Best Europod Podcasts (2025)

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EU debates 90% emissions cut by 2040 amid record heat 4:58

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10h ago4:58

4:58

As much of Europe roasts under a heat dome, the EU’s top officials are sweating it out too but not just from the 40-degree temperatures. Today, the European Commission is meeting to decide how much the bloc should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a milestone on the road to net zero by 2050. But is Europe serious about tackling the climate cris…

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Denmark takes over the EU wheel: What’s at stake? 4:50

1d ago4:50

4:50

As of today, Denmark holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months, inheriting it from Poland. The official priorities for the Danes are security and defense, economic resilience and competitiveness. But why is this presidential term more important than ever before? Join us on our journey through the eve…

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Resignations and responsibility: Mitsotakis under fire over EU funds fraud 4:56

2d ago4:56

4:56

Today’s Cabinet meeting in Greece is a real crisis management moment. Because over the past 72 hours, Greece has witnessed the resignation of one minister, Makis Voridis, three deputy ministers, and two senior party officials, all following allegations tied to a massive EU subsidy fraud. But what’s this scandal about and can Mitsotakis claim politi…

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Live from Warsaw: Polling European politics under Trump’s shadow 29:55

5d ago29:55

29:55

Recorded live from ECFR’s Annual Council Meeting 2025, this week’s podcast features Mark Leonard in conversation with Ivan Krastev, Chair of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia and permanent fellow at the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna, and Carl Bildt, former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden as well as co-chair of ECFR’s …

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Episode 228: Protests in Georgia surpass 200 days 58:42

6d ago58:42

58:42

In this episode Adam and Alexandra open with some discussion on the latest news, including the release of 14 political prisoners in Belarus, repressions taking place in Azerbaijan, Romania and Georgia. For the main deep dive, Alexandra and Nina continue on the Georgian theme by speaking with Teona Macharashvili, co-founder and board member of Cauca…

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Budapest pride ban and transparency law: What’s at Stake in Hungary? - with MEP Daniel Freund 12:02

5d ago12:02

12:02

All eyes are on Budapest this weekend, where the annual Pride march has been banned by Hungarian authorities, citing laws against so-called “LGBTQ propaganda”. But the parade is going ahead anyway on Saturday, and so are the politics. Among those attending is MEP Daniel Freund, who has long criticised Viktor Orbán’s government for its attacks on de…

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€72,461 per bed at Meloni’s offshore migrant hubs in Albania 4:52

6d ago4:52

4:52

€72,461 per bed. That’s how much Italy is now spending to build offshore migrant centres in Albania, more than 11 times the cost of similar facilities at home according to an investigation published by Follow the Money. This was Giorgia Meloni’s grand plan: a tough-on-migration deal to transfer those intercepted at sea to Albania, fast-track their …

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NATO summit 2025: How Europe can secure its future 11:15

7d ago11:15

11:15

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Camille Grand, former NATO assistant secretary general and ECFR distinguished policy fellow, for a 15-minute Emergency Room episode dissecting the high-stakes NATO summit in The Hague. Against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop, world leaders navigated President Donald Trump’s push for a 5% GDP defence-spending t…

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NATO summit: Historic decisions, more spending, less trust? 4:55

7d ago4:55

4:55

The NATO summit is underway in The Hague. Leaders have gathered, speeches are being made, and Mark Rutte, NATO’s Secretary-General is doing his best to keep the vibes up and the Americans on board. But what’s at stake and what can we expect on the war in Ukraine and Iran? Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent a…

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One Union, many families: The fight for rainbow parenthood 18:24

8d ago18:24

18:24

What does it really mean to be a rainbow family in the European Union? In this episode of Europe Talks Back,we explore the promise, and the shortcomings of the European Certificate of Parenthood, a regulation meant to ensure that parenthood rights are recognised across all 27 EU countries. From Spain to Bulgaria, Italy to Poland, we look at what’s …

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Greenwashing rules withdrawal: Politics undermine EU environmental rules 5:00

8d ago5:00

5:00

The European Commission announced it intends to withdraw the Green Claims Directive, a law proposed to stop companies from falsely marketing themselves or their products as environmentally friendly, unless those claims are backed by solid evidence. This directive had already made it through several rounds of negotiations between the European Parlia…

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From Gaza to Hormuz: The EU foreign affairs council put to the test 5:20

9d ago5:20

5:20

Today Foreign Affairs ministers are gathering in Brussels for a Council that was never going to be easy. Because in the last 72 hours, everything has turned into a geopolitical balancing act. EU foreign ministers arrived expecting to discuss Israel’s war in Gaza. That alone is a diplomatic minefield. But then came the twist with US President Donald…

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French champagne producers on trial for human trafficking 4:23

