Talking Europe

FRANCE 24 English
FRANCE 24 English
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Politicians, activists and researchers debate the issues facing the EU and a 'guest of the week' offers their insight in a long-format interview that gets to the heart of the matter. Saturday at 7:15pm.

  1. 9 hr ago

    Strengthening Africa is an investment in Europe's future: EU Commissioner Jozef Sikela

    Are great-power politics back, at the expense of smaller countries? In an age of strongmen, is multilateralism in retreat? Not according to Jozef Sikela. The EU Commissioner in charge of International Partnerships insists that traditional multilateralism is alive and well, especially in the EU's approach to Africa and to the Arctic. We sat down with him for an interview at the European Commission in Brussels. Sikela notes that after the "dismantling" of US development aid under the Trump administration, the EU's share "might even increase". He adds that "there is no other way round, because instability and problems on the neighbouring continent do not know borders. So if we do not help to strengthen the economies of the countries in the (African) neighbourhood, we are basically creating problems for ourselves. So I don't see this as aid. This is a geopolitical strategy. Because if we create jobs, if we create sustainable development – something where Europe is the world champion by far – we will also strengthen our resilience. This is also about multilateralism and about investing in Europe's future. We can contribute to the fight against the climate change, and we can also get the access to the mineral resources that we need for the climate and the digital transition." So is the EU exploiting the mineral resources of African countries? Is there a kind of neo-colonialism happening? "We work with a 360-degree approach," Sikela replies. "We talk to the government, but we also onboard the local NGOs, and civil society. For example, the Lobito corridor (linking Zambia, DR Congo and Angola): this is not just about the 1,300 kilometres of the railway. This is about the whole ecosystem. This is about the sustainable agriculture. This is about the financing of the SMEs. This is about creating the opportunities for local people along the whole route." Sikela has been closely involved with the Arctic Forum, and with updating the EU's Arctic strategy. Was Iceland's vote not to restart accession talks with the EU a missed opportunity ? "We respect this decision," Sikela answers. "Iceland is a very strong ally and will remain a very strong ally of the European Union. It is a member of NATO and a member of Schengen. Our approach is to let the people decide their own destiny. And this is the same approach we want to have in Greenland. We want to help Greenland to become stronger, to restructure their economy, to strengthen sustainable tourism, to invest in transit routes, in digitalisation, in connectivity. And of course to get access to the critical raw materials in this area. All this is not possible without investing in the people of Greenland because of course they should be the executors of this transformation." Sikela sees a potential win-win in which the EU helps Arctic territories to develop and at the same time "Europe protects its own interests by partnering with the Arctic states, and also protects the infrastructure which is being built, because hybrid war is about attacking critical infrastructure". Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Florine Hausfater

  2. 10 hr ago

    Struggling to make its voice heard: Can the EU forge a true foreign policy?

    "Who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?" The famous quote attributed to Henry Kissinger still resonates today. There is in fact a Mrs Europe on the world stage: Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She is actually the sixth high representative. But ever since that post was created, rivalries between different centres of power have diluted the EU's ability to speak with one voice. We saw that recently with tensions over who should represent the EU in any potential talks with Russia. There is now also a Franco-German idea to overhaul the EU's diplomatic service. We discuss these issues with prominent German Green MEP Hannah Neumann and former Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet. Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Florine Hausfater

  3. 9 Jul

    Heat domes test Europe's climate resilience: Is the EU ready for a hotter future?

    The European Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019, yet the EU still appears to be caught off guard by increasingly severe heatwaves and heat domes. With temperatures this summer set to break records and expose millions of Europeans to dangerous heat, we ask whether the bloc has neglected the short-term measures needed to protect people from extreme heat. Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Oihana Almandoz

  4. 9 Jul

    Sustainable transport key to Europe's 'strategic independence', EU Commissioner Tzitzikostas

