Talking Europe

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. 23 HR AGO

    'Keep Europe strong from the inside': Kata Tütto, president of the Committee of the Regions

    Europe's regions are in danger of being squeezed as the EU considers sweeping changes to the way its 27 member states spend their money, warns the European official tasked with reducing inequalities among the bloc's hundreds of towns and regions. Kata Tütto, a Hungarian socialist, and president of the European Committee of the Regions, tells Talking Europe's Douglas Herbert that the EU's next long-term budget, which runs from 2028 to 2034, risks quietly shrinking the money that underpins local investment under the EU's region-focused Cohesion Policy. At the centre of the controversy is a proposed "mega-fund" worth roughly €865 billion, which would pool money for farmers and poorer regions in a single pot. That may sound vast. But spread across seven years and 260 regions, the reality is far less impressive, Tütto says. Under the current proposals, funding for regions would fall to roughly half of today's level. It's a shift that could hollow out the EU's cohesion policy, the main tool designed to reduce economic gaps between Europe's cities and regions. The timing, Tüttő argues, could hardly be worse. Every region – rich or poor – is undergoing a demographic, climate and technological transition. In a world of constant crisis and mounting threats, she warns, governments are tempted to sacrifice long-term investment for short-term fixes, centralising decisions and draining attention and money away from the local level. While Tüttő accepts that defence and security now dominate the political agenda, she challenges the definition of what security means. It is not only about tanks, borders or drones, she says, but also about safe drinking water, affordable housing, clean energy and resilient infrastructure – the everyday needs that allow societies to function when shocks hit. Tütto's message to Brussels is blunt: Europe cannot project strength abroad if it allows inequality and instability to grow at home. Undermining Cohesion Policy, she warns, would weaken the very base that allows the European Union to act together economically, politically and strategically. Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Oihana Almandoz, Paul Guianvarc'h and Isabelle Romero

    12 min

  2. 23 HR AGO

    Are teenagers too young to scroll? Europe weighs social media bans for minors

    Worries that too much time on social media may be hurting children's mental health, and creating addictions as harmful as alcohol or cigarettes, are sparking growing calls across Europe to block minors under the age of 15 or 16 from access to platforms. After Australia became the first country to block under-16s from platforms in December, a host of EU countries are poised to possibly follow suit. France, Spain, Portugal and Greece are now weighing similar measures, driven by growing concerns over algorithms and the grip of Big Tech on young minds. Supporters of tougher rules argue that the risks are no longer theoretical. Studies increasingly link heavy social media use among teenagers to anxiety, depression, addictive behaviour and, in extreme cases, suicide. Read more‘Addiction is profitable’: Meta, Google stand trial over social media effects on children Governments insist they are stepping in where platforms have failed to protect children from systems designed to maximise screen time over well-being. Marc Angel, a Luxembourgish MEP from the Socialists & Democrats group, and a member of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Children's Rights, is among the European lawmakers who backs a ban. In our Talking Europe debate, Angel argues that the logic is simple: what is illegal offline should be illegal online. He warns that today's dangers are no longer just in the street, but on the bedroom screens of smartphones and other devices. "When I was a kid, my parents told me not to let strangers into the house," he says. "Now the strangers are in the bedrooms of kids. And sometimes they aren't even real people." But opponents of a blanket ban, such as Ana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese MEP with Renew Europe, consider it a blunt and ineffective tool. In a pointed retort to Angel, Vasconcelos argues that Europe risks over-correcting, prioritising symbolic action over workable solutions. Vasconcelos warns that age-verification systems raise serious privacy issues, expose sensitive data to hacking, and are "very easy to circumvent." In her view, bans may create a false sense of safety while failing to address the real problem. Instead, she argues for targeted measures: privacy-by-design on devices, phone-free spaces in schools, stronger media literacy, together with greater parental responsibility. For Vasconcelos, the challenge is not whether social media poses risks, but how to prepare young people to navigate a digital reality they cannot avoid. Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Isabelle Romero, Oihana Almandoz and Paul Guianvarc'h

    12 min

  3. 6 FEB

    'We will not accept to be treated badly': MEP Brando Benifei, EU's point man for US relations

