Today in the EU

Wildfires are once again raging in the south of Europe. With rising temperatures and global warming, wildfires have become a prominent issue for Europe, particularly in the summer, showing that the need for effective prevention and management is critical. 

But what lessons have we learned in recent years, what is the effectiveness of existing measures, and what are the future steps necessary to mitigate these destructive events? 

To break down these questions, we are joined by Balazs Ujvari, spokesperson for the EU's Budget and Human Resources, Humanitarian Aid, and Crisis Management, and Lindon Pronto, a senior fire management expert at the European Forest Institute and a former firefighter.

Germany's domestic politics has recently stabilised after a turbulent spring. While Europe faces fresh instability, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government in Germany has taken steps to solidify its position.  

What measures have been implemented, and how is Germany preparing to take on more responsibility amid potential challenges from the political instability in France and changes in NATO duties? 

To look into these pressing questions, we’re joined by our Berlin-based politics reporter Nick Alipour.  

As Paris buzzes with preparations for today's opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games, there's palpable excitement in the air. However, Parisians seem to have mixed feelings about hosting the 2024 Olympics, with murmurs of protests adding an element of tension.

The Olympics are set against a backdrop of almost unprecedented political instability in France: After the snap elections in June, the country has a technical government in place until a new one is agreed. How have these tensions impacted the event? 

In this episode, we’re joined by our Paris-based reporter Clara Bauer-Babef to break down the intricacies of these Olympics.  

The rise of a young generation of far-right voters - conservative, anti-immigration, and fiercely nationalist - is a phenomenon shaping new electoral strategies all over Europe. 

Across France and Italy, a strong bond has historically linked prominent far-right parties, from Jordan Bardella’s Rassemblement National to Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d'Italia, and various youth organisations, revealing a backbone of Islamophobia, fascism, and antisemitism, that particularly attracts young voters.  

In this episode, host Giada Santana and journalists Renée Bertini and Luigi Scarano discuss trends in radical youth movements in France and Italy, drawing on their on-the-ground experience. 

It’s no secret that Europe is facing some of the biggest challenges in its history, from the digital and green transition to climate adaptation and mitigation, along with the need to boost its security and defence resources and enhance its competitiveness.

But how does Europe plan to fund its ambitious plans?

In this episode, we are joined by Thomas Moller-Nielsen, Euractiv's economy reporter, to understand how the Union plans to fund its projects by turning to private capital in response to public spending constraints.

It’s a busy summer for the European Parliament, with this week seeing the formation of committees and MEPs voting on the committee chairmanship on Tuesday (23 July). 

The major political groups in Parliament are already staking their claims on committees that align with their policy proposals, and are collaborating to create a cordon sanitaire, ensuring they solidify their power in the legislative meetings of this new mandate. 

But which committees are the most important, who wants them, and what can we expect in terms of chairmanship? 

To break down the committees' importance, and the role that is to come with the new mandate, we spoke to Aurélie Pugnet.

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 convinced 401 members of the European Parliament to vote in her favour, out of 707. This time, she was re-elected as Commission President with a 41-vote lead, emerging from the first plenary with a stronger mandate.

Before the vote, von der Leyen delivered a lengthy speech reaching out to centrist and left-wing parties, while excluding the far-right. She outlined the priorities for her next mandate, appearing more confident than ever, but also raising some questions. 

To break down what happened during the vote for the President of the European Commission, we are joined by our politics editor Aurélie Pugnet. 

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]

Today (17 July) marks new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's debut on the international political scene as he hosts the European Political Community (EPC) Summit, where 50 leaders from all over the world will discuss a hot list of topics, including rebuilding closer ties between the UK and the EU, four years after Brexit.

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Global Europe editor Alexandra Brzozowski look ahead at the EPC's dense program.

Newly elected and re-elected members of the European Parliament gather in Strasbourg for the first plenary session of the new mandate. 

Roberta Metsola has been re-elected as President of the European Parliament, but all eyes are on Ursula von der Leyen and her re-election as Commission President. What makes this plenary session so crucial, and what indications does it give us of the upcoming policies and files the new mandate will focus on? 

To understand the intricacies of this very first plenary, we spoke to our politics editor Aurélie Pugnet.