Radio Schuman

Today Radio Schuman talks all things Syria with Adam Coogle, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. What should the EU's approach be to the new regime in Syria? Should the EU lift sanctions in the country and start a dialogue with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which is defined as a terrorist organisation by the EU?Radio Schuman also examines the next steps in the European Commission's investigation into TikTok, and a European Court of Auditors report on the Commission's performance in enforcing EU law.We also look at how Europe is performing on the gender pay gap in the workplace.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Why did French President Emmanuel Macron choose Francois Bayrou as Prime Minister and how might he approach the role differently from his predecessor Michel Barnier? Today Radio Schuman dives into the issue in conversation with Euronews reporter Gregoire Lory.Bayrou, a former minister and three-time presidential candidate, leads the centrist Democratic Movement (MoDem), which he founded in 2007. Currently, Bayrou is holding preliminary talks with France’s political parties, including the far-right National Rally, to discuss the 2025 budget and the shape of the next government.Like his predecessor Michel Barnier, Bayrou faces the challenge of forming a government that can hold together, in the face of growing pressure from Brussels for France to reduce its debt, projected to reach 6% of GDP this year.Today we also look at European Commission Ursula von der Leyen's trip to Turkey and some significant votes at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.Also today, Radio Schuman explores which countries in Europe enjoy the cleanest air, and where the air quality is worst.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Today Radio Schuman chews over the confidence vote in Germany, expected to hand a clear lead to the SPD’s conservative rivals, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian counterpart, the Christian Social Union (CSU), with Olivia Stroud, Euronews Berlin correspondent.Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s political future is precarious. His coalition government of Social Democrats and Greens has lacked a majority since the liberal FDP exited.On the international stage, Germany faces mounting challenges. The war in Ukraine continues unabated, Syria’s new coalition government is fragile, and Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency presents significant issues for Germany, the EU’s largest nation. Meanwhile, unprecedented political instability in France has left the Franco-German alliance—the engine of European integration—effectively stalled.What lies ahead for Germany? Why are conservatives poised to reclaim power, and what coalition could take shape?In the second segment of the podcast we look at the most important issues under discussion at today's foreign affairs council.In the last part of the show, Radio Schuman reveals the side jobs of some members of the European Parliament.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Georgia has recently experienced weeks of protests following parliamentary elections that secured a win for the ruling Georgian Dream party. In the aftermath, the party announced plans to suspend efforts to join the European Union.On Saturday, the country faces presidential elections, a development that could further destabilise the nation of 3.7 million people and potentially accelerate the government’s distancing from the EU.Although the presidency in Georgia is largely ceremonial, this election is significant as it marks the first time since the 2017 constitutional reforms that the president will be chosen by parliament rather than by popular vote. The current president, Salome Zourabichvili, represents the pro-EU opposition and has consistently criticised Georgian Dream for its increasingly authoritarian, anti-Western, and pro-Russian policies. Recently, Zourabichvili declared she does not recognise the results of the parliamentary elections and pledged to remain in office until new elections are held.Georgian Dream has nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former soccer player with Eurosceptic views, as its presidential candidate.To gain deeper insight into the stakes of Saturday’s election and the current situation in Georgia, Radio Schuman spoke with Nuka Kekelia, our Euronews correspondent in Tbilisi.In the second segment of the podcast, we had a look at some details of a vote on human trafficking among EU ministers.In the last part of the show, Radio Schuman brings you the new code of conduct of the upcoming Eurovision.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Right to asylum should not be considered as a 'value' but rather a principle of international law, Olivia Sundberg, migration expert from Amnesty International told Euronews in an interview featured in Radio Schuman today.Yesterday, the European Commission presented a communication focusing on measures against countries such as Russia and Belarus, which are accused of facilitating entry of migrants into EU territory.This phenomenon is described as a ‘hybrid threat', and the European Commission is supporting EU states in addressing it by temporarily limiting access to migrants.Yesterday’s communication also included a greenlight by the EU executive to suspend the rights to access asylum if it is proportionate, temporary and limited to what is "strictly necessary". However, NGOs such as Amnesty have raised concerns about the political narrative.Today Radio Schuman analyses the situation together with Sundberg.In the second segment of the podcast, we took a look at an important EU ministerial gathering in Brussels. Can you guess the topic?In the last part of the show, Radio Schuman brings you data on the dearest and the cheapest ferry prices for 2025.Today's Radio Schuman is hosted by Sasha Vakulina and produced by the journalist Eleonora Vasques. Audio editing by David Brodheim and Zacharia Vigneron. Music by Alexandre Jas.

The European Union should prioritise establishing a viable political process in Syria, while the situation in the country and the prospects for refugees remain uncertain, a senior Middle East expert at the Italian think tank Istituto Affari Internazionali told Euronews in an interview with Radio Schuman.Since the fall of Bashar al Assad's regime, the EU has carefully calibrated its reactions to developments in Syria, avoiding triumphalism or pessimism. Since 2011, the EU has imposed sanctions on members of Assad's regime, including asset freezes and travel bans, while remaining the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Syria. However, the bloc now faces challenges in responding to the volatile situation involving a new coalition it considers a terrorist group. Some EU countries, such as Austria, have suspended asylum claims for Syrians and even proposed deportations. The Italian institute's Maria Luisa Fantappiè said these actions are premature.In the second part of the program, we took a quick look at the Brussels agenda, highlighting key discussions among newly elected European Commissioners and an upcoming vote by EU diplomats.In the last segment of the show, Radio Schuman reveals what the busiest airport in Europe - spoiler alert: a non-EU capital leads the ranking...Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

With French opposition remaining to the EU-Mercosur deal struck last week by the EU, the real work on the deal starts now, French liberal MEP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne tells the Radio Schuman podcast today.Last week, the EU finalised the contentious Mercosur agreement with some South Amercan countries, a deal that follows on-and-off negotiations that began in 1999.However, France—one of the largest EU member states—along with several other countries with sizeable dairy and beef industries, opposes the agreement. They argue it could expose local farmers to unfair competition and heighten environmental risks.To block the deal, France is attempting to form a coalition of like-minded member states. Under EU rules, it would need the support of at least three other countries representing 35% of the bloc's population. Additionally, the agreement must gain approval from the European Parliament.In the second segment of the podcast, we look at EU ministers discussions with the Commission on the economic plans for their countries. Are they performing well?On the last part of the show, Radio Schuman reveals which airlines are using more sustainable form of fuel.Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.