Episodes
Europe has taken the lead in regulating AI, setting a precedent for the world. What should be done next?  Tune in for this episode with MEPs Eva Maydell and Lidia Pereira on AI, innovation and clean technologies.  Tune in!
Published 05/29/24
Published 05/29/24
Our newest episode delves into the EU migration deal - its challenges, promises and implications.  MEPs Lena Dupont and Jeroen Lenaers shared their insights during this conversation.    Tune in!
Published 05/27/24
What does the future hold for Europe in the next five years?   Former MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho and MEP Rasa Juknevičienė discuss the critical areas of energy, digital innovation and security.  Tune in!  
Published 05/24/24
Geopolitical tensions are rising, from China's assertiveness to Putin's agenda.    Tune in to this episode for a conversation between David McAllister and Tomas Tobe as they discuss navigating the path toward security. 
Published 05/22/24
If you don't know much about Critical Raw Materials, answer this:  Do you drive a car? 🚗   Or use a cell phone? 📱  If so, then you should know more about the topic.  Tune in to the conversation between Hildegard Bentele and Tom Berendsen. 
Published 05/20/24
If you want to know more about:   🔵 The EU’s business environment   🔵 The EU’s international trade  ... then you cannot miss this new podcast episode with Martine Kemp and Jorgen Warborn. Tune in!   
Published 05/17/24
It’s time to talk about health.  Join @peterliese and @TomislavSokol for an in-depth conversation on:  European Health Union Medicine shortages Cancer and cardiovascular diseases  Don't miss it!
Published 05/14/24
Get ready for a great conversation between Maria Walsh and Magdalena Adamowicz in this episode of our MEPchat series!  They discussed pressing issues - from mental health awareness to media freedom; they tackled it all.  Don't miss out! *This episode was originally recorded in February as a part of a video series. Watch the whole series on our YouTube channel.
Published 05/13/24
In the first episode of our MEPchat series, Siegfried Muresan and Andrey Novakov discussed the following topics:  🔵 Recovery and Resilience Facility   🔵 Cohesion Policy   🔵 a bigger EU budget   🔵 Schengen expansion  This episode was originally recorded in February as a part of a video series. Watch the whole series on our YouTube channel.
Published 05/10/24
EPP Group Parliamentarians joined Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in calling for more opposition support and more pressure on the Lukashenko regime.     In this podcast, we look at how the European Parliament event highlighted the plight of over 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus. These include Nobel Peace Laureate Ales Bialiatski and Tsikhanouskaya's husband, Sergei.    We also speak with a Belarusian youth who, like many others, fled twice: from Belarus to Ukraine,...
Published 05/07/24
Figures on violence against women are shocking. Every day, two women are killed at the hands of a partner or family member in the EU, and sexual harassment affects one in two women.  In this episode of our "A Europe that Protects You" series, we delve deeper into the decisive steps the EU is taking to combat this pervasive issue.  We believe that criminalising gender-based violence everywhere in Europe, and to the same standards, is the first step towards this goal.  Hear from MEPs Frances...
Published 04/30/24
With the EU accounting for 14% of global trade in goods and around 38 million jobs in Europe depending on European exports, the importance of international trade cannot be overstated. In this episode of the EPP Group podcast series ‘A Europe that Protects You,’ we look at global trade's impact on the EU regarding innovation, competitiveness and job opportunities. In this episode, however, we not only examine the effects of international trade on the EU, but also examine the EU's impact on...
Published 04/16/24
Over 70% of businesses in the EU lack staff with adequate digital skills, which hinders investment.  How can we fix the imbalance between unemployment, job vacancies and the skills needed to fill them? The first step towards bridging this gap is to offer further training programs for our workforce. Upskilling and lifelong learning are key parts of this transformation.   In this episode of the EPP Group podcast series “A Europe that Protects its People”, we discuss our vision of a Europe that...
Published 04/09/24
Healthcare is a key concern across the EU27. In fact, two out of three Europeans would like to see a common European Health Union, according to a Eurostat survey. This would ensure quality care for all Europeans.        In this episode of our "A Europe that Protects You" series, we delve into the major achievements of this legislative term and the EPP Group's unwavering commitment to keeping health at the top of the EU's agenda in the upcoming Parliamentary mandate.      MEPs Tomislav Sokol,...
