Podcast Selection

How Putin’s grip on the east could influence EU’s Enlargement Package

Today, the European Commission unveils its 2024 Enlargement Package, a set of documents shaping Brussels' engagement with Eastern Europe. Last year's document introduced unprecedented policies, including a revamped accession process for the Western Balkans and…

Will Georgia be Brussels’ new nightmare? | Radio Schuman

Following recent elections in Georgia, EU High Representative Josep Borrell urged Georgian authorities to address reports of electoral irregularities and to undertake reforms. Brussels and Tbilisi are growing increasingly distant: the recent election victory of…

EU eyes Georgia amid election fraud allegations

Last weekend's parliamentary elections in Georgia have sparked significant controversy amid allegations of electoral manipulation before and during polling day. Key concerns include supposed vote-buying targeting vulnerable groups, misuse of administrative power, and possible tampering…

Why Brussels is keeping its nose out of Washington

With just seven days until the year's most crucial election taking place in the United States, EU political leaders are reluctant to give opinions on future legislation coming from Capital Hill. Given the backdrop of…

What an MP and EU observer saw happen in Georgia’s elections

Little consensus has emerged after Georgia's elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream declared themselves victors after gaining a majority. The opposition, bolstered by Western observers, claim the elections were unfair. On Saturday, Georgia held…

Moldova and Georgia: how domestic struggles threaten EU dreams

Moldova and Georgia are at a crossroads in their paths toward European integration. Just recently, Moldova held a constitutional referendum where voters expressed their desire to enshrine EU aspirations. The contest turned out to be…

Commissioners-designate hearings: What to expect in the next phase

The commissioners-designate have responded to questions posed by the European Parliament in writing, kick-starting the first phase of their hearings in early November (4th to 12th). For most members of the European Parliament, there seems…

Should the EU be afraid of Russia’s BRICS gang? | Radio Schuman

The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has garnered more significance since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What does the EU have to fear about this expanding club of Russian…

Are Moldova and Georgia the next Ukraine?

On Monday, Moldovans narrowly voted in favour of continuing the country's path toward EU membership, with the "No" vote leading until the final moments. The country's president Maia Sandu condemned Russian interference and accused "criminal…

Why legal experts are worried about an EU debate on ‘return hubs’

Outsourcing the management of migrants is back on the European Parliament's agenda on Wednesday, with EU groups likely to clash over the viability of return centres similar to the one set up under the Italy-Albania…

The EU’s eight flagship projects of common interest to boost defence

The EU is poised to launch a series of ambitious defence initiatives under the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) to bolster its military capabilities over the next decade. The European Commission has identified eight flagship…

Externalising migration does not work, says liberal MEP Abir Al-Sahlani | Radio Schuman

Outsourcing the management of migration is not the direction to go, according to the liberal MEP from Sweden. The current migration debate is largely dominated by EU countries seeking to delegate migration management outside European…