12d ago4:23

4:23

In France’s Champagne region a high-profile human trafficking trial is raising serious questions about working conditions in one of Europe’s most luxurious industries. Three people, a woman from Kyrgyzstan, a Georgian man, and a French national, are on trial in Châlons-en-Champagne. They’re accused of trafficking and exploiting over 50 undocumented…

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More Europe, Less U.S.? What to Expect from the NATO Summit 28:12

13d ago28:12

28:12

In this episode of War & Peace, Olga and Elissa speak with Dr. Pia Fuhrhop, head of the International Security Research Division at SWP, about the upcoming NATO summit, transatlantic relations, and how European NATO allies are working to strengthen their own defence. They discuss expectations for the summit, the potential role of Ukraine, and the a…

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Episode 227: Ukraine’s cultural heritage under fire 1:00:18

13d ago1:00:18

1:00:18

In this episode, Alexandra and Nina discuss recent developments across Central and Eastern Europe, including the latest charges in North Macedonia following the tragic nightclub fire in Kočani, ongoing protests in Serbia, and a vote of no confidence in the Czech Republic. The main interview features Daryna Pidhorna, Senior Lawyer at the Regional Ce…

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What to expect from the conflict between Israel and Iran 35:00

13d ago35:00

35:00

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by the deputy director of ECFR’s Middle East and North Africa programme, Ellie Geranmayeh, and Eran Etzion, policy planning director for the Israeli foreign ministry and former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council. Mark and his guests break down how the conflict has developed since last Friday’s emerge…

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Europe’s top diplomats push for Iran talks while Trump considers a strike 5:16

13d ago5:16

5:16

A brewing foreign policy storm is putting the EU’s diplomatic resolve to the test.Foreign ministers from some of Europe’s most powerful countries, France, Germany, and the UK, are meeting with their Iranian counterpart in a bid to de-escalate a crisis that risks spiraling into an all-in war between Israel and Iran. Can European diplomacy influence …

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Infighting over the EU budget puts von der Leyen on a tightrope 5:15

14d ago5:15

5:15

The EU’s most powerful member state is clashing with its biggest political party and the fight is about money. Yes, the EU’s budget is back in the spotlight, and it’s starting to look like a family feud. The European People’s Party says: if we expect Europe to do more, then we need to spend more. But Berlin is holding the wallet tight and is refusi…

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Trump walks out of G7, slams Macron, still no plan for Iran-Israel escalation 5:17

15d ago5:17

5:17

The G7 summit in Canada ended up delivering more drama than diplomacy. US President Donald Trump cut his visit short, skipping the final day of talks, including a key session with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and publicly insulted French President Emmanuel Macron on his way out. So, where does this leave the resolution of the conflicts …

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Israel-Iran escalation, Trump and Ukraine top G7 agenda 4:59

16d ago4:59

4:59

Today world leaders are gathering in the Canadian Rockies to kickstart what promises to be… well a high-stakes political retreat with plenty of dramatic potential: the G7 Summit. The group includes Canada, the UK, the US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union. While the original agenda focused on global economic turbulence, Ukraine,…

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Israel strikes Iran; Tehran vows to retaliate 4:59

19d ago4:59

4:59

Israel has launched a major military attack on Iran, during the night and the world woke up to a scarier reality today. The operation involved over 200 fighter jets and targeted dozens of Iranian military and nuclear sites, including the enrichment facility in Natanz and high-ranking officials. But how is Iran planning to retaliate and what are the…

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Israel attacks Iran: Europe’s role in stopping a dangerous regional war 17:25

20d ago17:25

17:25

Mark Leonard is joined by Ellie Geranmayeh, deputy director of ECFR’s Middle East and North Africa programme, for a 15-minute Emergency Room episode diving into Israel’s massive overnight attack on Iran. Using 200 fighter jets, Israel targeted over 100 military and nuclear sites, assassinating senior Iranian commanders and scientists. The result is…

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Doves and Hawks: Foreign policy in the second Trump age 33:15

20d ago33:15

33:15

A humanitarian crisis in Gaza; question marks around Iran; unstable governments in eastern Europe; and the growth of China’s economic and military might. All are cause for concern—and all provide the backdrop to the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy, which represents the biggest generational shift since the cold war. This week Mark …

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Episode 226: Poland after presidential elections 49:59

21d ago49:59

49:59

In this special episode, Nina, Alexandra and Adam host a special episode recorded live with the Patrons of Talk Eastern Europe. They start with a discussion on recent news developments, including Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web, Bulgaria joining the Eurozone, and the latest on repressions in Georgia. During the main episode, Adam is put in the hot-s…

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What does the ‘historic’ deal on Gibraltar mean for its people? 4:26

20d ago4:26

4:26

The EU, the UK and Spain have struck a deal over Gibraltar ’s post-Brexit future, the last unresolved issue of Brexit. The territory has been in a kind of diplomatic limbo ever since, but now all sides have agreed to remove border and customs checks between Gibraltar and Spain. But how will this affect everyday life for people living in the area? J…

