Podcast Selection

MEP scrutiny of conflict of interest for Commissioners-designate: A democratic tool or a scam?

Since European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her proposals for the new batch of European Commissioners, the legal affairs committee, also known as JURI, has been in charge of examining each candidate's conflict of…

Orbán’s main foe Péter Magyar talks corruption, Ukraine and battle against the government

"Building a new country step by step, brick by brick, and to bring back our country and to build a new European, peaceful and liveable modern Hungary. That's our motto, and that's our plan," Hungary's…

Orbán’s relations with Brussels at boiling point

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had a tense exchange at the Strasbourg plenary on 9 October, after Orbán outlined his country's EU Council Presidency initiatives. Orbán stressed…

The EU has lost its patience with Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán. So, now what?

Halfway through its six-month rotating presidency, rather than playing the honest broker, Budapest has blocked many files, including the ones on aid to Ukraine. It further blocked a statement denouncing Moscow's media ban, and it…

Having more far-right governments across Europe is a matter of time | Radio Schuman

Cas Mudde, a Dutch political scientist and one of Europe’s leading populism scholars, answers Radio Schuman's question of how more and more far-right party chiefs are becoming government leaders in Europe. Last Sunday, Austria’s Freedom…

Has the EU really become more transparent? Sort of, EU ombudswoman says

As EU ombudswoman since 2013, Emily O'Reilly oversees an independent body tasked with holding EU institutions accountable. She investigates cases of maladministration, either on her own initiative or in response to complaints from EU citizens.…

Too centralised? Unattractive? The new European Commission needs change | Radio Schuman

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her plans for the new top team at the European Commission last week, but the reactions were mixed. Many politicians argued that the portfolios were too broad…

Macron’s new government and its impact on the EU

On Saturday, Michel Barnier, France's newly appointed prime minister and former EU Brexit negotiator, unveiled his government, which is dominated by conservatives and centrists from French president Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party. Among the most contentious…

The climate ambitions of the next EU Commission

All eyes are on Teresa Ribera, after President von der Leyen tasked the Spanish politician with steering Europe’s green transition while ensuring its competitiveness. Despite the prestige attached to the role, Ribera sits as one of the few socialists…

Von der Leyen’s bold move: Is Austria the fix for EU migration policy? | Radio Schuman

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to assign the migration and home affairs portfolio to Austrian nominee Magnus Brunner was one of her most unexpected choices when deciding on the portfolios for her…

Von der Leyen’s Commission roll call stirs mixed reactions

The European Parliament in Strasbourg was again divided — this time, it was the MEPs' opinions that were split after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her new batch of Commissioners. Radio Schuman…

Breton out, Séjourné in: What triggered the resignation?

Thierry Breton, the EU’s Internal Market Commissioner, announced his resignation from the European Commission on 16 September, citing tensions with President Ursula von der Leyen. In a public letter, Breton accused von der Leyen of…