Radio Schuman

European defence industry demands more European investment, EU’s defence commissioner tells Radio Schuman The EU is exploring new and bold strategies to strengthen its defence sector. Relaxing strict fiscal rules to boost defence spending, accessing what is known as the SAFE instrument to raise capital, and expanding the European Investment Bank’s mandate to support military projects are some of the proposals to member states developed in the EU’s White Paper on Defence.At the EU summit in Brussels last week, the EU leaders discussed the commission’s proposal for the member states to allocate amounts as high as €800 billion in defence spending over the next four years to strengthen Europe's defence infrastructure.“When the war comes, you need to have your industry developed on high level in order to maintain, to repair and to produce new weapons,” says the EU’s defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius regarding the proposed increase in the defence budgets, “Now our industry really demands much more for European investment in order to develop our industry like a strategic asset.”Kubilius also doubted Europe's readiness for Eurobonds and emphasised developing military mobility infrastructure.Radio Schuman also looks at an important deadline today in the EU’s investigations into Apple, Meta and Alphabet on whether they violated the Digital Markets Act, and also at some experimental attempts to curb irregular migration through Artificial Intelligence.

FRONTEX’s role in returning rejected asylum-seekers should be monitored, especially in terms of the protection of fundamental rights, green MEP Tineke Strik tells Radio Schuman on Monday.Earlier this month, the European Commission presented a new regulation that would - if approved - enable EU countries to transfer rejected asylum seekers to distant countries where they have never been before.Although the law did not establish deportation centres or “return hubs”, it lays the groundwork for outsourcing the migration tasks to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency FRONTEX.“I think we first need to make sure that FRONTEX is dealing with fundamental rights in a proper way, in line with EU law. And only then we can see what role they can take if it comes to third countries,” says green MEP Tineke Strik, as the agency has been investigated in the past for human rights violations.Today, Radio Schuman also takes a look at a discussion among agriculture ministers on the new Commission's plans to change agriculture in Europe, and also at a compilation by Euronews culture on the things people miss the most from the March 2020 Covid lockdown.

Europe needs to upscale its support for Ukraine as Donald Trump continues to shift towards Moscow, but EU member states find it challenging to agree on a fresh military aid to Ukraine One of the main discussions at the EU summit on March 20 was on defence - particularly about what is known as the Kallas plan. The plan, based on the idea that larger countries would provide larger donations to finance military expenses, has encountered strong disagreements.  According to bruxelles2 editor Nicolas Gros-Verheyde, the primary reason for the dispute is the big jump on the proposed amounts of donations for several countries. "It is not an increase. It is the double of the triple (of the previous amounts)," says Gros-Verheyde regarding the proposed amounts for France, Spain and Italy. In today's episode Radio Schuman also takes a look at the historic vote today in the German upper House on a law that  exempts defence and security expenditures from Germany's debt rules. The episode also explores the happiest countries in Europe according to the latest World Happiness Report.

Ukraine’s territory has to be recognized, and its independence and sovereignty have to be protected, for the end of the war to be worth it, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne tells Radio Schuman today.As the European Council convenes for a summit today and tomorrow in Brussels, defence and Ukraine are key items on the agenda. “We all want peace. That must be a peace that's fair to the territory of Ukraine,” says Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne, “If we can end the war and protect Ukraine and protect its independence and sovereignty, then it will certainly have been worth it.”The minister also emphasised promoting multilateralism, highlighting its contribution to peace and economic prosperity.Decisions on EU security and defence as well as an effective strategy in terms of trade relations with the US under the second term of President Trump are also expected from the upcoming summit.Today’s episode on Radio Schuman also features a discussion in the European parliament with Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, and also explores a new study that reveals the world’s most disappointing tourist attractions.

Destabilisation is not only about getting money anymore. It's also about helping ideologically oriented states to reach their goals, Europol Director Catherine De Bolle tells Radio SchumanEuropol new study finds the latest trends in organised crime, revealing an increase in the use of AI tools in criminal activities including money laundering, fraud, and scams. “In fact, the system is training itself and you don't need 200 people anymore to send all the mails,” says Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, regarding the adoption of AI in organized criminal activities, “The AI system is even more accurate than the human letter, so you do not really find the mistakes anymore.” Europol also noted a growing cooperation between organised crime groups and foreign actors aiming to destabilise the EU. As a result, monetary gains from the crimes are no longer their only incentive. Radio Schuman also features discussions on the European Union’s response to growing security concerns at its eastern borders and the uncertain US involvement in European defence, as well as this year’s recipient of the Hunyadi János Award. 

More than 900 people are dying prematurely because of air pollution. Every year it's more than two people per day, air quality expert Pierre Dornier tells Radio Schuman.  Pollution in the Belgian capital has been reaching dangerous levels lately, putting the residents at increased risk of diseases including asthma, cancer and heart complications. The Brussels parliament, however, has voted for delaying necessary steps in the city’s plan to reduce emissions. Pierre Dornier, founder of Les chercheurs d’air, a Brussels-based organisation working for improved air quality, told Radio Schuman that air pollution claims nearly a 1000 lives prematurely every year.  Even masks may not save us from breathing in polluted air as it would induce heavier breathing- pulling particles in lower quantities but deeper than normal breathing. Radio Schuman today also discusses the ninth Brussels conference on Syria, the first one since the collapse of Bashar Assad’s government late last year, and a deterioration in the rule of law observed across several European countries.