Today in the EU

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the imprisonment of an opposition leader in Belarus, the practices Alexander Lukashenko’s uses against his political opponents, and the EU’s position. To shed some light on the story, I am joined by EURACTIV’s Senior Editor, Georgi Gotev.

We are also talking about the upcoming French presidency of the EU, the hot topics on the agenda, the focus on digital regulation and tech sovereignty, and what changes to expect. To hear more on that, I spoke with Matthieu Pollet from EURACTIV France.

This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the minimum wage directive agreed by the EU council. What is in the directive, which countries oppose it and what is the future of the minimum wages? To break down the components of this story, I’m joined by Janos Amman, EURACTIV’s Economy and Jobs editor.

We are also talking about the start of vaccinations for children aged between 5 and 11 years old in France and other EU countries. What’s the plan and which vaccine is the safest according to the European Medicines Agency? I spoke with Clara Bauer from EURACTIV France to hear more on this story.

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the fines Austria and Greece are proposing against unvaccinated people, the reactions so far, and the exceptions. Oliver Noyan joins me from EURACTIV Germany to hear more on this story.

We also talk about Donald Tusk's criticism of Angela Merkel's Nord Stream 2 deal with Russia, which the Polish politician called her "biggest mistake". To shed some light on this story, I spoke with Piotr Maciej Kaczynski, an expert of The Bronislaw Geremek Foundation in Warsaw.

This week our Beyond the Byline Podcast focuses on the Energy Crisis and the effects that this is having on the economy of Europe, especially in terms of impact on the low-middle income classes. I'm joined by EURACTIV's Energy and Environment Senior Editor Frédéric Simon.

We are also talking about the Conference on the Future of Europe, six months after its official start, to shed some light on how it is going and where it is going. For this segment I've hosted our EURACTIV reporter Eleonora Vasques, who is following the work of the Conference.

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the launch of a political dialogue between the EU and Switzerland, in an attempt by the two parties to resolve continuous misunderstandings regarding the single market. To shed some light on the story, I’m joined by EURACTIV’s Economy and Jobs Editor Janos Amman.

We are also talking about the reaction of Greek Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to a question asked by Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel about the pushbacks against migrants in the Aegean, and the journalist’s subsequent decision to flee Athens to protect herself, which is also raising questions about the media freedom in Greece.

To hear more on that I spoke with Matthaios Tsimitakis from Euractiv Greece.

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast travels to Glasgow, where the United Nations climate change conference is being held. We focused on its importance for the future of climate and teething issues the leaders have to discuss. To break down the most critical components of COP26, I am joined by Kira Taylor, EURACTIV’s Energy and Environment reporter.

We are also talking about the fishing dispute between France and the UK, the planned punitive measures and the discussion behind closed doors of the two leaders. What did Macron and Johnson talk about, and what can we expect?

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the COVID-19, the fourth wave the European countries try to avoid, the offered third vaccine dose and the new measures decided by the EU members. To explain what we know about what is happening in Europe right now, I’m joined today by EURACTIV’s health reporter Giedre Peseckyte.

We’re also discussing the Chinese company that controls 67% of the Piraeus port, the working conditions that are leading to strikes there, the deals signed by the Greek government, and the reaction of environmentalist groups.

To break down the components of this story, I spoke with EURACTIV Greece's Matthaios Tsimitakis.

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast is “travelling” to Prague to talk about the political crisis in Czechia, where the health of its president, Miloš Zeman, is causing instability, while the electoral loss of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš means other political parties will have to form a new government.

And returning to Brussels, we focus on the relaunch of the EU’s economic governance review. What are the Commissions targets, and what can the EU members expect?

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the potential Polexit and the tension between the EU and the Polish government over the EU treaties that were considered unconstitutional. To find out more on what is happening between the EU and Poland I’m joined by Piotr Macej Kaczynski from EURACTIV Poland.

We’re also discussing about the resignation of Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, the reasons behind it and the political instability in the country. To break down the components of this story I spoke with EURACTIV’s Oliver Noyan.

Finally, we are talking about the historic international tax regime, where 136 countries decided to follow the same policy when it comes the digital age and the corporate tax evasion. To hear more on the new tax regime, I was joined by EURACTIV’s Jobs and Economy reporter Janos Amman.

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the Pandora papers. The massive leak of financial documents revealed the wealth of the world’s most powerful people, allegedly including 27 EU politicians and global leaders. To find out who was on the list, what the reactions were, and if there would be action, I was joined by EURACTIV’s Senior Editor Georgi Gotev.

We’re also discussing the meeting of the EU environment ministers in Luxembourg, the topics on the table, concerns over energy prices at the COP26 Summit, and the Fit for 55 climate package. I spoke with EURACTIV’s Energy and Environment reporter, Kira Taylor, to hear more on this story.