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Richmond vs Conway-Walsh – Can Ireland shape Europe's future?
Can a country of fewer than six million people steer the European Union through some of its biggest challenges? What will Ireland's priorities be during its six-month presidency of the Council of the EU? And can Dublin leave a lasting mark on the bloc's agenda?
These questions sparked this week's debate between Irish lawmakers Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) and Rose Conway-Walsh (Sinn Féin).
Both politicians clash over the opportunities and challenges facing the country at a pivotal moment for Europe. From negotiations on the EU's long-term budget to defence, technological sovereignty, and economic competitiveness, the Irish presidency will have to navigate a packed political agenda.
Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from Europe House in Dublin.
The Ring is Euronews’ weekly political showdown, where Europe’s toughest debates meet their boldest voices.
In each episode, two political heavyweights from across the EU face off to propose a diversity of opinions and spark conversations around the most important issues of EU affairs and the wider European political life.
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42. Apostolaki vs Keridis – «The Ring» στην Αθήνα: Μια πολιτική μονομαχία στη σκιά της Ακρόπολης
27:44||Season 1, Ep. 42Από τις Βρυξέλλες και το Στρασβούργο στην καρδιά της Αθήνας, με θέα την Ακρόπολη. Το «The Ring» ταξιδεύει στην ελληνική πρωτεύουσα για μια πολιτική μονομαχία με θέμα τη μετανάστευση, τη στεγαστική κρίση και το ένταλμα σύλληψης για τον ΝετανιάχουΗ πολιτική συζήτηση «πήρε φωτιά» και το μεταναστευτικό επέστρεψε στην κορυφή της ατζέντας. Οι βουλευτές Δημήτρης Καιρίδης και Μιλένα Αποστολάκη διασταυρώνουν τα ξίφη τους.Ο Δημήτρης Καιρίδης, βουλευτής της Νέας Δημοκρατίας, του συντηρητικού κυβερνώντος κόμματος σημειώνει πως ο πολίτης πρέπει να νιώθει ασφαλής, ενώ εκτιμά πως «πρέπει να αποφύγουμε τις ακρότητες που βλέπουμε στην άλλη πλευρά του Ατλαντικού»Η Μιλένα Αποστολάκη, βουλευτής του ΠΑΣΟΚ, του κεντροαριστερού κόμματος της αξιωματικής αντιπολίτευσης, δήλωσε πως τα γεγονότα στη Θέουτα «χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ως προπαγανδιστικός μηχανισμός για να πληγεί ο Ισπανός πρωθυπουργός, Πέδρο Σάντσεθ».Ακούστε αυτή την ειδική έκδοση του «The Ring», που μεταδίδεται από την καρδιά της ελληνικής πρωτεύουσας.
41. Andersson vs Mandl – Debating Ursula von der Leyen's speech on The Ring
27:26||Season 1, Ep. 41After Ursula von der Leyen's address to the European Parliament this week, the debate: MEPs Li Andersson (The Left) and Lukas Mandl (EPP) deconstruct the EU Commission president's speech in a live edition of The Ring.What did the President promise — and what can she actually deliver? From Ukraine and European defence to the economy, migration and the EU’s response to a rapidly changing world, the speech came at a crucial moment for the Union.What does Europe really need? Is Brussels becoming more powerful — or simply more ambitious? And can the EU walk the talk, turning big promises into concrete results?Listen to this special edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Strasbourg.
40. Sippel vs Zdechovský – Ceuta migration crisis tests European solidarity
27:30||Season 1, Ep. 40Did European solidarity fail after the Ceuta crisis? Is Europe really united on migration?From Morocco’s role and Spain’s response to whether EU member states are doing enough to help out when one member state comes under pressure, the debate raises more questions than answers.The same week that Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, travelled to Brussels in a cry for help, we are joined by Czech centre-right MEP Tomáš Svetechovský and German Socialist MEP Birgit Sippel. Both EU lawmakers clash on how Europe should respond to the migration crisis and whether EU member states should take in and relocate migrants arriving in Spain. Can Europe come together in a crisis like this? And has the EU migration pact unravelled just as it started being enforced? Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Brussels.
39. Bentele vs Germain – The surge of the far-right - who is to blame?
27:48||Season 1, Ep. 39All eyes are on the election in the small East German state of Saxony-Anhalt. A potential absolute majority for the far-right there could shake up German politics and rattle Europe. The beginning of a new crisis?Is Saxony-Anhalt simply expressing frustration with the political establishment? Or are we about to witness a turning point for Germany — and potentially for Europe? And who is to blame? These questions spark this week’s debate between EU lawmakers Jean-Marc Germain (Socialists & Democrats) and Hildegard Bentele (European People’s Party). Listen to this edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament studios in Brussels.
38. Europe’s biggest debates – Migration, Mercosur, and housing on The Ring
27:52||Season 1, Ep. 38From migration and trade to the rising cost of housing, Europe continues to face complex political challenges with far-reaching consequences.As the migration debate returned to the EU Parliament, who decides who belongs in Europe? Will the EU-Mercosur agreement boost Europe's economy or put farmers and environmental standards at risk? How can Europe help tackle the housing crisis and make homes more affordable?These questions sparked some of this season’s debates between EU lawmakers, including Ciaran Mullooly (Renew Europe), Juan Fernando López Aguilar (Socialists & Democrats), and Maria Ohisalo (Greens), as well as centre-right MEPs Tomas Tobé, Jörgen Warborn, and Dirk Gotink from the European People’s Party.As Members of the European Parliament take a break from Brussels, we look back at some of the debates that made headlines. Listen to this special summer edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg.
37. Europe’s biggest debates on The Ring - EU’s security… at what cost?
27:50||Season 1, Ep. 37From energy security to migration and foreign policy, the current geopolitical context raises difficult questions about Europe's role in a changing world.Who will pay for Europe’s defence spending? How should Europe respond to growing tensions and instability in the Middle East? These questions sparked some of this season’s debates on The Ring between EU lawmakers, including left MEPs Marc Botenga, Martin Schirdewan, and Özlem Demirel, Socialist MEP Hana Jalloul, as well as EPP MEPs Riho Terras, Lukas Mandl, and Reinhold Lopatka.As Members of the European Parliament take a break from Brussels, we look back at some of the debates that made headlines. Listen to this special summer edition of The Ring, brought to you from the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg.
35. Tridico vs Ferber – Who pays to fund Europe’s future?
27:46||Season 1, Ep. 35What 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.
34. Close vs Vanden Borre – Is Belgium becoming a narco-state?
27:38||Season 1, Ep. 34Belgium 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.