MEPchat: EU budget, cohesion and Schengen expansion

In this week’s EU Decoded, we dive into the most pressing topics from the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg. We break down the newly adopted European Defence Industry Programme, designed to boost Europe’s defence industry capabilities. We also discuss how to stop illegal and dangerous Chinese products from flooding the EU market and how to ensure Europe’s children grow up in a digital world that supports, not harms, their development. Tune in! 

Over the past few years, the geopolitical landscape has been reshaped. The recently published EPP Group Position Paper on EU-US relations calls for a renewed Euro-Atlantic strategy - one that adapts to these changes while maintaining Europe’s values and autonomy. In this episode of “EU Decoded,” we discuss the future of EU-US Transatlantic relations and the actions needed.  Hear more from MEPs Željana Zovko and Michał Szczerba, with Executive Director Tomi Huhtanen (Martens Centre).

Across Europe, airports are grounding flights, energy networks are tightening security, and defence agencies are on high alert - all because of drones. From Poland to Denmark, incursions are exposing the EU’s vulnerabilities to low-cost attacks. In this episode of “EU Decoded,” we explore how Europe is responding to the rise of aerial threats and whether the new “European Drone Shield Initiative” can keep the skies safe. We spoke with Radosław Sikorski, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland; Angelika Niebler, Member of the European Parliament from Germany and a Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy; Pekka Toveri, an MEP from Finland and a Member of the Committee on Security and Defence; and Andrey Novakov, an MEP from Bulgaria, who also serves on the Committee on Security and Defence and led Parliament’s negotiations on a resolution calling for a united response to recent Russian violations of EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure. All three are Members of the EPP Group. 

Welcome back to “EU Decoded,” the podcast by the EPP Group in the European Parliament.  Tune in as we discuss topics ranging from how Europe can lead with principle and strength on the global stage to why the EPP Group led the successful rejection of a new Forest Monitoring Law, protecting foresters and the environment from excessive EU bureaucracy. 

In this episode of “EU Decoded”, we take you inside the latest plenary session of the European Parliament, where Europe’s security, competitiveness, and digital future took centre stage. From defending EU airspace against Russian hybrid threats to strengthening the Schengen area with new visa suspension rules, the EPP Group is calling for action and unity. We also look at efforts to deepen the Single Market by cutting red tape and ensuring one set of rules for all, while advancing Europe’s digital sovereignty under the Digital Markets and Digital Services Acts. Tune in!

Europe is entering an autumn of truth. In this week’s EU Decoded, we take you inside the State of the European Union address by Ursula von der Leyen, explore the EU’s response to Russian aggression, and examine urgent questions on jobs, trade, and competitiveness. We also look at Moldova’s and Ukraine’s paths toward EU membership, efforts to support Europe’s industries and farmers, and new measures to cut red tape.Tune in!

Child sexual abuse is rising, and technology is making it worse. In this episode of EU Decoded, we explore how the European Parliament is responding: from criminalising AI-generated abuse material to abolishing statutes of limitation, strengthening victim support systems, and pushing platforms to do more. Featuring MEPs Jeroen Lenaers and Francois Bellamy, Julie Fuchs from ECPAT International, and Hannah Swirsky from Internet Watch Foundation. Don’t miss it! 

As the NATO Summit in The Hague approaches, the “EU Decoded” podcast explores how Europe and its allies are responding to growing global threats. With Russia’s war against Ukraine, rising tensions in the Middle East, and shifting dynamics within NATO, MEPs and defence experts from the EPP Group share their insights on the future of collective security, burden-sharing, and transatlantic cooperation. You will hear from General Riho Terras, former Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces; General Christophe Gomart, former Director of French Military Intelligence and Special Operations Commander; and Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, former Ambassador of Spain to NATO. All three are now Members of the European Parliament with the EPP Group. 

In this episode of “EU Decoded,” we unpack another plenary week in the European Parliament - from bold new legislation to fight child sexual abuse, to major debates on defence, democracy, and the future of the EU budget.  We hear from Jeroen Lenaers on what the new law on combating child abuse means for victims, and how the EU is responding to alarming trends like AI-generated abuse content. We also hear from key EPP Group voices on strengthening NATO ties ahead of the upcoming summit, addressing rule of law concerns in Spain, and ensuring the EU budget reflects European - not just national - priorities.  Additionally, we mark 40 years of the Schengen Agreement and its ongoing significance for freedom and security in today’s Europe.  With:  Jeroen Lenaers    Nicolas Pascual de la Parte    Michael Gahler    Tomas Tobé   Dolors Montserrat    Manfred Weber   Tune in! 

For decades, Europe relied on Transatlantic partnerships to guarantee its security. But the world has changed. With growing global instability and shifting alliances, we must take security into our own hands. In this episode, we delve into how the EPP Group in the European Parliament is spearheading efforts to create a true European Defence Union. You'll hear from leading voices in the European Parliament about what’s at stake, what’s being done, and why the time is now for Europe to turn defence into its next great integration project. Because citizens demand safety - and Europe must be ready to deliver. Listen to this episode with: Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, EPP Group MEP and former Spanish Ambassador to NATO François-Xavier Bellamy, Head of the French Delegation in the EPP Group Andrzej Halicki, Vice-Chair of the EPP Group and Head of the Polish Delegation in the EPP Group