Friends Of Europe Podcasts

While EU countries debate the role of artificial intelligence in our lives and economy, China has embedded AI at every level, from the home to the streets and the factories. We wanted to find out more about this new shift in China’s role in the global technology sector and the philosophy behind its regulation model. Podcast host Sabina Șancu and programme executive Francisco Lopez explored the different approaches to AI between Europe and China from Sacha Courtial, EU-China associate researcher at the Jacques Delors Institute. In the second part of the podcast, we get to find out more about the Chinese perspective from Shanhui Zhang, news anchor at CGTN and research fellow at the Centre for China and Globalisation. On October 13, Friends of Europe organised our annual Europe-China Forum, an event where representatives from both sides met to discuss international and economic cooperation. One of the big themes that emerged was that of China’s progress in the field of AI, one of the technologies of the

This is the ninth episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu spoke with MEP Lena Schilling about her agenda for COP30 and her fight to protect the Green Deal. Schilling, the youngest MEP in this mandate, also talks about how youth voices can best be represented at the highest levels

As geopolitics shakes our perception of the world on a nearly daily basis, how does this translate in the tangible terms of the economy? Are states that seem at odds with each other actually avoiding investing in each other, or are they in fact doing business together? And are they doing so more than they did before the current tensions, or less? Host Sabina Șancu and programme executive Francisco Lopez sat down with Tiago Devesa, senior fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute, to discuss trade distances and geopolitical divides, and assess trade diversification. If you want to comment on this episode, you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org You can read more about MGI’s research here: https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/global-connections

When we talk about geopolitics, we tend to look around ourselves at eye level. We look at countries and borders, institutions and politicians, trade and wealth, identity and community... Recently, we’ve also started looking down, as the rush for resources such as rare earths has entered the conversation. Yet, do most people look up, especially now after the space race has subsided? This episode brings a new layer to diplomacy: cooperation, competition and countering pollution only 36,000 kilometres above us. Host Sabina Șancu spoke to Ambassador Marjolijn van Deelen, the EU Special Envoy for Space, about the challenges and untapped potential of the EU’s diplomacy in orbit. If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org

On October 16th, Friends of Europe organised its annual State of Europe high-level roundtable, where many of the continent’s brightest minds got together to debate issues ranging from geopolitics to the single market, enlargement to defense, climate and innovation. This occasion also marked the launch of the new Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation. On the margins of this event and with a nod to the discussions taking place on the day, host Sabina Șancu spoke to Romania’s Foreign Minister, Oana Țoiu, about Europe’s biggest challenges at the moment and what her hopes are for our Union and its citizens. Our other guest is Joaquín Almunia, former European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs (2004-2009) and for competition (2009-2014), who reflected on the Union’s hardest moments around the 2008 financial crisis and shared his own hopes for Europe’s future. If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org

Europe is experiencing a decisive moment in terms of its energy: it is at the crossroads of fossil fuels and renewables, as well as in a delicate geopolitical balance with the countries who have the resources to supply energy. Trying to wean ourselves off of Russian gas, is it a safe bet to go for American energy instead? Host Sabina Șancu spoke to MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (France, S&D) about the current state of our energy supply and security, the influence of the private sector on lawmaking, and about paths towards creating a greener, more resilient EU. If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org

This is the eighth episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu spoke with Thomas Coombes, founder of Hope Based Communications (also known as “The Hope Guy”) about the way that hope can be a useful strategy to stay afloat in difficult times and forge ahead with a clear plan. In the seco

Twenty-five years after the Women, Peace and Security agenda was enshrined through Resolution 1325, the face of war looks completely different. What started off as an initiative from a handful of women in conflict-torn countries was at first hard to understand for the international community. Yet, as it was getting incorporated by Western countries, it also started to lose its original aims. In a tense world, militarisation risks obscuring the “peace” in the term Women, Peace and Security. Host Sabina Șancu and Eugenia Rossi, programme assistant in charge of the Frontline Voices project, spoke with Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, one of the people who formulated resolution 1325. She is now the founder and CEO of International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN). If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org

As the uptake of Artificial Intelligence (AI) increases in many sectors of the economy, all of that infrastructure has to be supported somehow: that is where data centres come in. The most advanced economies are rushing to scale up their digital infrastructure, yet industry laggard Europe is also behind in this aspect, compared to places like the US and China. These massive facilities use great amounts of electricity, burdening local energy grids to already unsustainable levels in places like Dublin. That is not to speak of the water consumption needed to cool these facilities and the larger implications of the increased integration of AI into our daily lives. Host Sabina Șancu spoke to Thomas Spencer, senior energy analyst at the International Energy Agency, about the characteristics of energy consumption by AI data centres and what the future might have in store for them: more efficiency or a greater burden for our grids. Programme Executive Davide Sofia met with Denis "Jaromil" Roio in Piacenza,