    Our guest this week is Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism.  Cancellations, delays and unventilated trains… Europe’s recent heatwave exposed some of the weaknesses of the bloc’s rail network. Despite ageing tracks and rolling stock, EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas insists the system is improving. He says the Commission has carried out an assessment to identify which parts of the network require further upgrades and which are already resilient enough to cope with increasingly extreme weather. But he acknowledges that much more investment will be needed “to make sure we are ready for what is coming, because the climate crisis is here and it’s getting worse”. As the EU encourages Europeans to switch to more sustainable forms of transport, particularly rail, Tzitzikostas argues that the case for doing so now extends beyond climate concerns. “It’s not only about the environment anymore. It is about the environment, of course, but it is also about our strategic independence.” He points to the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as an example of Europe's vulnerability to global energy shocks. “It showed the world what it means to be dependent on third countries for energy.” For the Commissioner, the long-term answer is to increase the production of alternative fuels within the EU. Air travel was also hit by a surge in jet fuel prices following the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up air fares. Tzitzikostas says Europe did not face a supply shortage but a price shock. “We don’t have an issue of supply, but we have an issue of price.” He argues that Europe's ability to produce around 70% of the jet fuel it consumes, combined with more diversified imports, helped cushion the impact of reduced supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. As for air fares, he expects prices to fall once a lasting agreement between the United States and Iran restores normal shipping through the Strait. While the EU has little control over airline ticket prices, it has made progress on passengers' rights. After more than a decade of negotiations, Tzitzikostas says Europe “will finally have a set of rules for passengers’ rights that is fair, that is just, that is very supportive of the passengers.” Among the changes, parents will be guaranteed seats next to their children at no extra cost, passengers will no longer lose the return leg of their journey if they miss the outbound flight, and airlines will have to include the cost of hand luggage in the ticket price. For Tzitzikostas, however, the biggest achievement is greater legal clarity. “So people know what they are entitled to and how they can obtain compensation.” The new rules are due to take effect next summer, giving airlines time to adapt.   Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Isabelle Romero, Loic Chalavon and Oihana Almandoz

  5. 3 Jul

    EU ‘tech sovereignty’: Uncoupling from the US and China?

    The EU is trying to assert its strategic independence in an unstable world – a world of bullies, as some members of the EU Parliament describe it. That means independence in matters of defence and energy supplies, but also in the whole field of tech. The European Commission says non-EU companies provide more than 80 percent of the EU’s digital products and services. One of the key proposals aimed at changing that is the “Tech Sovereignty Package”, which was presented in early June. With our guests, we dive into the initiative, explain the geopolitical context and ask what it would take for the bloc to achieve real technological sovereignty.   Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Oihana Almandoz

  6. 3 Jul

    'We hope the member states will recognise our effort' to join the EU: Moldova's President Maia Sandu

    FRANCE 24’s Europe editor-in-chief Caroline de Camaret hosts Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova. This in the context of an EU-Moldova summit held on June 22, 2026, in Brussels. The ex-Soviet republic of nearly 3 million people that borders Ukraine has opened its first “cluster” of negotiations to join the European Union. But, as it moves closer to the bloc, Moldova is becoming an intense battleground between pro-EU and pro-Kremlin forces. This edition also features a report by FRANCE 24’s Isabelle Romero and Anaïs Chesnel, set in the inaugural conference on EU investment in Moldova.  On the country’s pro-EU path, Sandu tells Caroline de Camaret that, “despite the massive interference of the Kremlin in Moldova's elections, Moldovans managed to decide for themselves and they chose the EU as their future, because the EU means peace. And since Russia's invasion in Ukraine, we see Russia's aggression better. We understand the risks that are coming from Moscow. And the EU is known as the most successful peace project. The EU would also allow us to consolidate as a democracy, and it is very important for us to remain part of the free world. And of course, the EU is known as the family of countries which have managed to increase significantly the living standards of their populations.” Sandu adds a note of caution.  “We hope that the member states will recognise our effort, and that the merit-based process will lead us to EU accession,” she says. “We want full membership, but we are ready to discuss any proposals that do not replace the full membership and that do not delay the EU integration process.” On the economic situation, Sandu says that the war in Ukraine has “significantly affected the Moldovan economy.” Continuing, she explains: “Despite this hardship, we managed to implement significant reforms. We managed to eliminate completely our dependency on Russian gas. We invested a lot in renewables. Now, because of the war in Iran, the GDP forecast for this year is slower, but we hope to recover and we are compensating with reforms. Reforms in the justice sector, reforms in the business environment. Indeed, there is now this €1.9 billion growth plan supported by the European Union. And we do have opportunities. Energy continues to be one of the biggest opportunities for investors. The investment in infrastructure, big infrastructure projects, some of them co-financed by EU. The IT sector has been developing very rapidly in Moldova and represents an opportunity. Agro-processing, defence – these are all areas which might be very interesting to foreign investors.” On the breakaway region of Transnistria, Maia Sandu tells de Camaret that “Russia has provoked the war in 1992, and Russia has been supporting a separatist regime all these years. But now Russia has left the people in the Transnistrian region without heating and electricity, two winters ago. And this just proves that you can't rely on Russia. More and more people from the left Bank of Nistru, as you said, are coming for jobs. They are asking for more support from the rest of the country. And yes, we do believe that there might be an opportunity soon enough to reintegrate the country of Moldova.” Moldova speeds up its membership process to the EU: With Moldova having just opened the first chapter of negotiations with the European Union, its government, European representatives and businesses gathered in Chisinau for the first EU-Moldova investment conference. Its aim is to raise funds to help the economy grow and meet EU standards. These funds are conditional on domestic structural reforms including Moldova's commitment to fight against corruption. Nevertheless, the European future envisioned by Moldovan President Maia Sandu remains hampered by a hybrid war driven by Russian influence.  France 24's Isabelle Romero Reports.   Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Alix Le Bourdon, Perrine Desplats and Iris Pichon

