Podcast: Should the West try to turn China and India against Russia?

I talked to Michael Raiterer⁠, Distinguished Professor, Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance. If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

Podcast: Will Ursula von der Leyen be President of the European Commission again?

I talked to Eric Maurice, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre.  If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Credit: EPP.eu

There is no such a thing as ‘business as usual’ with Russia but will the EU unity last?

Do you think that in the short/medium term, the EU will be able to keep the unity regarding the Russian war against Ukraine? There is a possibility that the upcoming EU election might strengthen voices (far-right/far-left) in the EU that say Europe should return to business as usual with Russia. Read a few comments. If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

Credit: Andrej Matišák

Podcast: Does Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán want to take over the European Council?

I talked to Daniel Hegedüs, Senior Fellow for Central Europe, German Marshall Fund. If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán and the President of the European Council Charles Michel. Credit: EU

EU enlargement: Ukraine versus Western Balkans?

The EU-Western Balkans summit takes place on December 13th. How important is it for the EU to keep at least some focus on the integration of the region? Do you think it is at least partly a competition between Ukraine (Moldova) and Western Balkans countries, or can they learn from each other? (And of course, there are differences also among the Western Balkans states). Read a few comments. And if you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

Podcast: Will Meloni compete with Orbán? And will her support for Ukraine continue?

I talked to Daniele Albertazzi⁠, Professor of Politics, Co-Director of the Centre for Britain and Europe, University of Surrey. If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. Credit: European Union

European Commission recommends accession talks with Ukraine. What does it mean for Kyiv and for the EU?

As the European Commission recommends opening negotiations with Ukraine, we can probably argue that any negotiation can basically drag on forever, so it is more or less just the first symbolic step. But from your perspective, how important is this signal for Ukraine, and what does it mean for Europe? Read a few comments.  If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Credit: European Union, 2023

Is Slovakia’s PM Fico a Christmas gift for Orbán? And what about Poland?

What does a new Slovak government led by PM Robert Fico mean for the relations with Hungary and Poland? Read a few comments. If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

Slovak PM at EUCO (October 26-27). Credit: EU

Podcast: If PiS wins the elections in Poland, could it lead to the creation of an illiberal front in the EU?

I talked to Vít Dostál⁠, Executive Director of the Association for International Affairs (⁠AMO⁠). If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

 

Donald Tusk (L), leader of the Civic Coalition, and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the United Right. Credit. epp.eu, gov.pl

Podcast: What if the AfD ruled Germany? And how is it connected with the Russian war?

 I talked to Kai Arzheimer, Professor of Political Science, University of Mainz. If you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you.

Image by Tom from Pixabay