Published 04/02/24
How to combat organised crime in the EU?    Organised crime is a major threat to the internal security of the European Union and Europeans.          In 2019, criminal activities like drug trafficking, human smuggling and cybercrime cost the EU a staggering €139 billion. The EPP Group proposes a targeted strategy to 'follow the money' – freezing and confiscating criminal assets to hit organised crime where it hurts.           With over 5,000 organised crime groups operating in the EU, we want...
Published 03/26/24
Higher energy prices squeeze both consumers and businesses. This is due to a green transition toward renewable energy, and a drive toward an EU Energy Union with more dependable supplies from home and abroad. In this episode of the EPP Group podcast series ‘’A Europe that protects its people,’’ we talk to some key players in the European Parliament. They are helping shape Europe’s energy future aimed at securing affordable, renewable and reliable energy supplies. We look at the growing role...
Published 03/19/24
More than 300.000 people crossed European borders illegally in 2022.   Member States' reception capacities are at their limits, and serious action is needed.   In our latest episode, we discussed the European migration crisis and the benefits of the newly adopted Pact on Migration and Asylum. We also discussed the grim reality of migrant smuggling.   With MEPs Tomas Tobé, Lena Düpont, Paulo Rangel, Rasa Juknevičienė, Henna Virkkunen and Dr Lars Gerdes, Frontex Deputy Executive Director for...
Published 03/05/24
We are only a few days away from the beginning of the COP28 in Dubai where the EU arrives leading the fight against climate change with over 30 laws that aim pushing us closer to achieving the Paris Agreement goals. But as it was said many times before, Europe can't do it all on its own. We need others to step up, mainly USA, India and China. Tune in to our latest episode with MEPs Lidia Pereira and Peter Liese, and EU's Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra. Don't miss it! And if you have a...
Published 11/28/23
Almost 800 young people from all corners of Europe gathered in Brussels for EPP Group Youth Week. They attended topical workshops with experts and debated with MEPs and European Commissioners. They eventually suggested their own campaign on a topic they found crucial at the EU level.    We spent some time with them and asked them what they see as the most significant issues in the EU. We also asked what changes they would like to see.    From fantastic ideas about the future to a marriage...
Published 11/07/23
Irregular entries into the European Union rose about 20% in the first eight months of this year to over 230.000. Within that number the crossings across the central Mediterranean nearly doubled. The UN International Organization for migration lists 2800 dead or missing, mostly in the central Mediterranean so far this year. The situation is, obviously, very serious and we need a solution. In our latest episode we talked to MEPs Lena Dupont and Jeroen Lenaers about the EU Migration and Asylum...
Published 10/24/23
How can we make the EU function better? How can we make sure it will be able to take action more decisively on the challenges we face today? Is adapting the Treaties the answer? In which way? In our latest episode we talked to MEP Sven Simon of European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs on these topics. Don't miss it! And if you have a topic you would like to hear discussed in this podcast, please contact us via social media.    Facebook:...
Published 10/17/23
The European Union needs 10 billion euros more in emergency spending for Europe's recovery from the pandemic, strategic autonomy, the Ukraine war, migration and natural disasters, say EPP Group MEPs in this episode. The funding is to expand on the European Commission's nearly 66 billion-euro proposed top-up of the EU's budget through 2027. Recent fires, floods, a migration crisis have compounded the EU's challenges, and the additional support for Ukraine is needed before existing funding...
Published 10/10/23
With close links to Putin’s war machine, Russian and Belarusian athletes should be barred from the Paris Olympics next year, say former star athletes and EPP Group MEPs.   In this podcast episode, we talk to them at a roundtable event in the European Parliament. They say that while Russia’s military is killing thousands of Ukrainians – including hundreds of athletes - it is unacceptable for Russian and Belarusians linked to that army to compete in the Games.  Tune in!    If you have a topic...
Published 09/22/23
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is speeding up what the EU has been trying to do for a long time: building a common defence.   In this episode, MEPs Sara Skyttedal and Michael Gahler discuss how the EU is buying and building more weapons together to arm Ukraine, with a programme they negotiated in the European Parliament called EDIRPA – European Defence Industry through Common Procurement Act.  The aim is to increase interoperability, boost innovation and jobs in Europe and save money through...
Published 09/19/23