In an exclusive interview, FRANCE 24 and Radio France International sit down with France's minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, who was appointed to the job in September. We discuss France's diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East, in Europe and in relation to Ukraine. Barrot addresses Donald Trump's dramatic return to power in the US and insists that US tariffs on Europe – which Trump has said he will impose – would be a "major error". Barrot says that, if Trump...

The EU likes to underline that enlargement towards the east is a security priority. And indeed, since the war in Ukraine started, accession negotiations have begun with several countries, most of them in the Balkans. But in a shock referendum result, barely over 50 percent of voters in Moldova said Yes to pro-EU constitutional changes. And in another shock for Brussels, Georgian Dream beat the staunchly pro-European opposition in the parliamentary election in Georgia; a vote whose integrity...

For all the talk of "Trump-proofing" Europe, much remains to be done, and there are now only a few short months before the former president takes office again, following his dramatic comeback and resounding victory in the US election. We speak to Pierre Moscovici, who was European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs during the first Trump presidency. He identifies three major areas where the EU is likely to face headwinds – Ukraine, trade and climate action. Moscovici is now First...

Deadly floods in Spain and in central and eastern Europe, as well as devastating hurricanes in the US, are just some of the recent potent reminders of climate change. From November 11, world leaders are huddling in Azerbaijan's capital Baku for the COP29 climate conference, with the stated goal of stepping up climate action and offering more protection to those worst affected by this global emergency. 

With the US election just around the corner, is the EU prepared for what might be coming? And what does “being prepared” mean, exactly, when it comes to Europe’s defence capabilities? These are some of the questions we put to veteran French diplomat Pierre Vimont, who was ambassador to Washington during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Vimont argues that the EU needs to develop much longer-term strategic thinking, whether on Ukraine and Russia, or China, or the Middle...

It's a ritual that happens every five years, and also a test for two of the EU’s key institutions. Once all the European Commission's new members have been designated, they go through confirmation hearings before the European Parliament. The parliament gets to flex its muscles vis-à-vis the EU executive and probe beyond the niceties of designates saying the right things about their commitment to European values. Getting through these grillings is not a foregone conclusion: last time, in 2019,...

We speak to one of the most seasoned players on the European stage, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. During his eight years in office, he has experienced the latter stages of the 2015-16 migrant crisis, the Covid pandemic, and the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as overseeing his country’s entry into the eurozone and the Schengen free-travel area. We discuss topical issues in the EU as well as in his region, particularly EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans.

Ask just about any EU leader who they want to win the US election on November 5, and you will hear a politically correct answer along the lines of “We will work with any US president to develop transatlantic ties”. However there is little doubt that many of them will be privately relieved if Vice-President Kamala Harris wins. She has drawn a clear line from her opponent, former president Donald Trump, on US engagement with the world and particularly on support for Ukraine. But it is not as if...

As he nears the end of his term, Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, speaks to Talking Europe about the two crises that he has been most closely involved in: the Middle East and Ukraine. He recounts his efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and in Lebanon, and outlines possible ways to speed up EU assistance to Ukraine. His biggest regret over the past five years? Not being able to bring the EU's 27 member states to a common position on the Middle East....

European Union member states have narrowly backed import duties on Chinese-made electric cars, over what the EU considers to be unfair competition. Tariffs of up to 45 percent are set to be imposed from next month for five years. Chinese carmakers have criticised the EU's move, but are moving ahead with plans to expand in Europe and have so far not said that they will raise prices to cover the cost of the tariffs. However, the Chinese government says it is investigating some EU imports, such...

In this episode we take a look at life, war and politics in Ukraine, through the eyes of its most celebrated writer. Andrey Kurkov rose to international fame with "Death and the Penguin" more than 20 years ago, but he has many other novels to his name, including "The Silver Bone", which has just been published in English. It's the first book in his new series, the Kyiv Mysteries. Kurkov is very active in promoting the literature and culture of his country around the world, and he was...

France's debt has reached a record €3.228 trillion, amounting to 112 percent of GDP. That is well above the cap set by EU rules. Of course, France isn't the only member state to have racked up debt during the Covid pandemic and the energy crisis. Several countries have been reprimanded by the European Commission for breaking budget rules. But because the French economy is one of Europe's largest, France's EU partners are watching the situation nervously. So how and where should the country...

