The Ring

As the war in the Middle East enters its fourth week, Europe finds itself at a crossroads — balancing calls for restraint with mounting pressure to take a clearer stance. While EU leaders continue to urge de-escalation and the protection of civilians, divisions remain over whether Brussels should step up its role on the global stage.In this edition of The Ring, recorded at the European Parliament in Brussels, two sharply contrasting voices go head to head. Riho Terras, former Estonian army chief and MEP for the EPP, faces Özlem Demirel, German MEP from The Left and a long-time anti-war advocate.Can diplomacy alone shape outcomes in a region marked by decades of conflict? Or does Europe need to back its words with military strength to be heard? As the humanitarian toll rises and geopolitical stakes intensify, the debate cuts to the core of the EU’s identity as a global actor.With opposing views — from calls to reject militarisation to arguments for strategic power — the discussion raises urgent questions about Europe’s responsibility, influence and limits in times of war.Listen now to this week’s episode of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament in Brussels.

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the impact is being felt far beyond the region — especially on global energy markets. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have tightened supply routes, pushing prices higher and adding new uncertainty for European economies.Where does Europe stand as the pressure builds? MEPs Fabrice Leggeri, from Patriots for Europe, and Jussi Saramo, from The Left, go head to head to debate how the EU should respond — and what the crisis means for energy policy, economic stability and Europe’s strategic autonomy.With prices volatile and geopolitical tensions rising, deeper questions are coming into focus. Should nuclear power play a larger role in Europe’s future energy mix? And will the European Union act quickly enough to protect households and businesses from the surge in costs?Take a listen to this week’s episode of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament in Brussels.

Europe is facing spiralling healthcare costs, driven by an ageing population and the growing burden of chronic diseases. At the same time, demand for cutting-edge treatments is rising — bringing a fundamental question into focus: who should pay for healthcare innovation, and to what extent should health be treated as a business?MEPs Tilly Metz, from the Greens, and Stine Bosse, from Renew Europe, go head to head to debate how the EU should respond — and what it means for access, affordability and innovation across Europe’s healthcare systems.Debates over taxation in the pharmaceutical sector are adding another layer, raising concerns about how much profit companies should make from publicly funded research and innovation.Beyond the immediate pressures, Europe also faces long-term structural challenges. Healthcare systems continue to spend significantly more on treatment than on prevention — prompting questions about sustainability and priorities.Take a listen to this week’s special episode of The Ring, brought to you from the Euronews Health Summit in Brussels.

As the war in Iran enters its second week, the ripple effects are reaching Europe — from rising energy prices to growing security concerns on the EU’s southeastern flank. Where does Europe stand as the conflict escalates? MEPs Daniel Attard, from the Socialists & Democrats group, and Antonio López-Istúriz, from the centre-right European People’s Party, go head to head to debate how the European Union should respond to the war in Iran — and what the crisis could mean for Europe’s economy, security and global role. Oil prices have surged above 100 dollars a barrel for the first time in four years, raising fears of economic turbulence for Europe’s export-driven economies. At the same time, the crisis is testing the relationship between Brussels and Washington. With Donald Trump back in the White House, will European governments align more closely with the United States, or attempt to chart a more independent path? Meanwhile, several EU countries have deployed warships to reinforce the defences of Cyprus, an EU member state located close to the conflict zone and already affected by regional tensions. Take a listen to this week’s episode of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

A spiralling conflict has erupted in the Middle East, risking major regional spill-over and dragging in European Union countries.Was the EU right to refrain from criticising the initial attack on Iran? Are EU nations now inevitably being dragged into war? And what are the implications for Europe's economy, security, and stability?MEPs Hana Jalloul and Reinhold Lopatka go head to head to debate the escalating conflict in the Middle East, and its implications for the European Union.Jalloul, who hails from the socialist party of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, argues that Spain was right to question the legality of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. She also calls out the brutality of the Iranian regime and backs the Iranian people's struggle to re-claim their freedom.While Lopatka, from the centre-right EPP group, agrees that the legality of the strikes is questionable, he argues that the intervention is "justified" as the US aims to constrain Iran's nuclear capacities and support for its proxies, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.

Should Ukraine be given fast-track membership into the European Union?The majority of MEPs seem to think so. Although they may not see eye to eye on the how or the exact when, most MEPs think Ukrainian EU membership would send a strong message of support to Ukrainians and one of defiance to the Kremlin.To mark four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, this week on The Ring, we are joined by two Lithuanian MEPs: Aurelijus Veryga from the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists) group and Petras Auštrevičius from the liberal Renew Europe group.Although from opposing political families, one conservative and the other liberal, both agree that Ukraine belongs inside the European Union. We ask the big question: Is enlargement a test of solidarity, a measure of Europe’s strategic power, or both?