The EU Matters Podcast

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A podcast produced by EU Watch, the Brussels-based NGO committed to encouraging debate about the European Union and its policies. EU Watch aims to contribute to better communication between citizens and the European Union. We support the values and principles of the European Union, analyze EU policy-making with respect to effectiveness, transparency and fairness, scrutinize key EU actions, notably in the field of foreign affairs, migration, good governance and respect for fundamental rights. Host: Michael Thaidigsmann, Executive Director of EU Watch.

Episodes

  1. “This is an existential threat – not only for Ukraine, but for Europe itself” – Lithuanian MEP Auštrevičius

    05/26/2025

    “This is an existential threat – not only for Ukraine, but for Europe itself” – Lithuanian MEP Auštrevičius

    In this episode, EU Watch speaks with Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius, a leading voice on European security and foreign policy. Now serving his third term in the European Parliament, Auštrevičius shares his insights on Russia’s war against Ukraine, the EU’s defense strategy, and what strategic autonomy really means for Europe’s future - and its relationship with NATO.

    19 min
  2. "Kaja Kallas is my hope for a united European voice," says Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstätter

    09/06/2024

    "Kaja Kallas is my hope for a united European voice," says Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstätter

    Helmut Brandstätter is an Austrian journalist, author, and politician. He was elected to the Austrian National Council (the lower house of Austria's parliament) in 2019 as part of NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum. Now, he's a member of the European Parliament, part of the Renew Europe Group. We talked with him about EU foreign policy, migration, enlargement and the Western Balkans, as well as media freedom in Europe.

    26 min
  3. Did Russia attack Ukraine because the West is weak? Interview with Urmas Paet, former Estonian foreign minister

    04/29/2024

    Did Russia attack Ukraine because the West is weak? Interview with Urmas Paet, former Estonian foreign minister

    Urmas Paet is a former Estonian foreign minister and a current member of the European Parliament since 2014. He is the Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee and is a member of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence. Paet is the lead candidate for the European Parliament’s elections for the Estonian Reform Party, headed by Kaja Kallas, the current Prime Minister of Estonia. We talked with him about the threat of Russia to Europe and the West’s support for Ukraine, as well as the recent developments in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. Host: Avital Grinberg, EU Watch.

    30 min
  4. "Do human rights matter in EU foreign policy, Mr. Bullmann?"

    02/12/2024

    "Do human rights matter in EU foreign policy, Mr. Bullmann?"

    A conversation with the chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and veteran Socialist MEP Udo Bullmann.

    29 min
  5. David McAllister about the European Parliament's impact on EU foreign policy

    09/29/2023

    David McAllister about the European Parliament's impact on EU foreign policy

    David McAllister is the chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. We sat down with him to assess the work of his committee, the role the European Parliament plays in EU foreign policy and whether or not the European Union carries enough weight in international affairs.

    31 min
  6. The Trailblazer: Hosna Jalil on being a woman in Afghan politics

    09/06/2023

    The Trailblazer: Hosna Jalil on being a woman in Afghan politics

    The Taliban came back into power after the fall of Kabul in August 2021, twenty years after a U.S.-led intervention ousted the group from power. Hosna Jalil was born in Ghazni province in 1992. She was the first woman to reach a ministerial position in Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior Affairs, at the age of 26. We spoke with Hosna about growing up under the Taliban regime and on her path into politics. Hosna also shared her views on what the European Union should do vis-à-vis the Taliban regime and how can it help Afghans on the ground in the current circumstances.

    46 min
  7. Don't negotiate with the Islamic regime in Iran, pleads Iranian human rights activist Arash Hampay

    07/03/2023

    Don't negotiate with the Islamic regime in Iran, pleads Iranian human rights activist Arash Hampay

    According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 500 Iranians were executed by the Islamic regime in 2022. Since January 2023, over 200 individuals have been executed, averaging 10 per week. The European Union has urged Iran to cease this gruesome practice and has imposed sanctions due to the excessive use of force against protesters who have taken to the streets following the death of Mahsa Jina Amini while in the custody of Iran's 'morality police'. We spoke with Arash Hampay, an Iranian human rights activist who endured a tough upbringing in Iran. When he was 12 years old, his father was killed by the forces of the Islamic regime. His older brother was executed. Arash himself has been jailed multiple times for his activism and has experienced the harsh conditions of Tehran's notorious Evin prison, where political prisoners are detained. During his time there, he was subjected to both physical and psychological torture. We asked Arash about his assessment of the nature of the Iranian regime and wanted to know from him what steps he thinks the EU should take to support the Iranian people.

    33 min
  8. EU-Turkey relations after Erdogan's re-election - Dimitar Bechev

    06/19/2023

    EU-Turkey relations after Erdogan's re-election - Dimitar Bechev

    In May 2023, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won the Turkish presidential elections for the third time since 2014 and has been the most powerful Turkish politician in a generation. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the opposition candidate, had pledged to restore trust with Brussels and Washington and seemed eager to unfreeze the country's EU accession process. However, Kılıçdaroğlu lost to Erdogan by more than 2 million votes. We wanted to find out if and how will this election impact Turkey's relations with the European Union. In this episode, the executive director of EU Watch, Michael Thaidigsmann is hosting Dimitar Bechev, lecturer at the School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford. Bechev is also a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, focusing on Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. He is the author of the books "Turkey Under Erdogan: How a Country Turned from Democracy and the West" and "Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe".

    19 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

A podcast produced by EU Watch, the Brussels-based NGO committed to encouraging debate about the European Union and its policies. EU Watch aims to contribute to better communication between citizens and the European Union. We support the values and principles of the European Union, analyze EU policy-making with respect to effectiveness, transparency and fairness, scrutinize key EU actions, notably in the field of foreign affairs, migration, good governance and respect for fundamental rights. Host: Michael Thaidigsmann, Executive Director of EU Watch.

Information

  • Creator
    EU Watch
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © EU Watch
  • Show Website
    The EU Matters Podcast