Talking Europe

FRANCE 24 English
  • 4.5 (2)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Talking Europe

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. 1 DAY AGO

    Europe is far from stepping up on defence, top diplomat Pierre Vimont says

    With the US election just around the corner, is the EU prepared for what might be coming? And what does “being prepared” mean, exactly, when it comes to Europe’s defence capabilities? These are some of the questions we put to veteran French diplomat Pierre Vimont, who was ambassador to Washington during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Vimont argues that the EU needs to develop much longer-term strategic thinking, whether on Ukraine and Russia, or China, or the Middle East, or the EU’s own near neighbourhood.

    12 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Crunch time for new European Commission: European Parliament grills candidates

    It's a ritual that happens every five years, and also a test for two of the EU’s key institutions. Once all the European Commission's new members have been designated, they go through confirmation hearings before the European Parliament. The parliament gets to flex its muscles vis-à-vis the EU executive and probe beyond the niceties of designates saying the right things about their commitment to European values. Getting through these grillings is not a foregone conclusion: last time, in 2019, three commissioner-designates were rejected. We ask our apnel of MEPs what they look for in a hearing, and if they see any of the current candidates as being particularly problematic.

    13 min

  3. OCT 25

    Putin is the 'biggest promoter' of EU enlargement, Croatian PM Plenkovic says

    We speak to one of the most seasoned players on the European stage, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. During his eight years in office, he has experienced the latter stages of the 2015-16 migrant crisis, the Covid pandemic, and the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as overseeing his country’s entry into the eurozone and the Schengen free-travel area. We discuss topical issues in the EU as well as in his region, particularly EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans.

    12 min

  4. OCT 25

    EU on tenterhooks ahead of US election: What kind of America will the EU face?

    Ask just about any EU leader who they want to win the US election on November 5, and you will hear a politically correct answer along the lines of “We will work with any US president to develop transatlantic ties”. However there is little doubt that many of them will be privately relieved if Vice-President Kamala Harris wins. She has drawn a clear line from her opponent, former president Donald Trump, on US engagement with the world and particularly on support for Ukraine. But it is not as if the current Biden-Harris administration has always been smooth for Europe: for example, the US Inflation Reduction Act and President Joe Biden’s AUKUS pact with the UK and Australia have created tensions. If Trump does indeed defeat Harris in November, could the EU still work out some sort of arrangement with him? We put this question to two MEPs.

    12 min

  5. OCT 18

    I regret not reaching a 'common position on the Middle East', EU foreign policy chief Borrell says

    As he nears the end of his term, Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, speaks to Talking Europe about the two crises that he has been most closely involved in: the Middle East and Ukraine. He recounts his efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and in Lebanon, and outlines possible ways to speed up EU assistance to Ukraine. His biggest regret over the past five years? Not being able to bring the EU's 27 member states to a common position on the Middle East. "It has been impossible to talk with a single voice because the positions are too different," he says.

    11 min

  6. OCT 18

    China hits back at EU over electric car tariffs: How bad could the trade dispute get?

    European Union member states have narrowly backed import duties on Chinese-made electric cars, over what the EU considers to be unfair competition. Tariffs of up to 45 percent are set to be imposed from next month for five years. Chinese carmakers have criticised the EU's move, but are moving ahead with plans to expand in Europe and have so far not said that they will raise prices to cover the cost of the tariffs. However, the Chinese government says it is investigating some EU imports, such as pork or dairy products, from countries including Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as brandy and wine imports from France. That has sparked concerns of possible challenges at the World Trade Organization, and a worsening dispute between Brussels and Beijing. We delve into what's at stake with two MEPs.

    12 min

  7. OCT 11

    Trump's unpredictability makes us nervous, says Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov

    In this episode we take a look at life, war and politics in Ukraine, through the eyes of its most celebrated writer. Andrey Kurkov rose to international fame with "Death and the Penguin" more than 20 years ago, but he has many other novels to his name, including "The Silver Bone", which has just been published in English. It's the first book in his new series, the Kyiv Mysteries. Kurkov is very active in promoting the literature and culture of his country around the world, and he was travelling around Europe as he recorded this interview.

    12 min

  8. OCT 11

    French public debt reaches record high: Is France the sick man of Europe?

    France's debt has reached a record €3.228 trillion, amounting to 112 percent of GDP. That is well above the cap set by EU rules. Of course, France isn't the only member state to have racked up debt during the Covid pandemic and the energy crisis. Several countries have been reprimanded by the European Commission for breaking budget rules. But because the French economy is one of Europe's largest, France's EU partners are watching the situation nervously. So how and where should the country make savings? In this debate with two MEPs, we draw on the experiences of other countries, including the "frugal" Netherlands.

    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 - 2024
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © France Médias Monde
  • Show Website
    Talking Europe

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