Talking Europe

"A challenge that European democracies are totally unprepared for." That was the reaction of one MEP to images that recently went viral on social media. The pictures, generated by artificial intelligence, purported to show French President Emmanuel Macron collecting rubbish, and former US president Donald Trump being arrested. In both cases the context was real – a rubbish collectors strike in France; the indictment of Donald Trump – but the images were not.

The Dutch coalition government survived a no-confidence vote on April 5. But its problems are far from over – with pressure from the farmers' movement causing tensions inside the coalition. The pro-farmers' BBB party made a breakthrough in the provincial elections in March, rattling the political establishment. Farmers are calling for a review of the government's policy on reducing nitrogen emissions, saying the cuts could ruin their livelihoods. Talking Europe speaks to the Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag about the latest turmoil, but also about the upcoming state visit to the Netherlands by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The European Union likes to see itself as a world leader on climate change, trumpeting its commitments on decarbonisation, critical green technologies and biodiversity. But when it comes to marine ecosystems, how does the bloc measure up? EU ministers insist they are following scientific advice and protecting fish stocks. But they have also agreed to increase the catch limits on certain fish for 2023 – again, following scientific advice, they say.

Talking Europe interviews Tytti Tuppurainen, Finland's minister for European affairs, following the Hungarian parliament's ratification of Helsinki's application to join NATO. Finland and Sweden both applied nearly a year ago, in what was seen as a huge shift in European security. But obstacles have slowed down the two countries' progress on that path towards the Atlantic Alliance. Tuppurainen also touches on her country's energy transition and the main issues in the upcoming parliamentary election in Finland on April 2.

A right to die with dignity, or a slippery slope to legalised murder? Debates over assisted dying have been going on in Europe for a long time, but they seem to have intensified, with France, Belgium, Portugal and Ireland all recently re-considering their legislation, or at least launching consultations on the subject.

Talking Europe speaks to the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit. With anger growing in France about the government's push to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, and the EU facing an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, his portfolio is very much in the spotlight –  including recommendations to encourage a Minimum Income for all.

Hydrogen accounts for less than two percent of the EU's energy production. It’s been used in various industries for some time, but those processes have relied on natural gas, leading to CO2 emissions. The EU's ambition is to turn hydrogen from a polluting niche market to a clean mass market. Renewable hydrogen is seen as crucial for Europe to meet its international climate commitments, and to limit its dependence on natural gas providers, be that Russia or other countries. But how does this complex transformation happen in practice? We discuss the issue with two MEPs.

Talking Europe speaks to European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, whose wide-ranging portfolio covers migration and asylum, security issues, education and what the EU calls "promoting the European Way of Life", among other things. We focus on migration and the EU's efforts to rectify what Schinas calls a historic failure to build a cohesive asylum and migration policy.

It was like an estranged couple agreeing to give themselves another chance. Announcing the "Windsor Framework" in late February, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were emphatic that the UK and the EU are allies, trading partners and friends. The deal on Northern Ireland seemingly puts an end to years of tensions, following Britain's decision to leave the European Union in June 2016. But how can the remaining obstacles be overcome? And is re-joining the EU a realistic option one day for Britain and for the bloc?

Sweden is using its presidency of the EU Council to keep European countries mobilised in their support for Ukraine, and to try to enforce the current sanctions on Russia more effectively. Sweden's EU Affairs Minister Jessika Roswall speaks to Talking Europe about those issues, as well as Sweden's application to join NATO, and Stockholm's other priorities in its EU presidency, which is now two months into its six-month stint.