France's public debt is very much in the spotlight. The country's recently appointed prime minister, Michel Barnier, calls it a "sword of Damocles" hanging over future generations. Indeed, for many countries, paying interest on the national debt deprives them of investing in education, healthcare, research and so on. Similar debates are happening across the EU, as the European Commission asks member states to submit their debt reduction plans. We ask Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of...

It has been one year since Israel suffered its worst ever terrorist attack, with Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups killing more than 1,000 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostage. Israel's response has devastated Gaza, displacing most of the population and killing more than 41,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities. Meanwhile, Lebanon has been hit hard by the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israel eviscerating the Hezbollah leadership, in response to which Iran...

Talking Europe sits down with one of the most high-profile EU Commission presidents of modern times, Jean-Claude Juncker, who was in office from 2014 to 2019. He shares his thoughts on Ursula von der Leyen's second European Commission and the challenges facing Europe, from migration to Ukraine and the Middle East. Juncker, who had plenty of one-on-one time with Vladimir Putin, says he is "deeply disappointed" by the Russian president, but that it is still important give peace a chance, with...

One in four adults in the EU have a disability, according to Eurostat. That's more than 100 million people. And while this summer's Paralympics no doubt drew attention to the issue in a visible way, the daily struggles of so many people remain largely invisible. Indeed, access to employment and healthcare is not equal, and neither is the risk of poverty and social exclusion. In the portfolios unveiled in Ursula von der Leyen's new European Commission, there is now no longer a specific mention...

The new French government faces many challenges, including questions about its democratic legitimacy, and a public debt which has worried France’s EU partners. We discuss the economic outlook with former Spanish foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya, who is now dean of the Paris School of International Affairs. We also look at Ursula von der Leyen’s new line-up at the European Commission, and the current geopolitical challenges that the EU is facing including migration and the conflict in...

Few EU presidencies have rocked the bloc as much as the current one, held by Hungary. European leaders, many MEPs, and EU Commissioners, were rattled by what Prime Minister Viktor Orban called his peace mission in July, which included a meeting with President Zelensky of Ukraine – but also with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.  And at the beginning of September, several European governments publicly questioned whether the Hungarian leadership respected European values. Meanwhile,...

Socialist veteran Elio Di Rupo has an unusual CV. He was an MEP back in 1989; he then held many high-level jobs in Belgium, including that of prime minister from 2011 to 2014, before returning to the European Parliament in this new five-year mandate. We ask him how the role of an MEP has changed since his first stint at the European Parliament, and what his priorities are for this next term. We also touch on the latest migrant-related tensions in the EU and the political and economic...

Ukraine is continuing its ground offensive in Russia's Kursk region, and pursuing drone attacks deep inside Russian territory – signaling a more assertive approach. At the same time, Russian forces have advanced in eastern Ukraine, piling pressure on the country's war effort. We ask how the EU should respond to this situation, and whether the limits imposed on Ukraine's use of Western long-range weapons should be lifted. Plus, as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz moots peace talks that would...

The nomination of Michel Barnier, a veteran of both French and EU politics, to the post of French prime minister, is “a surprise and a delicate gamble” by French president Emmanuel Macron. That’s according to our guest in Talking Europe, economist and political analyst Jean Pisani-Ferry. He tells Armen Georgian that the new French government will not be able to avoid difficult decisions, especially when it comes to the country’s alarming budget deficit. “We can’t afford to navigate with a...

It hasn’t been smooth sailing this summer for Ursula von der Leyen, who was voted in as EU Commission president for a second term in July.  She had asked national capitals to put forward two candidates for her new Commission, one female and one male, so that she could ensure full gender parity in her 27-member college. But some governments have flat-out ignored her request, as other factors are more important to them – renewing a trusted heavyweight who’s already in place, or respecting...

This week's guest on Talking Europe has a unique vantage point on both the world of politics and sports. Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland, has been an established and influential figure in European and global affairs for the past decade. He's also a keen sportsman, competing – and winning titles – in triathlon, even during his political career. 

The EU Commission president has won a comfortable majority from MEPs for a second term, but the Left bloc remains resolutely opposed to Ursula von der Leyen. We speak to Manon Aubry, the co-president of the Left group, about why she voted against von der Leyen, while also discussing international issues such as Ukraine and Gaza. Aubry, a prominent member of the France Unbowed party, also tells FRANCE 24 that President Macron must “admit that he lost the (parliamentary) election” and appoint a...