Voices from Brussels

The vulnerability of the Schengen area of free movement to the vagaries of European migration policy and the regular exceptions made by member states to its smooth operation have made reform increasingly necessary.
 
This is the first 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 © Pasquale Senatore on Shutterstock
 

With the presence of drugs on the rise in Europe, what is the EU doing to put a stop to it and prevent dramatic consequences?
An episode by Léa Marchal, brought to you by Euranet Plus
 
Image: Rudmer Zwerver / Shutterstock

By financing arms production, the EU is killing two birds with one stone: continuing to support Ukraine and developing its defence industry.
 
An episode by Vincenzo Genovese, brought to you by Euranet Plus
Image: SviatlanaLaza / Shutterstock 

Instead of a European sovereignty fund, Brussels’ new clean tech financing facility falls short of investment expectations.
A podcast by Léa Marchal, brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
 
 
Image: giSpate / Shutterstock

The glimmer of hope brought by the “historic” agreement in the Council on a reform of the Pact on Migration was short-lived, as major obstacles remain.
A podcast by Vincenzo Genovese - brought to you by Euranet Plus.
 
 
Image © Adam Radosavljevic on Shutterstock

Russia's war on Ukraine has made the European Union wake up to its vulnerability to hybrid threats. But given their scale, potential impact and rapid evolution, the task of defending against them is daunting.
 
 
 
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The European Union has brought out its "strategic compass" to strengthen its future defence and security, in particular by increasing its capacity for action. But will the path it has charted be relevant - and sufficient? Journalist Vincenzo Genovese followed its path and met MEP Andrius Kubilius (EPP, Lithuania) and experts Zach Paikin of CEPS and André Sapir of the Bruegel think tank.
 
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In this episode journalist Léa Marchal looks at the EU's Net Zero Industry Act, Brussels' attempt to prevent clean tech companies from relocating their manufacturing to the US.
 
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The war on the European continent has resulted in a new effort to strengthen the European Union's defence capabilities. However, beyond military support for Ukraine, is there a shared EU vision for its future security and defence policy?
 
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In this episode Léa Marchal meets the leaders of the largest political groups in the European Parliament to reveal what MEPs are hoping to achieve in the run-up to the next European elections. Beyond the war in Ukraine, they want to show concrete results in the fight against inflation, social justice, easing migration flows and creating jobs.
 
MEP Iratxe Garcia Pérez at a plenary voting session early in 2023 © European Union 2023 - EP