    Shared economic and security interests still bind Europe and the United States, even as trust has eroded, insults have flown and rhetoric has hardened in the transatlantic relationship, Brando Benifei, the chair of the delegation for relations with the United States at the European Parliament, tells FRANCE 24 in Talking Europe. Despite growing friction, Benifei, an MEP from Italy with the Socialists and Democrats parliamentary group, says ties between Brussels and Washington remain vital. But a partnership, he adds, cannot survive without mutual respect. While favouring diplomacy, Benifei insists there is a clear limit after which Europe must be ready to retaliate if it wants to be taken seriously. He points to the Greenland episode as proof that firmness and determination work: once EU governments signalled real consequences, dialogue with Washington on Arctic security became "calmer" and more "reasonable". On trade, Benifei says Europe is deliberately reaching out to others. The recent EU-India trade agreement, he argues, shows the bloc is diversifying its trade routes and reducing dependence on any single partner. The message to Washington is simple: Europe has alternatives, and leverage. As the EU leads global efforts on AI regulation, Benifei sees artificial intelligence as a tool to enforce trade rules and ensure that agreements are respected. But he cautions that Europe must strive to close the gap with the US and China by strengthening computing power, mobilising capital and deepening financial market integration. Benifei is sharply critical of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's approach to US President Donald Trump, calling it "very bad" and driven by domestic politics and ideology rather than Italy's national interests. His conclusion is blunt: only a united Europe can negotiate with the United States on an equal footing. Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Oihana Almandoz, Paul Guianvarc'h and Isabelle Romero

    13 min

  4. 6 FEB

    Greenland crisis further damages transatlantic ties: Time for a major strategic rethink?

    Europe has experienced numerous crises since Donald Trump returned to the White House: on trade and tariffs; on Ukraine; and perhaps the most surreal one – on Greenland. The latter was unprecedented: NATO's leading member, the US, openly expressing its territorial designs on another NATO member, Denmark. With each emergency, the same calls have been heard for Europe to wake up and take its destiny into its own hands. But how should the EU and the European members of NATO actually make a strategic shift? We put the question to two MEPs.  Read moreEurope braces for what's next after Trump eases Greenland tensions Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Paul Guianvarc’h, Oihana Almandoz and Isabelle Romero

    12 min

  5. 30 JAN

    'It's important to finalise the EU-US trade agreement': EU Economy Commissioner Dombrovskis

    As Europe faces unprecedented geopolitical headwinds, from the Ukraine war to Donald Trump’s designs on Greenland, we speak to the EU Commissioner in charge of the economy, productivity, and simplification: Valdis Dombrovskis. A former prime minister of Latvia, Dombrovskis is very much a Brussels insider, serving in various high-profile roles in the EU Commission since 2016, and as a member of the European Parliament in 2004-2009. Asked if Europe has been too soft on Trump during the Greenland crisis, Dombrovskis answers: "The EU was very clear that threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of EU member states are not acceptable, and so are the tariff threats. And correspondingly, we were ready to react forcefully. I think that was one of the factors which eventually helped to change President Trump's mind. And the focus now is where it should be: on how to strengthen security in the Arctic region." But, we ask, is it not naïve to go back to business as usual, especially when it comes to US-EU trade, and the bilateral trade agreement? "We managed to get the situation (with the US) into a constructive trajectory," Dombrovskis responds. "Correspondingly, it would be important to indeed finalise the (trade) agreement also from our side, because it's important to provide some stability and predictability for economies and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. It's worth noting that the EU-US trade and investment relationship is the largest in the world." On the issue of defence, Dombrovskis explains how "buy European" rules will affect Ukraine's military capabilities. "The European Commission has proposed a balanced solution. There is a clear priority for European manufacturers, and that includes Ukraine itself," Dombrovskis asserts. "But there is also a cascading mechanism, meaning that if there's certain military equipment which Ukraine urgently needs, but which is not readily available from the eligible (European) producers, Ukraine can purchase this equipment from other producers. Right now the situation in Ukraine is very dire. We see that Russia has substantially intensified its attacks against Ukrainian cities, against Ukrainian energy. And in a situation like this, to block weapons deliveries, for example air defence systems or other deliveries which are urgently needed, that would certainly not be justified." We turn to the controversial issue of simplification, which environmental groups and trade unions have criticised, saying that the Green Deal and social protections are being rolled back in the process. "Our simplification work is not deregulation," Dombrovskis counters. "We are not giving away our high social or environmental standards. We are sticking with the European Green Deal 2030 targets, and 2050 targets. So what it's about is how to reach our goals in a simpler and less burdensome manner. If you listen to businesses, the majority of them are saying that the excessive administrative burden is an obstacle for development, and for investing in Europe. A majority of small and medium-sized enterprises are saying it's their main obstacle. And that's why we are pursuing this simplification agenda, with the aim of reducing the overall administrative burden by 25 percent for all companies, and by 35 percent for small and medium enterprises." Programme prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Perrine Desplats and Isabelle Romero

