us! 

Hosted & produced by Victor Aguilar & Alexander Roth; Lisa Vallese supported the preparation and communication. 

… to a few of our previous episodes 

Join Victor Aguilar and Alex Roth as they tackle the fiery debate surrounding the European Parliament’s odd arrangement of having a “single seat” but multiple places of work. Why do hundreds of parliamentary staff travel monthly between Brussels and Strasbourg? Is this practice a symbol of unity or an outdated extravagance?

We discuss the practicality and cost of this system, citing concerns over inefficiencies, environmental impact, and logistical nightmares. But we also highlight the historical and symbolic importance of Strasbourg, arguing that it represents peace and balance within the EU. Could a single place of work simplify the operations of the house of EU democracy, or would it undermine the very ideals upon which the EU was built?

Tune in for an interesting debate and explore whether tradition or transformation should prevail in the governance of the European Parliament. Engage with us across our social platforms—your thoughts might just shape the next episode!

See EU next time!

Victor Aguilar & Alexander Roth

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Innovation is at the heart of human progress. The printing press, the steam engine, the automobile, and now AI have led to industrial and social revolutions. In modern history, Europe has been the cradle of countless technological innovations, but more recently, it seems to be playing catch-up with other regions. The EU is aware of this, and it has ambitious plans in store to ramp up innovation in the digital age. The million-dollar question is: can the EU succeed?

In today’s episode, we discuss what innovation is, why it matters, and what the EU is doing to earn itself a place among innovation champions.

Paul Hünermund is an Assistant Professor of Strategy and Innovation at Copenhagen Business School. He is also the co-founder of causalscience.org, a platform for fostering knowledge exchange between industry and academia on causal data science.

Liene Briede is the Vice-Rector for Innovation at Riga Technical University and a European Innovation Council Board Member. Over the past ten years, she has worked tirelessly to improve the Latvian and Baltic innovation ecosystem.

Victor Aguilar & Alexander Roth

… to a few of our previous episodes

Let’s be honest, how often do you take the train when crossing borders in the EU? We know flying is anything but sustainable. Yet, the prospect of jetting to our family, friends, or holiday destination fast and (ahem) cheap is all too tempting. Trains have a hard time competing against planes: booking is complicated, trips often take longer, and prices can be irrationally high.

We join forces with Philipp Cerny to untangle the complexity of EU cross-border train travel. After all, Europe has one of the densest railway networks in the world, but markets, policy and incentives seem to move like a slow train coming…

Philipp Cerny is a transport policy consultant and the Chief Executive Editor of the European Mobility Atlas 2021. He has worked as an advisor on transport policy at the European Parliament and was a member of the supervisory board of a German railway company.

Hosted & produced by: Victor Aguilar & Alexander Roth

… to a few of our previous episodes

Dreaming of landing a well-paid job in the EU institutions? Thinking of having an impact on EU policy? Know that first you must navigate the EU recruitment jungle. Tune in to discover where to find the right information, what to expect from the recruitment exams, and what obscure acronyms such as “EPSO”, “CAST” or “FG IV” really mean. Our guest, Chiara Bellani, who has worked in the EU Commission for several years, helps us untangle the EU selection process.

Hosted & produced by: Victor Aguilar & Alexander Roth

… to few of our previous episodes

The European Union has an ambitious strategy to usher in data-driven innovation and stay competitive in the digital age. Proposals such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act have been making waves in the EU and abroad, promising to reign in tech giants and protect human rights online. But why all the fuzz? What sets these initiatives apart and can they live up to their promise? What else is in the EU’s digital arsenal and why should we care? Is Europe too early or too late to the digital party? Buckle up, tune in to EU Untangled, and get into digital with us.

We would be happy if you leave us a comment on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or contact us via email ([email protected]) or check out our website.

The EU Bubble (or should we say “babble”?) has developed its own language. Known as “Eurospeak”, “Euro-English”, or “Brussels English” it is a tongue twister of its own: an international version of English filled with all kinds of technocratic terms and borrowed expressions. In this summer edition, EU Untangled uncovers the origins and sounds of this strange language and takes a ride through its highs and lows.

We would be happy if you leave us a comment on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or contact us via email ([email protected]) or check out our website.

Much has been said about the EU Vaccines Strategy in recent weeks and months. Coverage from various media can largely be boiled down to the conclusion that despite good intentions, the EU strategy is simply a case of "too little, too late". But is there more to this story? How does the roll-out of the EU strategy measure up against that rest of the world? And most importantly, what are our reference points? Join Alex, Harpa and Vic on a deep dive into the EU Vaccines Strategy and discover the good, the bad and the ethically questionable elements of the complex world of COVID-19 vaccines distribution.

COVID-19 data

The EU’s Vaccines Strategy

Supply chains

Contact and social media

We would be happy if you leave us a comment on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or contact us via email ([email protected]) or check out our website.

Much has been said about the EU Vaccines Strategy in recent weeks and months. Coverage from various media can largely be boiled down to the conclusion that despite good intentions, the EU strategy is simply a case of “too little, too late”. But is there more to this story? How does the roll-out of the EU strategy measure up against the rest of the world? And most importantly, what are our reference points? Join Alex, Harpa, and Vic on a deep dive into the EU Vaccines Strategy and discover the good, the bad, and the ethically questionable elements of the complex world of COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

We would be happy if you leave us a comment on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or contact us via email ([email protected]) or check out our website.

From the new crowdsourced Icelandic constitution to the abandoned EU constitution

A constitution lays the foundations for how a society is organised and the fundamental principles that must underpin all laws and government decision-making. But how much do constitutions really impact our daily lives? Should they be updated to reflect rapid societal changes? How would you even go about making a new constitution in the first place? And whatever happened to the new Icelandic and EU constitutions? Tune in and listen to Vic, Alex, and Harpa ponder these questions with the help of Valgerður, PhD student at the University of Iceland, who is researching citizen participation in constitutional reform in Iceland over the past 10 years.

We would be happy if you leave us a comment on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or contact us via email ([email protected]) or check out our website.