Radio Schuman

The high-stakes European Council summit concluded on Thursday, with migration policy dominating the agenda.

For the first time, leaders discussed so-called "return hubs" — centres in third countries where migrants within the EU, whose asylum claims have been rejected and cannot be repatriated, would be held.

This, along with discussions around the European Union's asylum and migration pact, set to be implemented in 2026, signalled that leaders were potentially radically rethinking how the bloc approaches migration.

However, final council conclusions made no mention of return hubs, and failed to provide a timeline for the EU's new migration pact.

Leaders did, however, call on the European Commission to propose new legislation on deporting rejected asylum seekers still residing in the EU, and supported Poland's call to give nation states the right to temporarily suspend asylum applications.

In a first, Ursula von der Leyen suggested that temporary and proportionate measures might be legally feasible

Also on the podcast, Radio Schuman looks at the first ever far-right Patriots of Europe pre-summit meeting with exclusive sound bites from Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders.

Finally, we ask where in Europe do people say they are the happiest? Spoiler alert: high rates of happiness tend to correlate with the amount of sun.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s European Council, EU leaders will discuss mainly Ukraine, the Middle East, and migration.

In particular, there is the implementation of the €50 billion loan agreed at the G7 and call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, continued humanitarian aid, and an end to Israel's attacks on UNIFIL in Lebanon.

However, migration will be the summit's key issue, especially the bloc's Migration and Asylum Pact, set to be enforced by 2026.

Some EU countries, under pressure from rising anti-immigration sentiment, have reintroduced temporary border controls. Leaders are expected to focus on to focus on migrants whose asylum claims are rejected, with proposals for return hubs and stronger return policies under consideration.

Today Euronews's Maria Psara brings us into the summit.

The second part of Radio Schuman is dedicated to other minor points up for discussion and some agenda points in Brussels to keep in mind.

And in the last part of the show, there's a report about how Gen Z seems to be faring in the workplace. Key point: results indicate that many companies are not very happy with recent graduate hires.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Union must decide what it really wants from Georgia, former head of Georgian mission to the EU Natalie Sabanadze told Radio Schuman in an interview.

According to Sabanadze, currently senior research fellow at the International Affairs think tank Chatham House, EU should react to the recently re-elected Georgian Dream party's decision to suspend EU accession talks.

Last week, thousands of Georgians protested in the capital, Tbilisi, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that his government would suspend EU membership talks until the end of 2028 and reject EU funds. The demonstrations turned violent, with police detaining and beating many protesters.

Tbilisi has been in turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party took control of parliament following the contested October 26 election, which the opposition deemed rigged. Kobakhidze’s announcement sparked renewed unrest, though the EU reacted cautiously.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed regret over Kobakhidze’s decision, condemned the police violence, and warned of “direct consequences” for Georgia. While sanctions are being discussed, the EU has not yet announced any specific retaliatory measures.

The bloc had already frozen Georgia’s accession process after the country enacted two controversial laws, including the so-called Russian law.

In the second segment of the podcast, we had a look at Romanian elections second round that will take place this weekend. Who are the contenders?

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg was again divided — this time, it was the MEPs' opinions that were split after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her new batch of Commissioners.

Radio Schuman gathered different reactions from the MEPs Peter Liese, Christel Schaldemose, Moritz Körner, and Sergey Lagodinsky on the entire affair, including the fitness of individual Commissioners for their new tasks, big jobs that went to Eastern European and Baltic countries and the meme-inspiring animal welfare portfolio that went to a certain Olivér Várhelyi.

We also bring you a brief overview of the key issues set to dominate Wednesday's plenary session in Strasbourg, along with a timeline outlining the European Parliament's scrutiny and approval process for the newly announced Commissioner nominees.

Finally, we explore Europe's best and worst metro systems — spoiler alert: Brussels did not perform very well.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Commission will present its policy priorities today in its much anticipated working program, with a preference for simplification and intent to integrate security "by design" in EU legislation.

The agenda includes simplification measures for agricultural legislation, a Clean Industrial Deal to support the Green Deal's implementation, increased support for the private sector, greater defence funding, and the introduction of key legislations such as the Critical Medicines Act and new migration laws on returns.

Today Radio Schuman dives into the document together with Euronews' senior reporter Gerardo Fortuna.

We also look at today's agenda with a meeting between far right leaders, key debates at the European Parliament and consider which European countries offer schoolkids the longest summer holidays.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.