    12 min

  6. 30 JAN

    Bulgaria's entry into the EU single currency: A historic shift

    On January 1, Bulgaria officially joined the eurozone, becoming the 21st country to join the European single currency. Sofia's adoption of the euro brings hope of major economic benefits, but it also comes at a moment of deep political polarisation and mass anti-corruption protests, which culminated in the resignation of both the country's government and president. Our reporters Elitsa Gadeva and Charlotte Prudhomme were on the ground during the first weeks of the transition, as Bulgarians had one month to adapt to the new currency. From February 1, the country's only legal tender is the euro. In this programme, we also speak to Ekaterina Zaharieva, the EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, and a former deputy prime minister of Bulgaria. "I think this will open a huge opportunity for the whole private sector," Zaharieva says about Bulgaria joining the euro. "And of course, startups are really flexible by their nature. They have employees from different countries. So this will definitely be a big improvement for the private sector." On the broader strategic significance of the move, Zaharieva says: "As a minister in different governments who really worked hard for Bulgaria to join the eurozone, I really think it's a big moment for Bulgaria and for Europe. Because in this geopolitical instability, the European Union has become a beacon of stability, of predictability. And you see that the euro is getting stronger and stronger as a currency. So I think it's really positive news for Bulgarian businesses and for Bulgarian citizens." Programme prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Perrine Desplats and Isabelle Romero

    12 min

  7. 23 JAN

    Europe needs 'a huge wake-up call' on the housing crisis, EU commissioner says

    One of the most pressing issues in the EU is the housing crisis. Wages are not keeping up with the rising costs of accommodation, and paying the rent is a challenge for many – never mind trying to get on the property ladder. Meanwhile, homelessness has got worse. Our guest is the EU's first housing commissioner, although his brief also covers energy – a key issue as the bloc tries to become more independent. Dan Jorgensen is a Danish Social Democrat, and in Denmark he was minister for climate and energy, and minister for development cooperation and global climate policy, before taking up the Energy and Housing portfolio for the EU in 2024. We start with the tensions over Greenland, and we ask Jorgensen if the EU has stood up for its interests forcefully enough. "I do think that the European Union has been quite strong in sending the message across the Atlantic to President Trump that we all stand behind Greenland," Jorgensen replies. "The French president has also been very vocal, saying that the sovereignty of a nation needs to be respected, and we appreciate that a lot." "There is no future of Greenland without the Greenlandic people," Jorgensen goes on, "and no future without decisions made by the Greenlandic government and the Danish government, since, of course, Greenland is still a part of the Danish kingdom." Turning to his portfolio, Jorgensen underlines that Europe needs "a huge wake-up call" on the housing crisis. "If people don't have a home, if they cannot afford the most basic need, which is a roof over their head, then there is a real risk that they will turn against democracy, and to protests," Jorgensen asserts. "What is our job as decision makers if not to help people have a good life? And it is true, as you imply, that in the past the European Commission has not played a big role here. We will play now a much bigger role, and one of the things that we need to do is change the rules for when it is possible to use state aid. We want to make it easier for member states to use state aid where the market does not deliver. So this means that we can use state aid to provide more affordable housing so that nurses, teachers and police officers can also afford to live where they serve." Jorgensen turns to the question of short-term rentals, which he says is "a huge challenge in many cities in France and across the European Union. Short-term rentals have in some places turned into money factories for the people that own the buildings, crowding out normal people from their homes because there's more money to be made on short-term rentals. We want to do something about that problem," Jorgensen says, adding: "You can put a maximum number of nights that you are allowed to rent out your home. You can differentiate between normal people, so to speak, and professional owners that only have these apartments to rent them out as short-term rentals." Turning to energy, the EU has committed itself to stopping imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2027. Is that realistic, given that several European countries imported significant amounts of Russian LNG in 2025, notably France? "I do think it is realistic," Jorgensen answers. "We have managed to bring down our consumption quite significantly already, from 45 percent four years ago to between 10 and 13 percent today, and now we need to take the final steps. We can no longer allow Putin to weaponise energy against us." Will this gas independence happen, though, given that the leaders of Hungary and Slovakia oppose that overall EU direction? "Well, the decision has been made," Jorgensen points out. "So it is no longer up to those two countries. This will now be made into legislation and law in all countries. That is the way our Union works. When a decision is made by qualified majority, then it happens in all member states. Also in the ones that do not support it. Now, I would have wished, of course, that we had unanimity behind these decisions. We don't, and that's regrettable, but it doesn't change the bottom line and the outcome. We will stop importing Russian gas in Europe," Jorgensen concludes. Programme prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Perrine Desplats and Isabelle Romero

    12 min

  8. 23 JAN

    EU moves closer to backing 'return hubs' for migrants: A right-wing turn on asylum policy

    EU member states have backed a hardening of migration policy, endorsing the controversial idea of "return hubs" beyond EU borders to process asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. This as a key EU Migration and Asylum Pact is set to come into effect in June. We ask why this more hardline approach is taking shape, and what our guests think of the "hubs" concept. Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Oihana Almandoz

    13 min
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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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