MCC Brussels Podcast

MCC Brussels
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Discussions, event recordings, and updates from the team at MCC Brussels – the home for genuine policy deliberation about the EU and an in-depth exploration of the key issues facing Europeans.

  1. 3d ago

    Aircon: the new political divide? I MCC Brussels Podcast

    In this episode, why has air conditioning suddenly become a political dividing line in Europe? Will Ireland’s EU presidency push Brussels further into NGO funding, speech regulation and woke priorities? And is the crisis at Volkswagen a warning of what the Green Deal is doing to Europe’s industrial base? Host Jacob Reynolds is joined by Richard Schenk and James Holland, a parliamentary adviser and long-time Brussels observer, to discuss the week’s biggest political stories from inside the EU bubble. First, the panel turns to Europe’s increasingly absurd air-conditioning debate. As temperatures rise across the continent, the simple question of whether people should be able to cool their homes, hospitals and workplaces has somehow become a culture-war issue. Richard Schenk argues that the obsession with net zero is crowding out practical solutions for the elderly, the sick and those who have to work through the heat. James Holland warns against Brussels using the crisis as yet another excuse to regulate what should be decided nationally and locally. The second topic is Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ireland has long been seen in Brussels as the model pupil, rarely inclined to pick fights with the Commission. But with major budget negotiations ahead, the panel asks whether Dublin will defend its farmers and tax advantages, or simply help steer through more funding for NGOs, media projects and democracy programmes that too often reinforce Brussels’ own worldview. Finally, the episode turns to Europe’s car industry. With fresh alarm over Volkswagen and the wider German economy, the panel examines how the EU’s hostility to combustion engines, high energy costs and green dogma are putting one of Europe’s most important industries under pressure. James Holland explains how Brussels regulation often rewards big players while crushing smaller suppliers, while Richard Schenk argues that Europe has trapped itself in a one-track electric-vehicle strategy just as competitors pursue a broader industrial approach.

    30 min

  2. Jun 26

    Brussels Is Expanding Its War on Free Speech I MCC Brussels Podcast

    In this episode: Is the Democracy Shield really about protecting elections from foreign interference, or about policing dissent at home? Ten years after Brexit, did the EU learn from Britain’s revolt, or double down on the federalist habits that caused it? And why is Brussels talking to the Taliban - realpolitik at last, or geopolitical naivety dressed up as diplomacy? Host Jacob Reynolds is joined by Frank Furedi, MCC Brussels’ executive director, and Dr Philipp Siegert, our deputy research director, to discuss free speech, sovereignty, Brexit, migration, and the increasingly brittle politics of the Brussels establishment.  First, the panel turns to the EU’s Democracy Shield, after a European Parliament committee backed proposals to strengthen the bloc’s powers over disinformation, media, elections and so-called internal threats. Philipp Siegert argues that the danger lies in moving from protecting democratic processes to managing political outcomes. Frank Furedi warns that the language of democratic protection is being used to justify a new kind of censorship - one that presents itself as the very opposite of censorship.  The second topic is Brexit, ten years after the vote that shook Britain and Brussels alike. Frank argues that 2016 marked a turning point in European politics, exposing the weakness of legacy parties and giving new force to questions of sovereignty, patriotism and democratic self-government. The panel asks whether the EU learnt anything from Brexit, or whether its real lesson was to prevent voters from ever doing something similar again. Finally, the episode turns to Brussels hosting Taliban representatives for talks on returning Afghan migrants. The panel discusses the need for realpolitik in foreign affairs, but also the risks of giving international legitimacy to a regime that remains deeply hostile to European values and interests Follow MCC Brussels on social media: https://twitter.com/MCC_Brussels https://facebook.com/MCCBrussels https://linkedin.com/company/mcc-brussels/ website: https://brussels.mcc.hu