  7. 19 Jun

    Treating energy crisis with fossil fuels is like giving a diabetic sugar: EU Commissioner Jorgensen

    EU leaders have cautiously welcomed Donald Trump's signing of an interim agreement with Iran, after nearly four months of war in the Middle East. But it is only a Memorandum of Understanding, and Europeans know the US president too well to celebrate prematurely. The conflict has led to the most severe disruption in energy supplies in decades, and the EU has scrambled to contain the costs. It's therefore an opportune moment to talk to the European Commissioner in charge of energy and housing, Dan Jorgensen, alongside a report on the issue from our correspondent Alix Le Bourdon. Jorgensen is a Danish social democrat, and he was previously minister of climate, energy and public utilities in the Danish government. We begin with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the US and Iran, and what that means for the energy crisis in Europe. "We very much hope that this will lead to a lasting peace," Jorgensen remarks. "And at the same time we are obviously very aware that, if that happens, that's not the same as saying that we'll be back to normal from one day to the next. It will take months to rebuild what's been destroyed in the infrastructure giving us oil. It will take even longer in the gas infrastructure, probably years." Watch moreUS-Iran deal: Key questions remain over status of Strait of Hormuz On how the EU has weathered this energy storm overall, Jorgensen is cautiously upbeat. "I think there's a consensus that we are much better at dealing with a crisis like this than we were in 2022," he asserts. "Yes, we have had a price shock. Yes, it has hurt industry and citizens. But not as badly as it would have, had we not done the things that we've done since 2022, which is to deploy more renewables, become more energy efficient and diversify our supply chains. It's very clear that there's a consensus now that we really cannot risk getting into these situations again and again." Jorgensen goes on: "I do think that most member states realise that treating a crisis like this by subsidising fossils is like trying to treat a patient that has diabetes by giving the patient sugar. It will not solve any problems. So yes, I do have understanding towards those member states who had to do something in the short term. But we also do need to all agree that, in the future, what really will help us is becoming more energy efficient and deploying more renewables as fast as possible." But going beyond words, isn't it time for the EU to set a binding timetable for phasing out coal, oil and gas? "Well, we do actually have a pretty rigid system of different targets and objectives in the European Union," Jorgensen replies. "Some will even argue that it's too ambitious. I'm not on that team. But remember the Green Deal. It is not only still in place; we're actually now supplementing it with new targets. So the 2040 target with 90 percent reductions will mean that we will phase out these fossils fuels very fast, especially in our energy system. Now, is it going fast enough? I don't think so. But it is going quite fast. Let me give you a few numbers. Last year we deployed almost 90GW (gigawatts) of new renewables. 90GW. That's enough to supply 90 million homes with electricity. It's almost as much as the collected production of nuclear electricity. Solar is moving fast. Electric vehicles are booming right now in the sales. And we will also present a new electrification plan very soon." Programme prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Perrine Desplats and Isabelle Romero

  8. 19 Jun

    EU-UK relations, 10 years after the referendum: Brexit or Regrexit?

    It has been a decade since British voters made the momentous decision to leave the European Union. The EU referendum result on June 24, 2016 led to a profound transformation of British politics, and to Brexit-related infighting that refuses to go away. But if the UK has not truly moved on, what about its former partner in this divorce, the EU? And what does Brussels think when the British government talks about rebuilding this relationship? We put these questions to two MEPs. Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Isabelle Romero and Oihana Almandoz

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About

Politicians, activists and researchers debate the issues facing the EU and a 'guest of the week' offers their insight in a long-format interview that gets to the heart of the matter. Saturday at 7:15pm.

Information

  • Channel
    FRANCE 24 English
  • Creator
    FRANCE 24 English
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © France Médias Monde
  • Show Website
    Talking Europe

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