London Calling EU

Since its establishment in 2020, the EU Delegation to the UK has implemented a unique strategy focused on supporting and connecting with EU citizens in the UK. A highlight of this work is the annual EU Citizens’ Gathering. This year more than 200 people came together - EU citizens’ organisations, EU and UK politicians, Member States and EU institutions - to celebrate the contributions of EU citizens to UK society. In addition, 2024’s Gathering saw the launch of the inaugural EmpowerEU Award scheme which celebrates the incredible work of grassroots organisations supporting EU citizens in the UK. Nine organisations were shortlisted for award, all of which have gone above and beyond to support EU citizens, strengthen EU-UK relations, and foster youth cooperation between the EU and the UK. Join Benedicte Paviot, UK correspondent for France 24, on this episode of London Calling EU, who brings us through the highlights of the day as we hear from the panels, including the Ambassadors to the UK of the EU, Italy, Poland and Germany, MPs and the EmpowerEU award winners. Benedicte also speaks to Lydia Martin, Deputy Head of Projects, New Europeans UK about the significance of the day and the challenges ahead for EU citizens resident in the UK.

Now the European Election 2024 has taken place, we devote the third episode of our election series to the possible legacy of the campaign to mobilise the vote of the European community in the UK. Our host Barbara Serra takes in the Delegation’s celebrations of Europe day and speaks to the Delegation’s own EU citizens’ rights programme lead Daniel Fleischer-Ambrus on what are the outreach plans ahead. Finally, with the new European Parliament in the process of being formed, Barbara speaks with Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a changing Europe and Deborah Bonetti, director of the Foreign Press Association to evaluate how the results of the European election might impact EU-UK relations.

In this second episode of our special series devoted to the upcoming European Elections, our host Barbara Serra reaches out to members of the two largest EU diasporas in the UK- the Polish and the Romanian - to hear how the message about the European Elections is cutting through. Then to help better understand the opportunities and challenges involved in trying to speak directly to the citizens of the EU in the UK, we are joined by Nicholas Hatton, the co founder and former CEO of the 3 million, Typhaine Morillon, press attache for the European Parliament liaison office to the UK and Jakub Krupa, Polish journalist and author. Our third and final episode in the series will be coming up soon! 

Welcome to the first of the EU Delegation’s 3 part series on the upcoming European Elections and the role to be played in them by the UK’s almost 5 million resident EU citizens. Hosted by journalist Barbara Serra, this first episode addresses how the EU community here in the UK, the EU’s biggest diaspora outside the Union, will be able to take part in the election of the 700 MEPs that make up the European Parliament. With turnout a persistent problem we discuss not just how EU citizens can vote but also why the should. In this episode Barbara speaks to EU Ambassador Pedro Serrano, Susanne Oberhauser head of the EPLO in London, Samer Melki French General Consul to the UK and Charles Grant Director, Centre for European Reform.

This month’s episode of London Calling EU is devoted to the large diaspora of EU citizens living in the UK who have such an essential role in shaping future EU-UK relations. To explore, celebrate and better understand the engagement of EU citizens in British society, the EU Delegation hosted the 2023 EU Citizens’ Gathering, themed “Empowering EU Communities in the UK”. The annual event brought together civil society organisations, EU embassies, academia, Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and Members of the European Parliament and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This episode, presented by Bénédicte Paviot, the moderator of the event, provides an overview of the day and the contributions made by, among others, EU Ambassador to the UK Pedro Serrano and European Commission Executive Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič. Some of the key messages of the day which can be heard were delivered by Lord Ricketts Chair of the House of Lords European Affairs Committee, Nathalie Loiseau MEP, Hilary Benn MP, Tsvetelina Penkova MEP and Stella Creasy, MP. 

This month’s episode of London Calling EU focuses on Youth concerns and EU-UK Youth relations. Last month the EU Delegation to the UK brought together over 100 young people from all corners of the UK to a Youth Gathering to identify key challenges affecting young people and capture their views on the future of the EU-UK relationship. The Youth Gathering marked an opportunity for meaningful policy dialogue and an occasion for the establishment of a network of European Affairs Societies. For this episode two young journalists step in to host, Ramin Sayadi and Elena Sofia Massacesi and we hear from participants of the gathering, the European Delegation’s Deputy Ambassador Nicole Mannion and Maurizio Cuttin the UK’s young ambassador to European Youth Forum amongst others.

EU Ambassador to the UK Pedro Serrano discusses the future of EU-UK Foreign policy cooperation with Paul Adamson, Chairman of the EU-UK Forum and Founder of Encompass online, exploring the path ahead for the EU and UK's relationship in the foreign and security policy area.Ambassador Serrano has had a front row seat for all the major steps in EU foreign policy since he began career in Brussels as Deputy Head of Cabinet to the EU's first Foreign Policy Chief, Javier Solana, in 2003. From opening the EU's first mission to the United Nations in New York in 2010 to his most recent role as Chief of Staff to the EU's current Foreign and Security Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, Ambassador Serrano provides his insight into where the EU and UK’s relationship may develop in the challenging geopolitical moment the West finds itself in.Produced by The Podcast Company.

This month’s episode of London Calling EU focuses on the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, which was marked at the EU Delegation in London by a high-level panel event organised in partnership with LSE IDEAS and the Aspen Institute UK. The event explored women’s participation in diplomacy, delving into both the challenges and opportunities for women at all levels of decision-making, global governance and complex international negotiations. How can we make sure women have a seat at the table?Produced by The Podcast Company.