    36 min

  3. Jun 19

    Hungary’s New Government Launches Its Anti-Orbán Purge I MCC Brussels Podcast

    In this episode: is Péter Magyar restoring Hungarian democracy, or using constitutional power to remove his main rival? Does the export controls and shutdown of Anthropic’s Mythos model show how desperately far behind the EU is on cutting-edge technology?  And has the EU Transparency Register become a neutral accountability tool, or a bureaucratic weapon against dissenting voices in Brussels? Host Jacob Reynolds is joined by Richard Schenk and Javier Villamor, Brussels-based EU/NATO correspondent for The European Conservative. First, the panel turns to Hungary, where the new Tisza government has pushed through a retroactive two-term limit on prime ministers. Supporters call it a democratic safeguard after years of Fidesz rule. Critics see it as Lex Orbán: a constitutional manoeuvre designed to keep Viktor Orbán from returning to power, while also putting pressure on institutions linked to the previous government. The second topic is artificial intelligence. The row over Anthropic’s Mythos model raises a brutal question for Europe: what happens when the most powerful AI systems are controlled elsewhere? Jacob, Richard and Javier discuss whether the EU has spent the past three years regulating a technology it does not lead, and whether Europe’s real problem is not just investment, but energy, chips, talent, scale and regulatory culture. Finally, the episode turns to MCC Brussels itself, after its suspension from the EU Transparency Register. The panel asks whether this is merely a technical dispute over registration rules, or part of a broader pattern in which Brussels uses procedure, paperwork and access rules to police the boundaries of acceptable debate.

    27 min

  4. Jun 17

    Europe’s Energy Delusion: Can Brussels Keep the Lights On? I MCC Brussels Deep Dive

    In this MCC Brussels Deep Dive, John O’Brien speaks to Professor Samuele Furfari, one of Europe’s most experienced voices on energy policy. Furfari spent decades inside the European Commission working on energy and sustainable development. His warning is blunt: Europe’s energy crisis did not begin with the war in Ukraine. It began when EU policymakers abandoned the old priority of cheap, abundant and secure energy, and replaced it with a decarbonisation-first agenda. For decades, European energy policy understood a basic truth: prosperity depends on power. Industry, jobs, living standards and national security all require reliable and affordable energy. But according to Furfari, Brussels has increasingly treated energy not as the foundation of growth, but as a problem to be reduced, regulated and morally denounced. John and Professor Furfari discuss how this mentality took hold, why Europe has become so vulnerable, and whether the EU has learnt the wrong lesson from the energy shocks of recent years. This is a conversation about more than bills. It is about prosperity, sovereignty, industry and whether Europe still has the seriousness to keep the lights on.

    36 min

  5. Jun 12

    Riots, Migration and Crime: Belgium’s Crisis Is a Warning to Europe I MCC Brussels Podcast

    In this episode, is Belgium becoming a warning sign for the rest of Europe? Has the EU’s obsession with digital regulation made Europeans technologically weaker? And are American conservatives right to call out Europe’s migration crisis, or is Europe being talked down to again? Host Jacob Reynolds is joined by MCC’s Richard Schenk and Lennert Van Hauwermeiren from the Flemish Institute for Policy and Strategy to discuss migration, state authority, digital control and the growing tensions between Europe and America. First, the panel turns to Belgium, where riots in Brussels, unrest on the coast, migrant-smuggling routes and concerns about policing raise a blunt question: can the Belgian state still enforce the law? Lennert argues that Europe’s liberal elites have become reluctant to use legitimate force, while Richard places Belgium’s problems in the wider context of political fragmentation, identity politics and the weakening of state authority. The second topic is the EU’s latest push for “digital sovereignty”. As Apple’s new Siri features are held back in the EU, the panel asks whether Brussels is building a serious tech future or simply regulating Europe into irrelevance. Richard and Lennert discuss the AI Act, the Digital Markets Act, the Digital Services Act and the EU’s habit of confusing control with innovation. Finally, the episode turns to Pete Hegseth’s D-Day speech and his criticism of Europe’s migration policy. The panel considers whether American conservatives are right to raise the alarm, whether European countries need their own solutions, and why Europe must separate shared civilisation questions from national interests.

