Europe Calling

In early 2022, Europeans woke to three potentially dire security threats to them and their way of life: more conflict in insecurity in Ukraine, increasing hybrid warfare and cyber attacks, and the possibility of new arrivals of refugees and migrants following the military withdrawal in Afghanistan and the resumption of power by the Taliban. The fifth episode the European Commission’s podcast Europe Calling series tackles these security challenges and the pressing Reform of Schengen rules, with Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, responsible for Promoting the European Way of Life.

Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, which began on 24 February, has caused the greatest security and humanitarian crisis in Europe for almost a century. In response, the European Union has demonstrated its solidarity with and support for Ukraine, and its determination to isolate Russia internationally and weaken its capacity to wage war. In the sixth edition of European Commission’s podcast series “Europe Calling”, we look at the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, and how the EU is responding with unprecedented decisions. Our guests from the EU institutions are Matti Maasikas, EU ambassador to Ukraine, and Maciej Popowski, Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations in the Commission. They present to us the EU’s work consisting in supporting Ukraine and managing the consequences of the war.

As Russia’s aggression in Ukraine continues and Moscow’s cuts in European gas deliveries start to bite, how can European consumers and industries get through the coming winter months? The European Union is putting in place measures to help member states soften the blow for citizens facing soaring energy prices, to help industries worried about energy supplies, and to help Ukraine. European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, walks us through key issues of supply diversification, EU support for consumers and the impact of sanctions on Russia. We’re also joined by the Energy Community to explain how Europe is helping Ukraine manage in winter and we’ll hear from the European Consumers Organisation too.

What is the progress in the EU’s flagship Green Deal, its vast environmental and climate program designed to make the future liveable in the face of seismic change to our planet? It was introduced in 2019 with the ambitious target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced the EU to re-prioritise its actions, but the pace has picked up again, served, in part, by a speedier transition to renewables and alternative energy sources. Tune in to this edition of “Europe Calling”, where we’re by joined the EU Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, and by Slovakian MEP Martin Hojsík. We’ll also meet a French farmer who walks us through one of the key planks of environmental protection and recovery: the widespread degradation of our soil and how to help it back to health.

The European Union’s focus is shifting from crisis management to promoting a strong, sustainable recovery. With vaccination gathering pace, the Commission is putting the European Green Deal and digital transformation at the heart of its strategy to future-proof Europe’s economy. The EU’s internal market – the largest in the world, covering 450 million people – will also be integral to boosting competitiveness, driving growth and creating jobs.And NextGenerationEU, the Union’s €750 billion recovery plan unlocked just two weeks ago, offers a unique opportunity to confront the continent’s long-term economic and social challenges.The second episode of Europe Calling features Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, whose portfolio covers everything from cybersecurity to intellectual property, SMEs to space. In this podcast, he responds to questions from entrepreneurs big and small, and outlines his approach to the tasks he faces.