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Radio Schuman
Von der Leyen’s Crucial Vote
Join us on Radio Schuman as we dive into a week full of critical developments for the EU. We’ll discuss the re-election bids of key EU leaders and the potential global ramifications. Pedro Lopes de Pablo, spokesperson for the European People’s Party, will shed light on the stakes of Ursula von der Leyen's upcoming vote and the re-election of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
We’ll also explore the fallout from the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump and what it could mean for the EU, as well as the alarming rise in homelessness across Europe.
Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques and audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron. The music is by Alexandre Jas.
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12. Why Did von Der Leyen Delay Announcing Her Team?
17:06||Season 1, Ep. 12European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will not announce her list of European Commissioners today, but on the margins of a plenary session next week in Strasbourg.One official reason for the delay is that Slovenia has changed its nominee and the country’s parliament needs to ratify the new name. But the path to nominate commissioners is often turbulent.Some candidates have past mistakes, controversial opinions or even questionable political ties.Which are the other reasons behind such a delay? Which are the nominees more at risks?Today Radio Schuman answers these questions in conversation with Euronews journalist Gerardo Fortuna.The German government's introduction of border controls at all its borders raises several questions about the future of the Schengen area: Is restricting free movement becoming the new normal in Europe?On a different note, did you know that overexposure to fitness videos promoting idealized, super-fit bodies can be harmful to teens? The popular platform YouTube is facing the problem introducing new rules to protect young users.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.11. Draghi’s Report Risks Colliding With EU Political Reality
10:42||Season 2, Ep. 11A key and controversial recommendation of former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's competitiveness report was for Europe to have recourse to common debt instruments to keep the pace with competitors such as the US and China.But what happens when Draghi's recommendations come face to face with political reality in the EU?My colleague Vincenzo Genovese found out from Guntram Wolff, from the Brussels-based European economic think tank Bruegel.We make a brief overview of the two major court judgments cases due today involving Apple and Google: will the final rulings alter how the EU handles state aid cases (in the Apple case) and shape competition in the digital market (in the Google case)?On a lighter note, have you heard about the latest trend in tourism, the sleepcation?Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.10. Could the European Parliament reject Italy’s Commission nominee?
17:34||Season 2, Ep. 10After European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen presents her list of Commissioners to the European Parliament this week, the legal affairs parliamentary committee will assess whether any conflict of interest would make them unable to carry out their duties.In 2019, von der Leyen asked Hungary and Romania to present new candidates for the European Commission after the legal committee found out that the nominees could not carry out their task in full transparency.The unofficial list of commission nominees that has already circulated in the media show that Italy, Hungary and Malta among others could face hurdles to getting their nominees confirmed.What can we expect this time around? How will MEPs treat Raffaele Fitto, the potential Italian nominee whose party voted against the re-election of von der Leyen? Will MEPs reject the incumbent Hungarian candidate, Oliver Varhelyi? What will be their approach with any of Viktor Orban’s candidates?This Monday, Radio Schuman answers these questions in conversation with the Green German MEP Daniel Freund.A quick look at Mario Draghi's report, which will be presented on Monday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Draghi himself: are there any controversial points that might generate heated discussions with EU member states?In good news from science, a new AI model for cancer diagnosis could greatly change how the disease is detected and understood.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.9. Malta's and Hungary's Commission nominees face 'tough' grilling in Parliament - EPP MEP
16:01||Season 2, Ep. 9Will the European Parliament approve the list of Commission nominees that von der Leyen will present next week?According to veteran German MEP Peter Liese, some nominees will struggle to secure their spot, with the Maltese and Hungarian choices most imperilled.Euronews has seen a list of 25 commissioners-designate doing the rounds of Ursula von der Leyen's own European People's Party which earmarks their potential portfolios. It may not reflect what the Commission President finally decides on September 11, but Radio Schuman can give you a peek at the latest on which names will slot into the portfolios.We also take a quick look at the newly elected prime minister in France: Michel Barnier is very well known in EU Brussels circles, as two-time European Commissioner and chief negotiator of the Brexit deal. Will he be able to keep all political sides of France's divided National Assembly together however?On a lighter note, did you know that you can now buy Spaghetti Carbonara out of a tin in the UK? As you can imagine, that doesn't set Italian taste buds tingling...Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.8. Reforming The CAP? How The EU Sees The Future Of Its Agriculture