    35 min

  6. Jun 5

    The End of the Western Alliance? I MCC Brussels Podcast

    In this episode: Is Trump’s 4 July deadline a tariff threat, or a demand for reciprocity from Brussels? Can “remigration” be defined as lawful return policy without sliding into something more dangerous? And do the Paris riots after PSG’s Champions League victory expose a deeper crisis of law, order and elite denial in Europe’s cities? Host Jacob Reynolds is joined by Richard Schenk and Paul McCarthy, Senior Research Fellow in European Affairs at the Heritage Foundation. First, the panel turns to the latest tensions in EU-US relations. Trump’s deadline for Brussels to implement the trade deal has put pressure back on the European Union, but the argument goes well beyond tariffs. Paul McCarthy explains how Washington sees Europe’s non-tariff barriers, defence dependency and digital regulations, while Richard Schenk argues that Brussels’ regulatory machine is damaging European business and deepening the transatlantic divide. The second topic is remigration. After a week of new initiatives and debate on the European right, Jacob, Richard and Paul discuss what the term actually means, where legitimate deportation policy ends, and why migration politics in Europe has become so explosive. They examine the difference between illegal migration, legal migration, naturalisation and criminal deportations, and ask whether European governments have created a system in which return has become almost impossible. Finally, the episode turns to the riots in Paris and elsewhere in France after PSG’s Champions League win. The panel discusses the collapse of law and order, the disconnect between official messaging and citizens’ experience, and whether European elites are willing to describe the reality of disorder in their own cities.

    33 min

  7. May 29

    Can Belgium Be Fixed? I MCC Brussels Podcast

    In this episode: is Bart de Wever’s Belgium a genuine model for reform, or a warning about how difficult reform has become? Has Europe really shifted right on migration, deportations and return hubs? And as Brussels demands more money for defence, Ukraine, migration and industrial policy, who is actually going to pay? Host John O’Brien is joined by Dr Philipp Siegert from MCC Brussels and Carl Deconinck of Brussels Signal to discuss the political pressures now shaping Belgium and the wider European Union. First, the panel turns to Belgium, where Bart de Wever’s government is trying to tackle fiscal strain, migration pressure, nuclear energy, defence spending, pensions and trade-union resistance all at once. Belgium becomes the test case for a wider European problem: voters want change, but the institutions built over decades are not easily moved. The second topic is Europe’s migration U-turn. From return hubs to tougher deportation policies and pressure on human-rights law, the panel asks whether the political centre has genuinely accepted the need for stricter borders, or is merely trying to neutralise populist pressure while keeping the old assumptions intact. Finally, the episode turns to the EU budget and the looming fight over common debt, eurobonds and Brussels’ growing spending ambitions. With Germany, France and other member states under serious fiscal pressure, the question is whether the EU is becoming a geopolitical power — or a permanent money machine.

    34 min

  8. May 22

    Why The Establishment Fears Populism

    Britain’s political class thought populism could be contained through censorship, speaker bans and moral blackmail. Instead, the revolt is spreading. In this episode, host John O’Brien is joined by Frank Furedi and Richard Schenk to examine the growing divide between Europe’s governing elites and ordinary citizens. From the huge “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London to Brussels’ ideological campaigns, the discussion explores why millions of Europeans increasingly feel politically homeless. First, the panel discusses Britain’s populist revolt and the collapse of establishment authority. Why are governments so terrified of anti-establishment movements? Has censorship, “disinformation” policing and the cordon sanitaire simply made populism stronger? And is Britain drifting back under Brussels’ influence despite Brexit? The conversation then turns to Europe’s growing divide over Israel. As countries like Spain and Ireland push for a harsher anti-Israel line, Central European states increasingly see the conflict through the lens of borders, terrorism and civilisational security. Finally, the discussion tackles the European Commission’s increasingly aggressive promotion of LGBTQ and gender ideology. Why do so many Europeans feel these values are being imposed from above rather than democratically debated? Has “tolerance” become a mechanism for ideological conformity? And why are parents across Europe increasingly feeling sidelined in debates about education, identity and culture?

    33 min
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About

Discussions, event recordings, and updates from the team at MCC Brussels – the home for genuine policy deliberation about the EU and an in-depth exploration of the key issues facing Europeans.

Information

  • Creator
    MCC Brussels
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MCC Brussels Podcast
  • Show Website
    MCC Brussels Podcast

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