Is the EU well on track to reach defence readiness by 2030?

Sweden is holding general elections this Sunday. The far right is already supporting the current government. Could it soon become part of it?And what could the result mean for Sweden’s political direction? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2025 PISA results were published a few days ago. And they’re quite a bad surprise for most European countries. Educational performance is declining almost everywhere on the continent.What can we learn from East Asian countries? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, rents increased by 3% compared with the same period last year across the European Union. The EU is publishing its affordable housing act today. But will it really help Europeans afford housing?To read the article from Popaganda: https://www.popaganda.gr/sportagon/to-antiskino-tis-daskalas-stegazei-ti-sygchroni-ellada/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain wants the EU to create a European climate adaptation fund. And to finance it, the Spanish government is suggesting taxing oil and gas companies — in other words, applying the “polluter pays” principle.Is this realistic? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New return hubs could soon be established outside the European Union. At least, that is the ambition of several European countries, which want to speed up the return of migrants who have been denied the right to stay in the EU.When and where should we expect those return hubs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europeans have set ambitious goals for the defence capacities that they want to achieve in the next few years. They have increased their defence spending by 79%!Bill that be enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mercosur, CETA, TTIP, the EU’s trade policy can sometimes feel very far away from the people who are actually affected by its decisions. In EU jargon, trade policy is an exclusive EU competence. This means that the European Union negotiates and concludes trade agreements with partner countries. Then, the rules apply across the whole of the EU.But as we know, European regions are highly diverse, and they are equally divided over the benefits of free trade agreements.How can we take into account the different regional interests in this area?A podcast by Europod, in cooperation with ESPON, an EU-funded programme that bridges research with policiesTo read more about the ESPON report on the impact of trade agreements on regions: https://www.espon.eu/publications/starter-free-trade-agreements-mercosurFollow us on:LinkedIn•. Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the United States, a group of 29 states has achieved what Congress has so far failed to do: secure real commitments from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to limit the addictive nature of these platforms for young people.Could the EU hope to achieve something similar?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedIn•Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that Russia is preparing to attack a European country in the coming years. This assessment, shared by European intelligence services, is not unanimously accepted across Europe.So what should Europeans really fear from Russia?Production: By Europod, in co-production with the Sphera network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirty billion euros. That’s how much the EU wants to mobilise to build data centres. But this ambition might run up against an obstacle. In recent years, protests against data centres have been emerging across the European Union.Can local residents influence the AI race? And can Europe make progress on this issue without the support of local communities?By Europod in co-production with the Sphera Network.This episode is based on an article written by Alberto Mesas for El Salto and an article written by Tommaso Proverbio for VD News and is co-written with Hélène Pillon from Médianes.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.