Today in the EU

Newly-appointed French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has revealed his government, keeping much of the pro-Macron agenda while making key concessions to the far-right Rassemblement National (RN).

With a no-confidence vote looming, Barnier faces immense pressure to balance urgent budget reforms amid rising deficits and demands from conservative and far-right parties. The next few weeks are crucial for France’s political stability, as delays in presenting the 2025 budget raise concerns within the European Commission.

Which French ministries is Brussels keeping an eye on, and what’s left of Macron's influence both domestically and within the EU? To look into these questions, we’re joined by our Paris based reporter Théo Bourgery-Gonse.

World leaders are gathering in New York for the UN Summit of the Future, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres described as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to reshape international institutions, even though leaders of the so-called Permanent Five will be absent.

With the Summit taking place just before the high-level week of the General Assembly, discussions are expected to be lively.

However, given the vague language of the documents under discussion and the absence of key leaders of the P5 - the US, UK, France, China, and Russia - many question the possibility of meaningful reform or whether the UN's future can be reshaped at all.

In this episode, host Giada Santana is joined by Brenda Mofya, head of Oxfam in New York, to explore the key takeaways, challenges, and hopes from the Summit of the Future.

More and more EU member states are moving away from the notion of a united EU front on migration, opting for individual solutions instead. Germany's recent decision to ramp up border controls at all nine of its borders has been criticised by EU countries like Poland, Austria, and Greece.

With the European Commission warning that such actions should only be reserved for exceptional cases, what does this mean for the future of the EU's highly anticipated migration pact? Why are member states increasingly pursuing their own migration policies?

We spoke with our Berlin-based politics reporter, Nick Alipour, to answer these pressing questions.

All eyes are on Teresa Ribera, after President von der Leyen tasked the Spanish politician with steering Europe's green transition while ensuring its competitiveness. Despite the prestige attached to the role, Ribera sits as one of the few socialists among predominantly conservative colleagues, with whom she might have to compromise during the next mandate. Who will she collaborate with, and what can we expect from the incoming environment and energy commissioners? 

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Environment hub editor Donagh Cagney discuss the commissioner nominees and the future of EU energy and environment policy.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her proposed team of European Commissioners, highlighting significant leadership changes. Six executive vice presidents, including Finland's Henna Virkkunen and Italy's Raffaele Fitto, will oversee key policy areas.

Von der Leyen emphasised gender parity, increasing female representation to 40%. But who are the new names, what are the newly created roles and what happens if the team fails to achieve parliamentary confirmation before taking office?

To break down what this means for the new College of Commissioners and their portfolios, Evi Kiorri talks to politics reporter Nicoletta Ionta.

Thierry Breton, the EU's Internal Market Commissioner, announced his resignation from the European Commission on 16 September, citing tensions with President Ursula von der Leyen. In a public letter, Breton accused von der Leyen of requesting that France replace him in a political trade-off for a more influential portfolio, and criticised her "questionable governance".

Just hours later, President Emmanuel Macron nominated Stéphane Séjourné as France’s new Commissioner. But does the new French commissioner-designate have what it takes for the job, and when can we expect the full list of portfolios?

To look into these questions, we’re joined by our Defence Editor, Aurélie Pugnet.

NATO's Military Committee met in Prague on Friday and Saturday to discuss stepping up NATO's support package for Ukraine, after Russia warned NATO that a strike with Western-made missiles would be considered an act of war.

Among other security issues, Allies discussed the establishment of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) and launching the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC) as part of NATO's support package to Ukraine.

Despite the urgent need for the West to provide Ukraine with ammunition, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned NATO just before the Prague meeting that allowing Ukraine to use longer-range Western missiles to strike inside Russia would be considered an act of war.

Meanwhile, as the situation in Ukraine unfolds, the realities of war and the need for a strong defence remain at the centre of domestic discussions.

To get an insight into the situation on the ground, host Evi Kiorri spoke to Lev Zinchenko, Programme Assistant in the Europe in the World Programme at the European Policy Centre.

[Edited by Daniel Eck]

EU farmers must comply with strict production standards, and so should third-country producers if they want to export to the EU, according to the latest vote by Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).

On Thursday (12 September), ENVI members rejected the European Commission's proposal to lower the maximum residue levels for certain pesticides and fungicides in imported food. The committee turned down the draft because these agricultural chemicals are not authorised within the EU, and, as such, imported products containing their residues should also be prohibited from entering the EU market. Does this approach signal the start of a new, more protectionist agricultural policy?

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Agrifood Hub Editor Angelo di Mambro explore the growing politicisation of agriculture in the EU and its potential impact on consumers.

EU antitrust head Margrethe Vestager is wrapping up her tenure at the European Commission with two major victories as the European court of Justice ruled against Apple’s Irish tax arrangements and Google’s anti-competitive practices.

These decisions reward her close-to-decade-long battles to tackle Big Tech’s dominance in Europe, marking a significant win for tax justice and fair competition.

But can these rulings influence future EU policy as the current Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age and Competition prepares to leave office in November?

To look into those two key court rulings, host Evi Kiorri is joined by our technology reporter, Théophane Hartmann.

[Edited by Daniel Eck]

Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump met in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening (5 September) for their first – and likely their only – confrontation before the presidential election. With eight weeks to go, polls show candidates are running a neck-and-neck race that could easily swing both ways. Where do Trump and Harris stand on key policy files? 

In this episode, host Giada Santana comments on the debate with Dr Liana Fix, political scientist and fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.