College of Europe Podcast (Bruges)

“Accept everything that comes and that which escapes with the same calmness that you embrace the natural changes of harsh days and fair days” (Eça de Queirós, Os Maias, 1888). The European Ombudswoman quoted these words when taking office, not as a call for resignation, but for steadiness and principled action. However, we have seen in recent proposals how the European Commission has invoked urgency to bypass important steps of the lawmaking process, such as public consultations and impact assessments.In this episode we welcome the Professor Teresa Anjinho, the European Ombudswoman, to discuss the recent inquiry she closed in June 2026. In this file, she concluded the Commission had incurred in some shortcomings when enacting legislation concerning corporate sustainability due diligence (Omnibus I), the Common Agricultural Policy, and countering migrant smuggling. We also take a look at the risks associated with this modus operandi, the importance of participatory democracy, and the challenges to keep a balance between competitiveness and good administration.This podcast was recorded and produced by the Academic Assistants of the Law Department. All views and opinions expressed are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

A federal constitution could have resolved the European Union’s “competence conundrum” at its root (Garben, 2025). Yet federalism remains something of a taboo. Despite this silence, the debate over the EU’s federal character and the extent of its competences has been at the heart of European constitutional law since the beginning of European integration, and it is as relevant as ever.In this episode of Extra Cathedra, we welcome Professor Sacha Garben to discuss her book The Competence Question in the (Con)Federal European Union (OUP, 2025). We talk about the choice between a federal and a confederal Union, and of a genuine constitution which could be adopted by Europe’s citizens. We also look at how Brexit, against all expectations, brought about a constitutional turning point, and how two decades of crises, up to the recent SAFE defence instrument, have tested the limits of the Treaties.This podcast was recorded and produced by the Academic Assistants of the Law Department. All views and opinions expressed are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

On the first episode of the MATA Talks podcast for the Johannes Gutenberg Promotion, Masters of Arts in Transatlantic Affairs students Agathe Grinon, Harrison Lesnik, and Camilla Stedile sit down with United States Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder for a conversation on transatlantic trade and the economic relationship between the U.S. and the EU. This podcast was recorded and produced by students at the College of Europe. All views and opinions expressed are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

In the fourth and final episode of the Young Diplomats Society Podcast Series of Victoria Amelina promotion, İrem İlksoy and Leah Tillmann-Morris interview Pavel Slunkin, a Belarusian former diplomat and visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), about Belarus's political trajectory, its relationship with Russia, and the prospects for the country's democratic opposition and exile community. Pavel shares his experience in Belarusian foreign ministry and his resignation from the MFA in 2020, EU's role in supporting Belarusians in exile, how the war in Ukraine has reshaped Belarus's position between Moscow and the West, and the growing role of AI in government decision-making processes.This podcast episode was recorded and produced by students at the College of Europe. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

In this episode of the Young Diplomats' Society podcast, İrem İlksoy and Leah Tillmann-Morris are joined by Charles-Michel Geurts, former EEAS diplomat and EU ambassador to Ecuador, and current professor at the College of Europe. We begin with insights into how the internal work of EEAS compares to working abroad, and the strength that can be found in coordinating EU member states as a diplomatic force, as well as the journey of EU human rights diplomacy. Prof. Geurts also shares his experiences and reflections as ambassador to Ecuador from 2020-2024, particularly on efforts to combat the illegal cocaine trade and transnational organised crime, including drawing on European law-enforcement experience in tackling the Italian mafia to support responses to Ecuadorian drug gangs, while also navigating the tensions that can arise when EU diplomats engage with differing approaches to military involvement in law enforcement.This podcast episode is recorded and produced by students at the College of Europe. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

In this episode of CSDP, Léonie Bontoux and Giulio Croce interview Philippe Perchoc, Director of the IRSEM Europe (the Research Institute of the French Ministry of Armed Forces). In this conversation, they discuss European interoperability, the evolution of the French nuclear doctrine following President Macron’s speech at Ile Longue on the 2nd of March 2026, how Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are countering Russian hybrid warfare, and the implementation of artificial intelligence in the field of security and defence.This podcast was recorded on the 7th of March 2026 and is produced by students at the College of Europe. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

In this episode of CSDP, Giulio Croce interviews Teresa Coratella, Deputy Head of the European Council on Foreign Relations in Rome. In this conversation, they discuss Foreign Information Manipulation Interference (FIMI) and cognitive warfare, coming both from Russia and China and from the United States. FIMI is the frontier of hybrid warfare, with the ability to exploit the openness of democratic societies and manipulate public opinion. To be fit for the future, the EU and its Member States need to find a way to shield democratic processes from information manipulation. This podcast was recorded on the 10th of February 2026 and is produced by students of the College of Europe. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

In Episode 2 of the Geopolitics of Heated Rivalry podcast, Professor Michele Chang and Luis Matos break down episodes four through six, where Shane and Ilya navigate panic attacks, tuna melts, and one very judgmental Canadian bird on their journey from awkward flirtation to cozy cottage romance.Beyond the drama, the discussion dives into queer politics, identity, and representation, exploring everything from heteronormative tropes to the very real pressures faced by queer individuals in Central and Eastern Europe. Guests Arthur Crisci and Coralie Ballieu bring sharp insights, humor, and just enough snark to keep the analysis as entertaining as the show itself.All rights to the books, series, and other referenced materials are reserved to their respective authors and creators.