Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

Americans are voting today in the midterm elections. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs, along with a third of the Senate. According to the polls, the Republicans are expected to lose seats. What would a Democratic win actually change for Europeans? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The COP17 biodiversity summit wrapped up on Saturday morning in Yerevan, Armenia. Delegates from nearly every country were in the room, yet very little came out of it. So what should we take away from it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From this Sunday, the EU is imposing a new €2 charge on parcels coming from outside the bloc. It comes on top of the €3 charge on small parcels announced in June. So why is the EU doing this, and what difference will it make? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU-Canada summit opens today in Montreal and runs until tomorrow. One idea is overshadowing the meeting: making Canada an “associate member” of the EU. However, the 27 member states are far from agreeing on it. So, what can we actually expect from this summit? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Commission has unveiled its plan to help Europe adapt to climate change. But as extreme heat and climate disasters become the norm, the plan offers very few binding commitments. So what does it actually change? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israelis are heading to the polls today for legislative elections. It is the first national vote since 2022, and a decisive moment for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is running again. So who are the main candidates, and what is actually at stake? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Germany, the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland won two state elections in September, in Saxony Anhalt, and in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania. Now, talks are underway to build coalitions. How close is the AfD to governing in these States? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on July 6. "Remigration". Born within the Belgian far right and later embraced in France and Austria, this concept refers to the forced or voluntary return of foreign nationals, but also legal migrants and even naturalised citizens, to their countries of origin. And it is becoming increasingly popular among right-wing forces across Europe. Is this racial, and xenophobic, policy really realistic and feasible? What impact would it have on European economies and societies? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network . This episode is based on a story written by VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally pubished on September 4. Europeans have set ambitious goals for the defence capacities that they want to achieve in the next few years. They have increased their defence spending by 79%! Bill that be enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode was originally published on June 26. Within the EU, Giorgia Meloni has proven to be a much easier partner than many had expected. In Italy, she also enjoys an image of stability that reassures at least part of the business community. Can the Italian experience strengthen other far right movements in Europe, such as the National Rally in France? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on June 10. The aviation industry will probably miss its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. That’s what Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, recently acknowledged. So if aviation can’t go green, does that mean that we, as consumers, should stop flying? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network . This episode is based on a story written by Sara Plaza Casares for El Salto and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on August 31. Thirty billion euros. That’s how much the EU wants to mobilise to build data centres. But this ambition might run up against an obstacle. In recent years, protests against data centres have been emerging across the European Union. Can local residents influence the AI race? And can Europe make progress on this issue without the support of local communities? Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network . This episode is based on an article written by Alberto Mesas for El Salto and an article written by Tommaso Proverbio for VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On TikTok, a young user wearing a yellow vest has called for a national mobilisation on the seventeenth of october against the cost of living, and the video quickly went viral. So could the Yellow Vests make their big return? Production: By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network . This episode is based on an article written by Romane Lizée for StreetPress and is co-written with Agathe Kupfer from Médianes . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years after the Brexit vote, more and more Britons are asking whether they should go back. According to a YouGov poll conducted earlier this month, 52% would vote to rejoin the EU in a referendum. And the UK's new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, seems to be keeping that door open. But how realistic is that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two ships have been hit by drones in Bulgarian waters in the Black Sea on Monday. Several other ships have been targeted in recent weeks, at a time when Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukraine. So, at what point does a hybrid attack become an attack on NATO? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court, this time targeting the institution itself. While the EU insists on its firm support for the ICC, it is still not using the one tool designed for this kind of situation: the blocking statute. So, why is the EU holding back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European gas storage levels are unusually low for this time of year, reaching their lowest autumn level since 2011. With Russian gas imports set to end in 2027, could Europe face a tougher challenge in the months ahead? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain is heading for early elections, after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap vote last week. According to current polls, the conservative People's Party, or PP, is ahead of Sánchez's Socialists, while Vox is also making significant gains. So, what would happen if the PP and Vox decided to govern together? And what would that mean for Europe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France has been seeing growing protests by high school and university students in recent weeks. The movement is continuing today with a fourth day of mobilisation. According to the government, the far-left opposition party is fuelling the protests. For Donald Trump, the movement is the result of mass migration and the presence of Islam. But what are young people actually protesting about? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese carmakers are taking an increasing share of the European car market, particularly when it comes to electric vehicles. Why are some European carmakers now opening their factories to their Chinese competitors? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.