The Ring

What is causing Europe's economic slowdown? Should the EU expand common debt? And what happens if the EU fails to reach an agreement? These questions spark this week’s debate between EU lawmakers Pasquale Tridico (The Left) and Markus Ferber (European People’s Party). Both MEPs clash over whether common debt is the answer to Europe's stagnant economy and weakened competitiveness after a Spanish proposal for Brussels to borrow as much as €850 billion each year to fund growth has revived a longstanding debate in the EU. While Tridico argues that expanding common debt is “a matter of a well-built economy”, Ferber warns that “the markets will not trust us with more borrowing”. In this context, both MEPs weigh in on the fierce global competition facing Europe and the damaging impact on the bloc’s industries and economy.  What would be the economic cost for Europe if EU countries fail to find common ground?  Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Brussels.

Belgium has become a key battleground in Europe's fight against organised crime. With the Port of Antwerp serving as one of the continent's main entry points for cocaine from Latin America, drug trafficking is fuelling violence, corruption and growing concerns about public security. As authorities step up their response, one question remains: is Belgium doing enough to tackle the drug trade? This question sparks this debate between Brussels Mayor Philippe Close, from Socialist Party, and Brussels MP Mathias Vanden Borre from the opposition party N-VA. Close and Vanden Borre debate whether Belgium's current approach is working, clash over the balance between law enforcement and public health, and discuss how to curb the influence of organised crime while making the country's cities safer. Listen to this special edition of The Ring, brought to you from our studios in Brussels.

For two years, farmers have taken to the streets across Europe, protesting against rising production costs, environmental regulations and growing competition from abroad. While Brussels has responded with concessions and financial support, the debate over the future of European agriculture is far from over.Can the EU keep providing a political shield to farmers as it shifts its focus to defence and global trade? This question is at the heart of this edition of The Ring, with Irish Renew MEP Ciaran Mullooly and Finnish EPP MEP Pekka Toveri. As the EU prepares its next long-term budget, Mullooly and Toveri debate whether the Common Agricultural Policy should remain a political priority, clash over the future of CAP funding, and discuss how rising geopolitical tensions, trade agreements and climate pressures are reshaping Europe's farming sector.Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Strasbourg.

A record-breaking heatwave is baking Europe - have politicians failed to protect citizens? Is air-conditioning the answer? As temperatures continue to rise, a critical question emerges: is Europe prepared for a hotter future? This question is the centre of this edition of The Ring, featuring Italian Green Benedetta Scuderi and German EPP Andrea Wechsler. Scuderi and Wechsler discuss the political consequences of a (failed?) climate policy and clash repeatedly over the EU's Green Deal and the lessons learnt from the current heatwave.  Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Brussels.

What has Brexit taught Europe about sovereignty, migration, and disinformation? Has it strengthened the case for deeper European integration? And will the United Kingdom ever rejoin the EU? Ten years after the UK voted to exit the European Union, the debate over Brexit's legacy is far from over. MEPs Barry Andrews (Renew Europe) and Sander Smit (European Conservatives & Reformists) go head-to-head on whether Brexit has strengthened or weakened Europe—and whether Britain could or should one day return to the bloc. Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Brussels.

Can the EU reinvent its economy for a new era of global competition? Is deeper integration the answer, or does Europe need fewer rules and more risk-taking?From Artificial Intelligence to rare minerals, from Trump's tariffs to China's cheap exports - in this edition MEPs Jörgen Walborn (EPP) and Lina Gálvez (S&D) debate about the global economic challenges that lie ahead and that impact all of us in Europe.The European Union likes to see itself as an economic superpower — a market of 450 million consumers, home to some of the world's biggest companies and the largest trading bloc on the planet. But can the bloc remain a global economic heavyweight while balancing climate goals, social protections and strategic autonomy?Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Strasbourg.