Europod • News

After being intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, the 12 passengers of the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament, have been transferred to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Israeli authorities say the group of activists is currently being processed for deportation. However, according to international media reports, some of the activists are refusing to sign deportation documents. So, what happens next and what are the reactions in Brussels?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

On Sunday and Monday, June 8 and 9, Italians are heading to the polls for five referendums. These are abrogative referendums, meaning citizens are being asked whether to repeal existing laws or parts of them. And to be valid, turnout must reach 50% plus one of eligible voters. But what is at the core of these referendums and can they pass? Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

Consumer watchdogs from 21 countries, coordinated by the European Consumer Organisation, BEUC, have filed a complaint against the ultra-fast fashion Shein to the European Commission and EU consumer protection authorities. What is the complaint about and what could this case mean for fast fashion in Europe?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

An internal report written by the EU foreign service in late 2024 has resurfaced this time, in full.The document, originally kept confidential, was published yesterday by the EU Observer and it outlines findings from a human rights audit that was ordered by the EU’s then, foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. But what is in the report and what could it mean for the EU- Israel trade agreement?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

This Tuesday morning, the Netherlands woke up to a political earthquake, again. Geert Wilders, the leader of the anti-migration PVV party, announced on X that he is pulling out of the coalition government, causing the collapse of Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s cabinet. But what led to the fall out and what does this mean for the country’s stability?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

So… Poland has a new president. And not the one the exit polls predicted.Right-wing opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki (Navrotski) has narrowly won Poland’s presidential runoff election, with 50.89% of the vote, just edging out centrist Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who landed at 49.11%. A result so close it feels like a decimal-point drama. But what does this result mean for Poland and for Europe?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

In the last episode of A Grain of Power, we cast a light on the functioning of the market of grain and wheat at the global level. Until now, this series has focused on the responsibilities of nations and supranational institutions, but in this sixth episode, we focus on the power of private companies and, also, financial markets. Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances. And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?Narration: Alexander Damiano RicciReporting and field research: Futura D’AprileAuthor: Futura D'AprileEnglish adaptation: Futura D’Aprile and Alexander Damiano RicciOriginal soundtrack: Epidemic SoundOriginal Sound Editing: Jeremy BocquetSound editing and mixing English version: Daniel Gutierrez OrtegaCover artwork : Watermelon CollectiveEditor-in-chief: Alexander Damiano RicciProduction: Futura D'Aprile Executive producer: Ana RiberaEditorial and production coordination: Alexander Damiano RicciA Grain of Power  is a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. This podcast is co-produced by Europod.Subscribe to Europod • English for even more podcasts, and follow us on Linkedin and Instagram.

The Slovak central bank governor, Peter Kažimír and member of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council, you know the body that decides monetary policy for 20 eurozone countries, has just been convicted of bribery. Yes, he has been convicted and fined €200,000 and with a warning that if he doesn’t pay, he’s looking at a year behind bars. But how did we get here and what does this mean for the ECB?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

Yesterday was International Menstrual Hygiene Day, and chances are, it passed without much notice. But something that affects nearly half the population, every single month, for around 40 years, deserves a bit more attention. Periods might still be treated like an uncomfortable secret, but they’re not. And the most important thing isn’t the discomfort, it’s the cost, the stigma, and the silence that continue to surround them. But why is something as basic and essential still so expensive and so ignored in Europe?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram