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The EU Has Lost Patience With PM Orbán. What Can It Do With Hungary Now?
Season 2, Ep. 32
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Halfway through its six-month rotating presidency, rather than playing the honest broker, Budapest has blocked many files, including the ones on aid to Ukraine.
It further blocked a statement denouncing Moscow's media ban, and it voted against the EU’s plan to impose tariffs on electric vehicles.
It's unclear what exactly broke the camel's back, but one thing is certain: the EU has lost its patience with Hungary.
Yet on Tuesday, at a press conference ahead of this speech in Parliament, Orbán played the now-traditional martyr card at a press conference before his big speech in front of all MEPs, arguing that he's not the problem — it is Brussels that needs to change its strategy on Ukraine, migration and competitiveness.
So, what can the EU do now with Hungary? We ask Daniel Hegedüs, the German Marshall Fund's regional director for Central Europe.
Coming up on Wednesday’s EU agenda, Radio Schuman will dive into the latest developments on the G7's proposed $50 billion (€45 billion) loan to Ukraine — will we see further progress?
Over in Strasbourg, MEPs are set for a lively debate on several key issues, including a G20 proposal to tax the world’s wealthiest individuals, strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders, and ensuring decent and affordable housing for all citizens.
And lastly, have you ever wondered if MEPs get to skip the airport lines? Or what benefits do they have? Short answer: the European Parliament does not issue passports with diplomatic status for MEPs, but they can have a "laisser-passez" travel document when going on parliamentary business.
Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Paula Soler, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.
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33. Orbán's Main Foe Péter Magyar Talks Corruption, Ukraine And Battle Against The Government
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31. Will The EU Lose A Counterweight In Its Middle East Policy?
17:40||Season 2, Ep. 31Monday marked a year since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which led Brussels to repeat its calls for a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages.One year later, Europe is still not on the same page, and in just a few weeks, Kaja Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister, will become the EU's new foreign policy chief.But Kallas is known to be less committed and outspoken on the Middle East than the current High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell.So, what can we expect from Kallas, and how can the EU break the current deadlock in the Middle East? Martin Konecny, director of the European Middle East Project, an independent civil society hub on EU policy towards Israel and Palestine is our guest today.On the EU's daily menu, get ready for a first taste of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.Ahead of his big speech on Wednesday outlining his vision for Hungary's six-month turn at the EU's rotating presidency, Orbán will hold a press conference with MEP Kinga Gál at 2:30 pm today that could steal some of the limelight from a parliamentary debate on the EU's car industry and... himself. Lastly, Radio Schuman dives into one of the EU’s toughest challenges: a serious shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare pros. Curious about which countries rely most on foreign medical staff? Here’s a hint: Northern Europe’s where to look.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Paula Soler, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.
30. Chinese EVs Tariffs Fallout: Is Germany Losing Its Influence In Brussels?
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29. A Rise In Far-Right Leaders Across Europe Is A Matter Of T iming
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28. Middle East Crisis May Trigger A New Refugee Crisis In The EU, Warns UNHCR
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15:01||Season 2, Ep. 27In Brussels, exit interviews are often particularly insightful, especially with a commissioner responsible for a complex portfolio where decision-making predominantly rests with individual governments.While Kyriakides did not always assume a central public role during the COVID-19 crisis, her team was tasked with overseeing vaccine procurement in Europe and introducing numerous other significant legislations. These included the EU’s Cancer Master Plan, the extension of smoking bans to outdoor areas, a European action plan for mental health, and the creation of the first EU Health Data Space. However, the healthcare sector faces additional challenges, such as a rapidly ageing population, strained national healthcare systems, and an industry grappling to remain competitive. Moreover, as the EU's budget negotiations approach, there is a risk that health may be deprioritised in favor of defense, climate, and migration, which are expected to dominate the political agenda. Euronews' health reporter Marta Irraola Irribaren interviewed Kyriakides yesterday.Today's Brussels agenda includes a key meeting at the European Parliament and two high-profile visits.In the final part of the show, we'll discuss the country where children are the unhappiest—spoiler: it's located in Northern Europe.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.
26. What Would Having The Far Right In Power Mean For Austria And EU Migration Policies?
17:21||Season 2, Ep. 26Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, or FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, is one of Europe's biggest opponents of migration, including ending asylum rights and promoting “remigration” — a vague concept of shipping foreigners away to protect what sounds like its racial and religious purity.Even without the FPÖ in power, the Alpine country already enforces strict immigration laws and has abstained or voted against some key files of the EU’s migration pact so far.If the FPÖ forms a coalition with the centre-right ÖVP, how would Austria handle migration? What would this mean for Brussels, especially with Magnus Brunner, Austria's migration Commissioner-designate, poised to shape European policies? Could the FPÖ's influence reshape both Austria’s and the EU's approach to migration?Today Radio Schuman enlists the help of Dr. Judith Kohlenberger, migration expert at the University of Vienna, to try and answer these questions.The European agenda today brings us a crucial appointment at the European Parliament, the official ceremony to mark the transition between Jens Stoltenberg and Mark Rutte as NATO secretary general, and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's first public speech at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.Finally, saving the best for last, we want to know which European countries are best for ageing well.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.
25. Has The EU Really Become More Transparent? 'Sort of,' - EU Ombudswoman
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