Europod • News

Soon, asylum seekers from Bangladesh or Egypt, could see their asylum applications in the EU automatically rejected.This is what the new regulations on safe countries of origin and safe third countries, adopted in February, provide for.On what criteria does the EU base its decision to classify a country as safe? And are these criteria foolproof?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is standing up to Donald Trump. He condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and denied the Americans access to Spanish military bases. In retaliation, Washington has vowed to cut trade ties with Madrid.How far can Pedro Sánchez oppose the United States?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

After several years of industrial decline, the European Commission proposed a ‘Made in Europe’ policy, on March fourth.Is this a major industrial turning point? Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

Iran is now blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which 1 in 5 barrels of oil and a quarter of the world’s liquefied natural gas transit.As oil and gas prices rise, should Europeans be worried about a new energy crisis?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

Historically, the EU has placed crucial importance on upholding international law. But after the US and Israeli strikes in Iran, the EU is turning a blind eye to the violation of the principles of the UN Charter. Are we witnessing an erosion of this principle within the EU?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram

Today’s Briefed Special is a longer conversation from our series Europe Talks Back.The European Union is one of the world’s most developed regions; yet deep territorial inequalities persist. According to Eurostat, GDP per capita can vary threefold within the same member state, with capital regions often earning twice as much as the rest of the country.In this episode of Europe Talks Back, produced with ESPON, Léa Marchal explores why many small and medium-sized cities are losing ground — and whether this trend can be reversed.Joined by Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Professor at the London School of Economics and Chair of the High-Level Group on the Future of EU Cohesion Policy, the discussion looks at demographic decline, policy blind spots, and the limits of current cohesion funding.Are these cities doomed to fall behind - or can smarter investment and stronger local institutions help them thrive again?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.A podcast by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research with policies“This podcast series is cofunded by ESPON. However, the opinions and views expressed are solely those of the authors. ESPON can't be held responsible for them.”

“Far-left kills.” That’s how extreme-right protesters have described the death of Quentin Deranque. A formula also used by various political figures in France and abroad to blame far-left and antifascist movements in a broader sense.Can this dramatic event weaken antifascist movements across Europe?Production : By Europod in co-production with the Sphera network.This episode is based on a story written by Enric Bonet for El Salto and another one written by László Szily for 444, and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.

In Spain, the Therian community—people who spiritually identify as animals—has been the subject of heated debates on social media and in the press. Yet, the phenomenon exists primarily in the mouths of its detractors. Why has such a minority movement received so much attention in recent days?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn • Instagram