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Tusk’s confidence vote: what is he trying to prove? 4:49

21d ago4:49

4:49

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is expected to win a symbolic but politically significant vote of confidence in parliament today. His coalition government holds 242 seats in the 460-member Sejm, Poland’s lower house, making the outcome largely predictable at least for now. But what message is Tusk trying to deliver today? Join us on our journey t…

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Israel deports Madleen aid ship activists 5:07

22d ago5:07

5:07

After being intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, the 12 passengers of the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament, have been transferred to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Israeli authorities say the group of activists is currently b…

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Episode 225: Live from Bucharest: Romanian democracy is being pushed to its limits 45:27

27d ago45:27

45:27

In this special edition of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra reports in-person from Romania for a deep dive into the recent presidential elections. She speaks with experts Laura Stefan, Diana Filimon, and Vlad Barleanu about what happened in these dramatic elections, the allegations of digital interference from Russia, how the public responded, and wh…

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Uncrowded house: European power during demographic change 27:03

27d ago27:03

27:03

How policymakers respond to Europe’s many challenges—from Russian aggression to sluggish economic growth to the shift to clean energy - will shape the continent for decades to come. In the face of these trials, however, they overlook something slower but equally as important: the global demographic transition. This week, Mark Leonard is joined by A…

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Citizenship and workers’ rights on the ballot in Italy’s referendum 5:17

26d ago5:17

5:17

On Sunday and Monday, June 8 and 9, Italians are heading to the polls for five referendums. These are abrogative referendums, meaning citizens are being asked whether to repeal existing laws or parts of them. And to be valid, turnout must reach 50% plus one of eligible voters. But what is at the core of these referendums and can they pass? Join us …

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Fast fashion and dark tactics: Shein faces EU scrutiny 4:35

27d ago4:35

4:35

Consumer watchdogs from 21 countries, coordinated by the European Consumer Organisation, BEUC, have filed a complaint against the ultra-fast fashion Shein to the European Commission and EU consumer protection authorities. What is the complaint about and what could this case mean for fast fashion in Europe? Join us on our journey through the events …

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EU leaked report on Gaza increases pressure on Israel and Brussels 5:31

28d ago5:31

5:31

An internal report written by the EU foreign service in late 2024 has resurfaced this time, in full. The document, originally kept confidential, was published yesterday by the EU Observer and it outlines findings from a human rights audit that was ordered by the EU’s then, foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. But what is in the report and what coul…

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NATO and Europe first: Britain’s new Strategic Defence Review 17:40

29d ago17:40

17:40

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general at the Royal United Services Institute and former Labour government advisor, for an Emergency Room episode dissecting the UK’s newly unveiled Strategic Defence Review (SDR). Prime minister Keir Starmer has committed to increasing defence spending to 3% GDP by 2030, expan…

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Dutch government falls: Far-right Wilders quits over asylum dispute 4:33

30d ago4:33

4:33

This Tuesday morning, the Netherlands woke up to a political earthquake, again. Geert Wilders, the leader of the anti-migration PVV party, announced on X that he is pulling out of the coalition government, causing the collapse of Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s cabinet. But what led to the fall out and what does this mean for the country’s stability? …

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Nawrocki’s win: What Poland’s populist president means for Europe 15:48

1M ago15:48

15:48

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Piotr Buras, head of ECFR’s Warsaw office, for a 15-minute rapid-response episode dissecting the outcome of Poland’s presidential election. Yesterday, right-wing populist Karol Nawrocki, member of the Law and Justice party (PiS), edged out Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski by just 400,000 votes, crushing hopes of a…

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How Nawrocki’s win in Poland puts Tusk’s reforms at risk 4:44

1M ago4:44

4:44

So… Poland has a new president. And not the one the exit polls predicted. Right-wing opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki (Navrotski) has narrowly won Poland’s presidential runoff election, with 50.89% of the vote, just edging out centrist Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who landed at 49.11%. A result so close it feels like a decimal-point drama. Bu…

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A Grain of Power: Who controls the grain? 6/6 22:31

1M ago22:31

22:31

In the last episode of A Grain of Power, we cast a light on the functioning of the market of grain and wheat at the global level. Until now, this series has focused on the responsibilities of nations and supranational institutions, but in this sixth episode, we focus on the power of private companies and, also, financial markets. Through 6 episodes…

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Slovak ECB governing council member convicted of bribery 5:03

1M ago5:03

5:03

The Slovak central bank governor, Peter Kažimír and member of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council, you know the body that decides monetary policy for 20 eurozone countries, has just been convicted of bribery. Yes, he has been convicted and fined €200,000 and with a warning that if he doesn’t pay, he’s looking at a year behind bars. But ho…