Europe Speaks: A TEPSA Podcast

What are Russia and China trying to achieve in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood? And how does that affect candidate countries’ path to EU membership? This episode of InvigoratEU Talks explores the impact of Russia and China’s political, economic, and social influence on the European continent. InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world. Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests: Thijs Reuten, Member of the European Parliament, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats  Marko Todorović, Senior Researcher, European Policy Centre (CEP) Belgrade  Matteo Bonomi, Head of Europe Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) Music: Luka Margiani Editing: Barbara Vanotti This episode is funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon Europe-funded InvigoratEU project.

Democracy support has been a cornerstone of EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy. Yet, today it is increasingly intertwined with geopolitical competition. In this third episode of InvigoratEU Talks, we ask: has the EU become better at promoting democracy, or has geopolitics changed the rules of the game?  InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world. Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests: Petar Markovic, Ambassador of Montenegro to the EU Giselle Bosse, Professor, Maastricht University and TEPSA Board Member  Richard Youngs, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe and TEPSA Board Member Music: Luka Margiani Editing: Barbara Vanotti This episode is funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon Europe-funded InvigoratEU project.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Bobby McDonagh, former Irish diplomat, and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The discussion focuses on how to communicate and explain the European Union, specifically using Bobby McDonagh’s latest publication, "The European Union in 12 Objects", in which each object represents an aspect of the EU or one of its institutions.  Bobby McDonagh is a former Irish diplomat, he has been an Ambassador to Italy and the UK, as well as the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

In the second episode of InvigoratEU Talks, we explore the links between the EU's security and defence policies and the enlargement process. Has enlargement effectively become part of Europe's security strategy? And do policy-makers and European citizens fully appreciate what is at stake? InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world. Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests: Petras Auštrevičius, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe Tyyne Karjalainen, Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)  Music: Luka Margiani Editing: Barbara Vanotti This episode is funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon Europe-funded InvigoratEU project.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Frank Schimmelfennig, Professor at ETH Zurich, Tyyne Karjalainen, Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and TEPSA Executive Director, Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion explores Ukraine’s path to EU accession in light of the recent proposal by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for an associate form of EU membership for Ukraine. Frank Schimmelfennig and Tyyne Karjalainen are researchers in the InvigoratEU project funded by Horizon Europe. Frank is a Professor at ETH Zurich and a leading scholar on EU enlargement. He recently took part in the first episode of TEPSA’s InvigoratEU Talks, a new podcast miniseries on re-invigorating the EU enlargement process. Tyyne is a Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, where she focuses on European security, defence cooperation, and the EU’s role in Ukraine. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

In the first episode of InvigoratEU Talks, we turn to the enlargement policy toolbox. What does geopolitical enlargement actually mean in practice? And can the current enlargement methodology still deliver in a context shaped by war, security pressures, and renewed competition among great powers? InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world.   Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests: Vsevolod Chentsov, Ambassador of Ukraine to the EU, Funda Tekin, Director, Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP) & Academic Coordinator of InvigoratEU Frank Schimmelfennig, Professor, ETH Zurich Music: Luka Margiani Editing: Barbara Vanotti This episode is funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon Europe-funded InvigoratEU project.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Colette Braeckman, Journalist at Le Soir, and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The discussion focuses on Central African history and politics in the post-independence era and the relation with the EU. Colette Braeckman has been a longtime senior correspondent for Le Soir in Central Africa and is the author of numerous books based on her investigations; her most recent work brings together her memoirs, published under the title Mes Carnets Noirs (2023). EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Klara Lindström, Analyst at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS), and TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion focuses on Ukraine’s perspectives on the war, peace talks, and prospects for EU membership. Klara Lindström is Analyst at SCEEUS at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) and Special Advisor, European Policy Institute in Kyiv (EPIK). She previously worked at East Capital Group, at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, and the Swedish Ministry of Defence. She also served at the Embassy of Sweden in Moscow from 2018 to 2020 and worked as a military interpreter in Ukraine in 2021. Klara Lindström is an expert on Ukraine’s domestic politics and reforms, EU enlargement, and Russian studies. She regularly travels to Ukraine, for around 2-3 weeks every other month. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

