Europod & Sphera • News

All eyes are on Europe's east this weekend, where Moldovans head to the polls on Sunday in an election that could define the country’s future as they will have to decide between Europe and Russia. So what happens if Moldova holds its course towards Brussels, or drifts back into Moscow’s orbit?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

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World leaders have once again taken to the stage at the United Nations, this time presenting a fresh set of targets to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. A total of 120 countries and the European Union have pledged new goals, including China, currently the world’s biggest polluter, which says it will reduce emissions by 7 to 10 percent from its peak level by 2035. 

Is this enough? What are experts suggesting and what are the US and ...

Over the past two weeks, Russian drones and fighter jets have repeatedly strayed into NATO airspace, from Poland and Romania to Estonia, and possibly Denmark, near Copenhagen airport. NATO chief Mark Rutte has called it a “dangerous pattern,” warning the alliance is ready to defend every inch of its territory.

But what is Russia trying to achieve with its incursions into NATO airspace and what options do these violations leave for t...

On Monday night in New York, European Council President António Costa announced that a majority of EU member states, 16 in numbers, now officially recognise the State of Palestine. The list includes Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Portugal, Malta, France and Luxembourg. 

Costa didn’t directly call for other countries to follow, but his tone made clear he viewed this as a positive de...

This week, the spotlight is at the United Nations General Assembly and it isn’t just on global crises like climate change, war in Ukraine, or artificial intelligence. It’s also firmly on France’s Emmanuel Macron, who is pushing for formal recognition of a Palestinian state. But will this move, backed by a handful of Western countries, actually change the political reality on the ground?

Join us on our journey through the events that...

In Germany, a dispute over public broadcasting has reached the political spotlight. Julia Ruhs, a journalist and presenter of Klar, a programme that often covered right-wing themes such as immigration and COVID-19 policy, has been dropped by northern Germany’s public broadcaster NDR. 

The decision triggered a strong reaction from the Christian Democrats. Their general secretary, Carsten Linnemann, described it as “a new low for...

Today marks the passing of the deadline set by the United Nations General Assembly for Israel to end its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 

Yesterday, on 17 September, EU ambassadors gathered in Brussels to discuss the European Commission’s latest proposal for sanctions against Israel. Why are EU countries still hesitating to act and who is stalling sanctions once again?

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Amundi Investment Solutions. You may not have heard of them, but they’re Europe’s largest asset manager and one of the ten biggest worldwide, handling more than two trillion dollars in assets. The company claims to focus on green and responsible investments. 

But when IrpiMedia and Voxeurop looked closer at where the money actually goes, a very different picture emerged. So, how sustainable are Amundi’s so-called green funds?

Jo...

After a night of intense bombardment, Israel has launched an expanded operation in Gaza. The military says it is targeting Hamas’ infrastructure and has once again warned civilians to flee south. But for many in famine-stricken Gaza, leaving is impossible: the roads are dangerous with ongoing military operations, and the south is already overcrowded.

And today, the UN Commission of Inquiry presented the results of its two-year inves...

Loneliness doesn’t stop at city limits or country borders. In this episode of Europe Talks Back,we explore how isolation takes root in both Europe’s bustling cities and its quiet rural towns. With insights from sociologist Jasper de Witte, we unpack why loneliness isn’t just about being alone but about social ties, inequality, and the structures that shape our lives. 

From young people in fast-paced capitals to older adults in ...

This weekend, US President Donald Trump once again made waves in Brussels with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. In what he described as a “letter to NATO nations,” Trump demanded that every member state stop buying Russian oil and gas. 

His message was blunt, as long as countries like Hungary, Slovakia, and even non-EU NATO ally Turkey continue to purchase Russian energy, the United States won’t move forward w...

The political storm in France continues with new players but the same problems: paralysis in parliament, financial strain, and mounting social unrest. In the midst of this turbulence, President Emmanuel Macron once again turned to a trusted ally, Sébastien Lecornu. 

But what do we know about France’s new Prime minister?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

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Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace yesterday, sparking the first direct clash between NATO and Russian forces in over a decade. Polish and Dutch fighter jets, backed by German and Italian support, shot down several of the drones, while at least 19 were recorded crossing into Polish territory. 

Four airports, including Warsaw’s main hub, were shut down, and flights were diverted as the incursion unfolded. What does this p...

Today, Ursula von der Leyen delivered her annual State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg, where she, for the first time, proposed sanctions on Israeli officials, acknowledged the backlash over the EU-US trade deal, and underlined the importance of competitiveness for Europe.

But can these promises restore trust in her leadership, or will they deepen the divisions inside the EU?

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After just nine months in office, Prime Minister François Bayrou has been ousted in a crushing confidence vote. Only 194 MPs backed him, while 364 voted against. 

Bayrou, a 74-year-old veteran centrist and long-time Macron ally, called the vote himself a gamble. He said France was sinking in a “swamp of debt” and that he needed parliamentary backing for €44 billion of austerity measures. That included a deeply unpopular plan to...

Greece has announced a sweeping €1.6 billion tax reform aimed at tackling what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls one of the country’s greatest threats, the demographic crisis. 

But are these measures enough to reverse Greece’s demographic decline and ease the cost of living or are they simply quick fixes to distract from soaring prices and corruption scandals?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the Europ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned today, Friday, that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine before a peace agreement is signed would be treated as “legitimate targets” by Moscow’s forces. This statement comes hours after 26 of Ukraine’s allies pledged to send troops as part of a so-called “reassurance force”. But what does this “reassurance force” entail, and how does it fit with Putin’s threats?

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On Wednesday evening, Lisbon’s historic Glória funicular derailed on its route between Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto climb in the city centre. The yellow-and-white tram came off the tracks, crashed into a building and toppled over. 

The result was catastrophic: at least 15 people were killed, and 18 were injured, including a child. Five are in critical condition. But what led to the horrific accident and why are work...

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is once again in the spotlight for his closeness to Moscow. Yesterday, Tuesday, he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing where the Russian leader praised him for pursuing what he called an independent foreign policy. 

But what does this so-called “independence” really mean for Slovakia, for Ukraine, and for the European Union?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape th...