This is the seventh episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re looking into the nature of polarisation, with the occasion of the International Day of Democracy (15 September). Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu spoke with Alison Goldsworthy, lecturer at Stanford University and Chair of the Joseph

Twenty-five years after the Women, Peace and Security agenda was enshrined through Resolution 1325, the face of war looks completely different. New geopolitical configurations, new ideological visions, technology and social media have made the war in Ukraine to be decisive for Europe’s future - and the most documented war in history. Women are no longer just victims of war: they are active participants in the efforts to resist Russian occupation. Overcoming stereotypes, recovering kidnapped children, participating in political decision making but being on the sidelines of strategic military decisions despite comprising 10% of soldiers, Ukrainian women are trying to get involved to support their communities and country. Hosts Sabina Șancu and Eugenia Rossi, programme assistant in charge of the Frontline Voices project, spoke with Maksimas Milta (Ukraine country director at The Reckoning Project), and Olena Suslova (Senior Analyst at Women’s Information Consultative Center Ukraine). Together, we looked at th

This is the sixth episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re unravelling equity’s many facets, analysing this delicate moment in time and looking for a stronger tomorrow. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu spoke with Nadia Calviño, president of the European Investment Bank, about many of the thing

This is the fifth episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. This episode features a recording from the public session of our European Young Leaders #EYL40 seminar in Bucharest, a discussion on rebuilding trust in a polarised society. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s episode, recorded at the end of May, the participants to the public session di

This is the fourth episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re discussing how citizens can influence climate policy. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, former host Catarina Vila Nova sat down with Chloé Mikolajczak, an environmental and social justice activist bridging European policy and grassroots organising, to d

This is the third episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re discussing the EU’s enlargement, with a particular view to the Western Balkans. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, former host Catarina Vila Nova sat down with Nathalie Tocci, director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, to discuss the faultlin

This is the second episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a new podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re discussing distrust, disinformation and a dissonant future in the EU, NATO and Ukraine. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu is speaking with Eugene Slavnyi, news director at United24 Media Ukraine, the biggest English-speaking outlet co

All eyes were on The Hague this week, as a historic NATO summit concluded on Wednesday with new commitments to increase defence spending. US president Donald Trump dominated the conversation and managed to do what many previous US presidents had more or less openly hoped to achieve: get the allies to pay up more. The 32 members of the alliance agreed to a steep hike in defense spending, up to 5% of GDP, but starting with a target of 3.5% by 2035. Most of that would go to armament and technology, but 1.5% of defense-related spending must also go towards improving the infrastructure needed to deploy this new technology: from roads and bridges to railroads and ports. An easy feat for budget champion Poland, but an uncomfortable target for countries like Spain or France. Our new podcast host, Sabina Șancu, sits down with two former high-ranking NATO officials to unravel the most important developments from this summit and look to the future, both within and outside the alliance. Rose Gottemoeller, former

***This show is a re-run*** While all eyes are now turning to the most recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, the situation in Gaza continues as dire as ever. On Monday alone, more than 30 people were killed while trying to get food at an aid site. In Brussels, the European Union is reviewing its trade and cooperation agreement with Israel. Meanwhile, thousands of people keep showing up in European capitals in support of Palestine. 15 months of war in Gaza have decimated the Strip and left more than 46 thousand Palestinians dead. On the week the World Refugee Day is commemorated, host Catarina Vila Nova spoke with Jonathan Fowler, Senior Communications Manager for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Jonathan joined UNRWA shortly after the 7 October attacks and is currently based in East Jerusalem. What he details is an intense campaign against UNRWA by the Israeli authorities. But nowhere is this situation more

This is the first episode of Overcoming Polarisaton: Paths to Common Ground, a new podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, host Catarina Vila Nova is speaking with Miriam Gonzalez, who founded Espana Mejor, a non-for-profit organization providing new non-partisan ways for Spanish citizens to contribute to policy making, and Giles Merritt, the founder of Friends of

Two weeks ago, the centre held in Europe after a Super Sunday of elections in Romania, Portugal and Poland. And that was in part because of Poland where the centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly beat the nationalist Karol Nawrocki in the first round of the Presidential elections. That is no longer the case. In last Sunday’s run-off, Trzaskowski failed to materialize a victory and lost against Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the right-wing Law and Justice Party. Today’s guests attribute Trzaskowski’s failure to the fact that Prime Minister Tusk hasn’t been able to pass the significant reforms he promised before being elected almost two years ago. Even though the main reason why he hasn’t been able to do so is because of President Duda from the Law and Justice Party. And yet, Poles elected a President that is only going to make Tusk’s life even harder if not impossible. To discuss the fallout from the Polish elections, host Catarina Vila Nova sits down with Leszek Konrad Jażdżewski, Editor-in-Ch