A final episode focused on repairs: protecting checks and balances, making accountability visible, investing in civic education and media literacy, and building resilience against inequality, distrust, and manipulation - without pretending democracy will ever be “perfect”. Democracy Cracks is a six-episode podcast mini-series exploring the cracks in our democratic systems, from weakening trust to widening social divides, narrated by TEPSA's Programme Manager Eva Ribera and produced as part of ActEU, a Horizon Europe research project.   Host and writing: Eva Ribera Production: Florence Ferrando,  Barbara Vanotti Editorial review: Mariam Khotenashvili, Alexandros-Christos Gkotinakos, Ilaria Giustacchini Music: Nicolas Gadrat Sound credits:  paper shuffle.wav by alec_mackay -- https://freesound.org/s/463682/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 ping 2.wav by cameronmusic -- https://freesound.org/s/138419/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Magic - Cymbal Swell 2 by Vrymaa -- https://freesound.org/s/826131/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 This podcast is funded by the European Union.

If democracy feels out of sync with today’s crises, information speed, and geopolitical pressure, what does “updating” look like without breaking the core promises? Let’s examine institutional stress, experimentations, and the tension between responsiveness and stability. Democracy Cracks is a six-episode podcast mini-series exploring the cracks in our democratic systems, from weakening trust to widening social divides, narrated by TEPSA's Programme Manager Eva Ribera and produced as part of ActEU, a Horizon Europe research project.   Host and writing: Eva Ribera Production: Florence Ferrando,  Barbara Vanotti Editorial review: Mariam Khotenashvili, Alexandros-Christos Gkotinakos, Ilaria Giustacchini Music: Nicolas Gadrat Sound credits:  Robots and Electromechanics v2 - 152.wav by Headphaze -- https://freesound.org/s/268387/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 traffic horns city nervous busy.wav by klankbeeld -- https://freesound.org/s/180156/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 air horn close and loud.WAV by goose278 -- https://freesound.org/s/174819/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 demonstration-SCREAMS.wav by chazam -- https://freesound.org/s/218881/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Frustrated Grunts Shouts.wav by Jim Goad -- https://freesound.org/s/265585/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 This podcast is funded by the European Union.

Elections still matter, but participation is changing shape. We look at who walks away from voting (and why), how participation gaps map into inequality and civic space, and where people go when they still do not abandon politics. Democracy Cracks is a six-episode podcast mini-series exploring the cracks in our democratic systems, from weakening trust to widening social divides, narrated by TEPSA's Programme Manager Eva Ribera and produced as part of ActEU, a Horizon Europe research project.   Host and writing: Eva Ribera Production: Florence Ferrando,  Barbara Vanotti Editorial review: Mariam Khotenashvili and Alexandros-Christos Gkotinakos Music: Nicolas Gadrat Sound credits: Typing on Computer-St.wav by mar.u02144 -- https://freesound.org/s/508234/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Signing 2 by The_AT5000 -- https://freesound.org/s/820051/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 protests_casolets_trombone.wav by mmiron -- https://freesound.org/s/350649/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 iPhone Text Sound by ukjoncollins -- https://freesound.org/s/653820/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Likes, Thumbs Up by LilMati -- https://freesound.org/s/714569/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 This podcast is funded by the European Union.

What does a society look like when trust in democracy crumbles? In this episode, we explore how distrust reshapes civic life, from people walking away from the ballot box to rising polarisation, conspiracy theories, and the appeal of extreme “solutions”. But we also look at the other side: how frustration can spark new forms of participation, creativity, and democratic renewal. Democracy Cracks is a six-episode podcast mini-series exploring the cracks in our democratic systems, from weakening trust to widening social divides, narrated by TEPSA's Programme Manager Eva Ribera and produced as part of ActEU, a Horizon Europe research project.   Host and writing: Eva Ribera Production: Florence Ferrando,  Barbara Vanotti Editorial review: Mariam Khotenashvili, Alexandros-Christos Gkotinakos, Ilaria Giustacchini Music: Nicolas Gadrat Sound credits:  parliament noises.wav by Eneasz -- https://freesound.org/s/178247/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 iPhone Text Sound by ukjoncollins -- https://freesound.org/s/653820/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Surfer dude - kit - Surprise n Shock kit 1 by Sadiquecat -- https://freesound.org/s/818949/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 This podcast is funded by the European Union.

