Voices from Brussels

The EU is pulling out all the stops to achieve its goal of a green car fleet, while preserving its automotive industry. This includes reviewing the timescales for this transition, thinking strategically about electric batteries, ensuring a sustainable supply of essential raw materials and providing direct support to European industry. But are we not too late? Journalist Léa Marchal reports from Brussels.
 
An episode by Léa Marchal, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
Image © Shutterstock/ Rangsarit Chaiyakun

With a Commission and Parliament more right-wing than before, and with member states often showing little support, the next five years are unlikely to bring progress on equal rights in the EU.
 
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
 
Image © SibRapid / Shutterstock

Why is the future of the European car industry so bleak?
In this first episode of a two-part series, journalist Léa Marchal deciphers the ills of the automotive industry with MEP Jens Gieseke (EPP, Germany), Neil Makaroff, director of the Strategic Perspectives think-tank, and Simon Schütz, spokesman for the German automotive industry association VBA.
 
An episode by Léa Marchal, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
 
Image © Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock

The EU will have to show that it means business when it comes to defending Europe.
 
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
Image: Modern camouflage howitzer with a runway and 155 mm gun ammunition © Shutterstock - ZenitX

Nationalist and conservative representatives have gained ground in the European Parliament, but the centrist majority should retain control of key policies.
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
Image: JK21 on Shutterstock

Outgoing Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is standing for re-election, but a new mandate is not a foregone conclusion. Vincenzo Genovese looked into this for us. 
 
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus
 
 
Image: © Alexandros Michailidis - Shutterstock

With the rise of far-right parties in the polls across Europe, the political choice of the European People's Party, the centre-right party and the largest party in the European Parliament, will be crucial. Vincenzo investigates from Brussels to find out how things might shape up in the next European assembly.
 
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
 
Image: EPP Congress in Bucharest on 3 March 2024 © CornelPutan - Shutterstock

With extreme right parties on the rise across Europe, the next European Parliament will inevitably see an increase in the number of nationalist MEPs. What might that look like?
 
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus
 
Image: Nicola Procaccini (ECR, Italy) and Marco Zanni (ID, Italy) at an EP plenary session © European Union 2023 - Source : EP

The reform of the founding treaties, a long-standing thorn in the side of the European Union, is back on the agenda to meet the challenges of enlargement of the bloc.
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
Image © Maxx-Studio / Shutterstock

While the immigration issue is having a major impact on the functioning of the Schengen area, Bulgaria and Romania are (im)patiently waiting at the borders of the area to enter - but it is not certain that the issue will be resolved by the end of the year.
 
This is the second part of a series of two episodes on the state of play in the Schengen area, by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
Image © Ducu Rodionoff / Shutterstock