10:08||Season 2, Ep. 8Changing the rules on subsidising farmers is at the heart of a 100-page report on the future of agriculture set to feed a vision document due in the first 100 days of the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s second mandate.A significant overhaul of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to make subsidies based on farmers’ income rather than farm size is among changes proposed in a report on the future of agriculture presented to Ursula von der Leyen.Today’s Radio Schuman looks at this report – launched in response to widespread anger from farmers protesting in EU capitals – which also pledges a shift to plant-based diets and a temporary just transition fund outside the CAP to help farmers transition towards more sustainable practices.Will this blueprint make Europe’s farmers’ lives easier? Environmental NGO Greenpeace seems to think so. Euronews’s Aida Sanchez spoke to Marco Contiero, the organization’s EU agricultural policy director.We also take a quick look at the ongoing saga surrounding the appointment of European commissioners saga: what is the latest timeline?There’s also some good science news: did you know that sleeping some extra hours during the weekends can save your life? Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.7. Rising Far Right Creating Worse Gender Imbalance - Romanian Nominee
16:46||Season 2, Ep. 7On Monday, Roxana Mînzatu was presented by the Romanian government as the next European Commissioner for the country, withdrawing the previous nomination of Victor Negrescu, to comply with Ursula von der Leyen's gender criteria.Minzatu, who is 44, is a former Secretary of State for European funds, and later for public procurement. She spoke to Euronews journalist Shona Murray hours after her nomination about her recent job interview with von der Leyen, the importance of implementing EU law in Europe, and her concerns over the EU’s backsliding on gender balance. A quick look at the gruesome report from Human Rights Watch on forced returns of Syrian refugees by the Cypriot and Lebanese authorities. The NGO claims that the financial help from the EU to Lebanon on border management has never been conditional on the respect of human rights. How much does it cost to go back to school? Today Radio Schuman talks about the average spending of the top European five economies on school supplies- spoiler alert: those spending more are not very rich. Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.6. AI, big tech and tax: Radio Schuman talks EU digital and antitrust policy with Margrethe Vestager
18:32||Season 2, Ep. 6From regret for the outcome tax state aid cases, to optimism for the future of European AI - outgoing Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager sat down with Radio Schuman.The EU’s outgoing digital and competition supremo regretted the outcome of landmark tax state aid cases and expressed optimism for the future of European AI in an exclusive sit down with Radio Schuman.“It would have been better” if the Commission had won the controversial tax state aid cases – successfully challenged by Ireland and Luxembourg in respect of so-called sweetheart deals with Apple and Engie - Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager told us.However the woman at the forefront of shaping the EU's competition and digital policies for nearly a decade was content that global tax policies had adapted over the same period, and she expressed optimism that the conditions for investment and ethical development of AI have paved the way for a European AI model that can compete in a fierce global contest.Vestager also defended her track record, and criticised gender imbalance in the nominations for the next EU commissioners.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.5. Ukraine's Defense
14:43||Season 2, Ep. 5In this episode of Radio Schuman, we discuss Ukraine's urgent plea to lift EU restrictions on long-range weapons for better defense against Russia, featuring insights from Ukraine expert Sasha Vakulina.We also touch on Putin's recent trip to Mongolia and explore a quirky new dating trend in Spain's supermarkets.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.4. Belgium’s Late Commissioner Nomination
12:42||Season 2, Ep. 4In today's episode of Radio Schuman, we dive into the tangled web of Belgian politics as the country faces the challenge of naming a European Commissioner while still negotiating a new government.With Didier Reynders as the only official candidate just before the deadline, we explore Belgium's political landscape and the pressures from the European Union.We’ll hear from top journalist Wouter Vershelden, who shares the behind-the-scenes story.We also discuss the EU's divided response to Josep Borrell’s proposal to sanction Israeli ministers and explore the surprising launch of a Barbie-themed phone aimed at helping young people detox from digital devices.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.