Germany’s new coalition government, made up of the conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the center-left Social Democrats, is planning to hit the brakes on a reform introduced in 2023: the 3-year fast track to citizenship for well-integrated immigrants. 

But what does all this actually mean for the people who’ve been waiting years to become citizens, or those who finally got their German passport last year?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Europe’s defence ministers have gathered in Brussels to discuss the possible deployment of international peacekeeping troops, despite there being no actual peace agreement in sight. 

In this episode of Long Story Short, we unpacks the latest meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing”, led by France and the UK, as they try to sketch out future security guarantees for Ukraine, heavily reliant, of course, on a hesitant United States that once again didn’t bother to show up. With Russia reportedly launching a new offensive and Ukraine still barred from joining NATO, we explore what these vague commitments actually mean, what Kyiv is asking for, and whether Europe is ready to take the lead or simply hoping someone else will.

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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The European Union’s border protection agency, Frontex, announced this week that it's investigating a dozen serious allegations of human rights violations by Greece when it comes to handling irregular immigration. 

The latest addition to the long list of violations is the investigation carried by Solomon, Swiss investigative outlet Republik, and the Swiss research collective WAV, into the living conditions of unaccompanied children in refugee camps on Greece’s islands.

But how can the EU claim to uphold human rights while funding border policies that lead to deaths at sea and inhumane refugee camps?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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The European Union is gearing up to respond to the United States in a long-standing trade dispute over steel and aluminium. With a 25% retaliatory tariff on a wide range of American goods back on the table, tensions between the two transatlantic partners are rising once again. 

But what is behind the EU’s move, why some member states are urging caution, and what this all means for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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This weekend, the streets of Spain turned to an orange and green “no” due to mass protests over housing. Tens of thousands of people across 40 cities took to the streets demanding what should be pretty basic in 2025, affordable housing. 

But what action is the government taking to solve the housing crisis and why is this more than just a Spanish problem?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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What is ecological debt? Why am I experiencing déjà vu? How do you get better results with ChatGPT?...

Do you love learning new things? Do You Really Know is a Bababam Originals podcast which brings you answers to all your questions in under 3 minutes,... even the questions you didn’t know you had!

You can tune in and listen to new episodes every day to feed your curiosity, on topics relating to health, culture, society, science and much more.

Do You Really Know is available on all streaming platforms.

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Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally, is now, we could say, a convicted criminal. And her allies across the Atlantic, US Vice President JD Vance and president Donald Trump are not holding back, talking about witch hunts and a minor offense. 

But why are they supporting Le Pen and what is the reaction from France’s far right? 

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” just delivered a pretty nasty blow to the global trading system. The United States has decided to impose a 10 percent minimum tariff on all imports coming into the country. The EU, and other top trading partners like China, Japan, and Vietnam, got hit with even higher rates. 

What kind of economic fallout can we expect from these tariffs? And what is Europe going to do about it?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Budapest tonight in his very first trip to a European country since the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against him and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes committed in Gaza. But Netanyahu will not be detained in Viktor Orban’s Hungary and the ICC not only will be defied but it also has limited means to respond to this trip. 

But what is Hungary’s plan to defy the arrest warrant and why is Netanyahu meeting up with Orban?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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On Monday evening, the European People’s Party EPP tried and failed to push for a review of how the European Commission funds certain climate NGOs. The text voted by the MEP’s in Strasbourg argues that the Commission is basically paying NGOs to lobby for the Green Deal. Or,simply put, hiring cheerleaders for its own policies.

But what is the underlying reason the EPP has declared war on NGOs and did the Commission water down the agreement over NGO lobbying transparency?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.

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