Many feel politicians don’t listen and that nothing changes. In this episode, we explore the roots of disillusionment: accountability failures, material pressures, and the way loud voices can reshape what feels “normal” in politics. Democracy Cracks is a six-episode podcast mini-series exploring the cracks in our democratic systems, from weakening trust to widening social divides, narrated by TEPSA's Programme Manager Eva Ribera and produced as part of ActEU, a Horizon Europe research project. Host and writing: Eva Ribera Production: Florence Ferrando, Barbara Vanotti Editorial review: Mariam Khotenashvili, Henrik Serup Christensen, Ilaria Giustacchini Music: Nicolas Gadrat Sound credits: book_noises.wav by angients_ -- https://freesound.org/s/622081/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 cash register.mp3 by SoundCollectah -- https://freesound.org/s/108278/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 This podcast is funded by the European Union.

What does political trust really mean and can democracy survive without it? In the first episode of Democracy Cracks, we unpack what political trust is, why mistrust is not always bad, and why the “trust is collapsing everywhere” story is more uneven than it looks. Democracy Cracks is a six-episode podcast mini-series exploring the cracks in our democratic systems, from weakening trust to widening social divides, narrated by TEPSA's Programme Manager Eva Ribera and produced as part of ActEU, a Horizon Europe research project.   Host and writing: Eva Ribera Production: Florence Ferrando, Barbara Vanotti Editorial review: Mariam Khotenashvili, Alexandros-Christos Gkotinakos, Ilaria Giustacchini Music: Nicolas Gadrat Sound credits: Leiden University Netherlands by Ryding -- https://freesound.org/s/483135/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 ping 2.wav by cameronmusic -- https://freesound.org/s/138419/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Glass Shatter 2.wav by Greg_Surr -- https://freesound.org/s/554564/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 This podcast is funded by the European Union. 

Democracy Cracks is a six-episode podcast mini-series exploring the cracks in our democratic systems, from weakening trust to widening social divides, through storytelling, research, and thoughtful conversation, narrated by Eva Ribera, TEPSA's Programme Manager and EU policy professional.  Produced as part of ActEU, a Horizon Europe research project looking at trust, participation, and how democracy is changing in Europe, the series brings in science and stories to help answer a central question: is democracy breaking or breaking through?   Eva Ribera is Programme Manager at TEPSA. She coordinates the work of TEPSA’s Secretariat, working closely with Project Managers and Communications staff to ensure the effective implementation of the organisation’s activities. She holds an MA in International Relations (Security, Peace and Conflicts) from the Free University of Brussels and a BA in Social Sciences from Bordeaux Montaigne University. Her academic research focuses on democracy, fundamental rights, transitional justice, gender-just peace, and collective action.   Host & writing: Eva Ribera Production: Florence Ferrando & Barbara Vanotti Editorial review: Mariam Khotenashvili, Alexandros-Christos Gkotinakos & Ilaria Giustacchini Music: Nicolas Gadrat  This podcast is funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Ann Mettler, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Columbia University, and TEPSA Executive Director, Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion focuses on the EU's competitiveness, the future of the Single Market, and the Omnibus proposal by the Commission, which aims to simplify and harmonise the EU's digital laws. Ann Mettler is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Columbia Center for Global Energy Policy. Until recently, Ann promoted the green transition at Breakthrough Energy, an organisation founded by Bill Gates, and previously she headed the European Political Strategy Centre, in-house think-tank of the European Commission during the Presidency of Jean-Claude Juncker. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Klaus Welle, Former Secretary-General of the European Parliament, and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The discussion focuses on the EU long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), covering the years 2028 – 2034. The MFF sets the EU’s financing methods and policy priorities for the next 7 years. This episode looks at the history of the MFF, its evolution through the years, and its ability to address the challenges the EU is facing. It also explores the Commission’s recent proposal for the next MFF and questions whether it can be considered a ‘Hamiltonian moment’ for Europe. Klaus Welle is the former Secretary-General of the European Parliament. He chairs the Martens Centre’s Academic Council since April 2023, and, in May 2025, he was appointed Special Advisor to the Commissioner for Defence and Space. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Erik Jones, Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute, Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director of TEPSA, and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The discussion, recorded in late June 2025, examines the first months of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House and what they mean for transatlantic relations. This episode is a discussion with Erik Jones. Erik is Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute and a Nonresident Scholar at Carnegie Europe. He is the author, editor, or co-editor of books and special issues of journals on topics related to European politics and political economy. Professor Jones is co-editor of Government & Opposition and a contributing editor of Survival. His commentary has appeared in the Financial Times, the New York Times, and other major newspapers and magazines across Europe and North America. This episode also takes place in the context of TEPSA’s latest book, to which Erik Jones has contributed. “The United States and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals”, is co-edited by Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak, and Paul Schmidt, and published by Springer. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Giselle Bosse, Professor at Maastricht University, and TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion focuses on the EU enlargement process in the context of a turbulent geopolitical landscape and against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Giselle Bosse is full professor at Maastricht University, Visiting Professor at the College of Europe and a fellow at the European Democracy Hub. She is a leading expert on EU democracy support, Eastern Neighbourhood and European security.   EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

