Talking Europe

With Europe still grappling with Covid-19, Talking Europe speaks to Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Around the world, people have had to change how they work because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of those changes look set to become permanent. What could all this mean for European employers, employees and work-life balance? We take a closer look with two MEPs.

Around the world, people have had to change how they work because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of those changes look set to become permanent. What could all this mean for European employers, employees and work-life balance? We take a closer look with two MEPs.

Around the world, people have had to change how they work because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of those changes look set to become permanent. What could all this mean for European employers, employees and work-life balance? We take a closer look with two MEPs.

Around the world, people have had to change how they work because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of those changes look set to become permanent. What could all this mean for European employers, employees and work-life balance? We take a closer look with two MEPs.

France and its President Emmanuel Macron are gearing up for their moment at the centre stage of European politics. The French president gave a major speech this week outlining his priorities, as France takes over the Presidency of the European Council for six months from January to June of 2022.

This week has seen a new chancellor take the helm in Germany: Olaf Scholz is leading a never-tried-before coalition of his own Social Democrats, as well as the Greens and pro-business Liberals. They come to office promising to get a hold on Covid-19, keep the economy stable – and bring some liberal changes to the EU's biggest economy, including the legalisation of recreational cannabis.

FRANCE 24 spoke to the EU's Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton about several issues, including the threat of the omicron Covid-19 variant worldwide; the possibility of easing intellectual property rules on vaccines to get more doses out to lower-income countries; and the state of relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

He's a relative political novice, but Péter Márki-Zay believes he can unseat one of Europe's longest-serving leaders: Viktor Orban. For the first time ever, all of Hungary's opposition parties have united to choose one candidate for the spring 2022 election via a primary. Márki-Zay, the mayor of Hódmezővásárhely (population 44,000), emerged as the winner in the second round run-off. He tells FRANCE 24 why he is standing and how he would lead Hungary.

As Covid-19 infections rise around the EU and some member states impose new restrictions, FRANCE 24 speaks to Greece’s Tourism Minister about the continent’s next steps. We also discuss irregular migration on the European Union's external borders - including those of France and of Greece.