Germany’s political groups officially kicked off their campaign trail after Chancellor Scholz lost a no-confidence vote on Tuesday (17 December). With a snap election now set for February, the race is well underway.

From their manifestos, both the SPD (S&D) and CDU/CSU (EPP) appear to be carefully calibrating their messaging on key voter concerns – such as aid to Ukraine, economic policy, and migration. Their goal? To win over voters without shutting the door on future coalition deals.

But which alliances stand a real chance, and what is the strategy behind the catchy slogans?

In this episode, host Giada Santana teams up with Euractiv’s Berlin-based reporters, Nick Alipour and Jasper Steinlein, to unpack how the CDU/CSU and SPD are branding themselves and the strategies driving their campaigns.

François Bayrou's appointment as France's new prime minister is the latest in a series of questionable political moves Emmanuel Macron has made since June, which have increasingly put the president in a vulnerable position.

Outmanoeuvred by his long-time ally Bayrou, who used his political leverage to secure the job, Macron now faces a public growing all the more sceptical of his leadership. The new French prime minister, however, appears ready to move past party lines to guarantee the government’s survival. What cards is Bayrou prepared to play to lock in his power?

In this episode, host Giada Santana speaks with Paris-based politics reporter Théo Bourgery-Gonse to discuss how Bayrou outplayed Macron and what this means for the French government’s future.

The European Parliament will elect the new EU Ombudsman on Tuesday (17 December) to replace Emily O'Reilly, with her successor set to inherit her impressive legacy.

In a sit-down interview with Giada Santana, O’Reilly reflected on her time in office, the current political climate, and her landmark inquiry into Frontex.

Estonia, a leader in digital governance, is known for remote internet voting, online public services, and digital IDs, earning recognition as the world’s second most digitalized government, according to the United Nations. But its technological advancements have made it a target for cyber interference from Moscow as geopolitical tensions move online.

“The propaganda budget for Russia is bigger than the whole Estonian state budget,” said Estonia’s Digital Minister Liisa Pakosta to Euractiv. 

“It’s a hybrid war between the autocratic and democratic world," the minister added.

The Baltic state shares a 294-kilometre border with Russia and is home to a 300,000-strong Russian-speaking minority, factors that increase its exposure to Kremlin-linked hybrid warfare. How has Estonia built its tech-driven society, and how is it helping its neighbours fend off digital threats?

In this episode, host Giada Santana is joined by Estonia's Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta to discuss Estonia's digital transformation and the challenges of securing a fully digital state in an era of escalating cyber warfare.

Georgia’s parliament is set to elect the country’s next president on Saturday (14 December), a vote that could backfire for the ruling Dream Party as it has opted to back pro-Russian candidate Mikheil Kavelashvili. During its four terms in power, Georgian Dream has gradually worked towards eroding democratic institutions - a move that has alienated much of civil society, including top national banks and diplomats, many of whom have publicly distanced themselves from the government. 

In this episode, host Giada Santana speaks with Carnegie's Thomas De Waal about Georgia's apparent shift towards Russia and what the EU can do to respond. 

Talk of EU migration policy have dominated Brussels this week, with at least 15 EU countries deciding to freeze asylum requests for Syrian citizens and EU leaders set to vote on key matters at the EU Home Affairs Council.

EU's migration policy will be high on the political agenda when EU interior ministers meet in Brussels on Thursday (12 December).

Key decisions include a vote on extending Schengen membership to Romania and Bulgaria, revising anti-smuggling measures, and promoting the implementation of the EU Migration Pact at the national level.

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Euractiv's politics reporter Nicoletta Ionta look at the controversial migration debates at the EU level and their potential outcomes.

As a transitional government takes shape in Syria, hopes run high for the country to regain its democratic status after a decade-long dictatorship. However, the aftermath leaves a fragmented political scenario that might easily spiral into chaos. From Moscow to Ankara and Teheran, regional powers are competing for relevance through the support of the different armed groups involved in the fall of Bashar al Assad’s regime. And if Europe strives for stability in the country, it has a role to play as well, according to experts. 

In this episode, host Giada Santana breaks down the rivaling interests shaping the future of Syria with Chatham House fellow Chris Phillips and Russian reporter Iuliia Akhmedova. 

The European Union could face unexpected fallout from the latest round of sanctions imposed by Beijing on U.S. markets, as China banned the shipment of three rare minerals critical for building next-generation weapons and military equipment. 

How does the US-China trade war impact the European Union, and how can Europe protect its defense industry at at such a crucial time? 

In this episode, host Giada Santana and defense reporter Aurelie Pugnet discuss the latest escalation in the tit-for-tat between Beijing and Washington and what it implies for the Union.  

The EU and four Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) finalised a historic trade agreement on Friday (6 December) after 25 years of talks. First proposed in 1999, the deal will establish one of the world's largest free trade zones – but not everyone seems to be happy about it. The deal has drawn sharp criticism in the Union over environmental and political concerns. So, what does the South American trade pact entail, and why has it created such deep divisions within the EU?

In this episode, host Giada Santana and agrifood reporter Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro unpack the EU-Mercosur deal and the controversies it has sparked.

Brussels is on tenterhooks as Romania heads to the polls on Sunday (8 December) to choose between pro-Moscow TikTok star Călin Georgescu and pro-European hopeful Elena Lasconi in the final round of the presidential elections.

In a country where one in three citizens trust the government, the semi-presidential system could grant far-right candidate Georgescu significant power to challenge parliamentary majorities and potentially shift the country's stance on Moscow.

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Euractiv's senior editor Georgi Gotev break down the elections in Romania and assess the situation as the country prepares for its next chapter.