Today in the EU

UK citizens head to the polls today for a general election widely expected to end the 14 years of Conservative rule and return the Labour Party to power, prompting questions about what it will mean for the EU-UK relations and why - while Europe is shifting to the right - the UK is turning left.

To understand the implications of the vote, the major players, and the European consequences, we're joined in the studio by Catherine Feore, Euractiv’s editor, with insights from Mathew Nicolson, Europe Elects deputy team leader and UK correspondent.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has successfully leveraged her exclusion from the EU top job talks to reinforce her party's Eurosceptic narrative and position herself as a champion against the EU's elitism. But how is her strategy playing out in Brussels?

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Euractiv Italy's Alessia Peretti discuss what Meloni wants from the European Council’s meeting and what she obtained.

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" is a saying that feels particularly relevant in Brussels as Hungary prepares to take over the presidency of the European Council—one of the EU's most crucial brokering positions—in less than a week.

From the choice of a provocative motto to its declared priorities, Budapest appears unafraid of escalating tensions with Brussels, disappointing those who hoped this role might prompt a Hungarian realignment with EU values.

In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics hub editor Aurelie Pugnet discuss the direction in which Hungary intends to take the union and the history of bad blood between Orbán and the EU.

Defying expectations the French left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, overtook Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, coming first during the second and final round of France’s snap elections on Sunday (7 July). 

The left-wing coalition, however, has not secured an absolute majority, therefore questions arise about who will be the country’s next prime minister, and which parties could collaborate to form a government. 

To break down what the future holds for French politics, I’m joined by our Paris-based reporter Théo Bourgery-Gonse. 

As Ursula von der Leyen worked to get re-elected for a second mandate at the European Commission's helm, she offered concessions across the political spectrum and these tactical negotiations have largely shaped the Commission's next mandate. But what does her manifesto entail, and which points will von der Leyen truly prioritise?

In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics reporter Magnus Lund Nielsen delve into the next European Commission's political guidelines, informed by exclusive documents reviewed by Euractiv.

Ursula von der Leyen is campaigning to secure a second term as Commission president after her party's success in the European Parliament elections and her nomination by EU leaders. She is negotiating with key groups, including the Socialists, the liberals, and the Greens, to secure the 361 votes needed for her confirmation in Parliament.  

At the same time, far-right leaders across Europe, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, are forming a new alliance with nationalist parties from Austria and the Czech Republic. 

To understand the motives behind the talks, the reshuffling, and the ongoing powerplay, our politics reporter Max Griera is here with us today.  

In today's episode of Today in the EU, we decrypt the core messages of the 147-page long report by former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta that all EU institutions have been waiting for. Letta's analysis of the EU's single market was commissioned by the European Council a year ago. 

The document offers some answers to the unprecedented challenges facing the European Union: the energy crisis prompted by the war in Ukraine, the aftermath of an historic surge in prices, and increased competition from China and the United States.

To find out what impact Letta’s report could have on the EU's economic future, we analysed its overarching gist with Anna Brunetti, Euractiv’s economy editor.

More than 360 million European citizens had the right to vote in this weekend's European Parliament elections. Across Europe, the overall turnout was around 51%, and the results had knock-on effects on individual countries. 

Who were the big winners according to the latest exit polls, who were the losers, what happens with the non-affiliated, and in which EU countries were these make-or-break elections?

To talk about what happened during the election night we’re joined by Aurelie Pugnet, Euractiv’s Politics Editor, with comments from Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA), Manfred Weber (EPP), and Assita Kanko (ECR).

The forthcoming report by former Italian prime minister and former European central bank president, Mario Draghi, on the future of European competitiveness is a valuable opportunity to shape the EU policy agenda for the coming EU legislative term and beyond. 

The report will focus on the EU's aim to leverage its numerous strengths and competitive advantages while also tackling existing challenges and facilitating the twin transition towards a sustainable and digital economy.

But why has Draghi’s report been delayed and what reactions can we expect to it? To understand this better we spoke with Euractiv's economy reporter Thomas Moller-Nielsen.

The European Union is expected to welcome 758 million tourists this year, a number equivalent to about 70% of the entire European population, according to the European Travel Commission. Despite tourism’s pivotal role in contributing to the GDP of several countries across the union, more and more communities are exhausted from bearing the brunt of tourism’s costs. 

In this episode, host Giada Santana and tourism researcher Stefan Gössling exchange views on how the EU can lead the way toward sustainable tourism.