No-confidence vote against von der Leyen: High drama, low stakes?

Greece introduced today, July 11th, a controversial emergency law, suspending the registration of asylum applications for three months for people arriving by sea from North Africa. The Greek government defends the new law as a matter of national urgency. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis cited a 350% increase in arrivals, claiming that two-thirds of those entering the country do not qualify for humanitarian protection. The newly appointed Migration Minister, Thanos Plevris, who assumed office following the OPEKEPE corruption scandal and is known for his far-right stance within the New Democracy party, took an even harder line, describing the situation as a "mass invasion" and declaring: "You are not welcome. Either you leave or you will be imprisoned."Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A senior EU official has been lobbying against sanctions on Israel, using claims of antisemitism and arguments that critics say cross the line from political advocacy into disinformation. According to a document brought to light by the EUobserver Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission's Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism, made controversial remarks during a meeting with EU ambassadors in Tel Aviv on May 29. Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump’s patience with Putin is starting to wear thin. Five months ago, the US president insisted he trusted Vladimir Putin, who’s been leading the brutal invasion of Ukraine. He told reporters back then that Putin “wants peace” And that he trusted him on that. Today it seems that things have changed, but what has led to this shift?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, time is ticking but there is still no trade agreement between the European Union and the Trump administration. Negotiations have intensified in recent days, but European Commission officials informed EU ambassadors yesterday that there’s no deal in place, not even an agreement in principle. What are the most plausible scenarios following these negotiations?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a turbulent few weeks in Spanish politics, with corruption scandals surfacing one after another. This past weekend was meant to be a reset for Sánchez’s Socialist party, the PSOE, a chance to move past the controversies. Instead, they found themselves facing yet another crisis. But, can Pedro Sánchez survive the growing web of corruption scandals engulfing his government, or is Spain’s last centre-left administration running out of political oxygen?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States has paused the delivery of key military systems to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense missiles, Stinger systems, and precision-guided munitions. This decision comes at a time when Russia is intensifying its military offensive along the 1,000-kilometer front line and increasing missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. But what happens now and what can Zelenskyy expect from Europe?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will stand before the European Parliament in Strasbourg to face a no-confidence vote. This is the first time in over a decade that a Commission president has been dragged into such a debate. And although the outcome is all but certain, the motion is very unlikely to pass,  it’s more symbolic of the mounting pressure von der Leyen is under. But what triggered this?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As much of Europe roasts under a heat dome, the EU’s top officials are sweating it out too  but not just from the 40-degree temperatures. Today, the European Commission is meeting to decide how much the bloc should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a milestone on the road to net zero by 2050. But is Europe serious about tackling the climate crisis, or is it too hot for political courage?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As of today, Denmark holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months, inheriting it from Poland. The official priorities for the Danes are security and defense, economic resilience and competitiveness. But why is this presidential term more important than ever before?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s Cabinet meeting in Greece is a real crisis management moment. Because over the past 72 hours, Greece has witnessed the resignation of one minister, Makis Voridis, three deputy ministers, and two senior party officials, all following allegations tied to a massive EU subsidy fraud. But what’s this scandal about and can Mitsotakis claim political responsibility while dodging legal accountability?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.