In this new episode of EU History Explained, Giulia Bonacquisti, Programme Manager at the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), takes a look at the history of the European Commission, the institution that proposes laws, defends the common European interest, and acts as ‘guardian of the Treaties’. We’ll look at how it grew from a bold post-war experiment into a key force shaping today’s Union. This video takes us from Jean Monnet’s idea to pool together France and Germany’s coal and steel industries following the end of the Second World War with the European Coal and Steel Community and its High Authority, through the establishment of the European Communities and the subsequent merger of their executives, including the High Authority, into the European Commission, right up to the Commission of today. EU History Explained is TEPSA’s video series exploring the origins of the modern EU. If you have ever wondered how the European Union of today came to be, or what lies behind the talk of politics being shaped in ‘Brussels’, then this is the series for you! We would like to warmly thank the following institutions for their support in the production of this video: Historical Archives of the European Union, Jean Monnet House, European Parliament Partnerships Team. Script: Giulia Bonacquisti Recording & Editing: Barbara Vanotti & Hugh Evans Music: Garrett Bevins - Infinite - Infinite (Wondershare Filmora X)

In this new episode of EU History Explained, Giulia Bonacquisti, Programme Manager at the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), takes a look at the history of the European Parliament, an institution at the heart of pan-European democracy. We'll learn about the world’s first experiment in transnational democracy, whose members are unique among international parliamentary assemblies insofar as they are directly elected by the citizens they represent. We'll also learn about how the Parliament's powers have expanded over the course of the European project from the 1950s to today. This video takes us from the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, a key step in the post-war Schuman Plan to secure lasting peace in Europe by pooling the French and German coal and steel industries, and the High Authority which managed this arrangement, through the decision to create a Common Assembly of appointed members to hold the supranational High Authority accountable, and beyond. From this origin, we trace the history of the Common Assembly under various guises - from European Parliamentary Assembly to today's directly elected European Parliament, noting the key moments where its powers and representativeness have evolved over the years. EU History Explained is TEPSA’s video series exploring the origins of the modern EU. If you have ever wondered how the European Union of today came to be, or what lies behind the talk of politics being shaped in ‘Brussels’, then this is the series for you! We would like to warmly thank the following institutions for their support in the production of this video: Historical Archives of the European Union, European Parliament Partnerships Team. Script: Giulia Bonacquisti Recording & Editing: Barbara Vanotti & Hugh Evans Music: Garrett Bevins - Infinite - Infinite (Wondershare Filmora X)

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Marc De Vos, CEO of the Itinera Institute and author of "Superpower Europe: The European Union's Silent Revolution", and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The discussion focuses on the place of the European Union in the world, its potential to rival the major powers, and what it needs to harness that potential. Marc De Vos is CEO and founder of Itinera. His expertise is wide-ranging, covering the European Union, globalisation, and economics among others. He is a professor at Ghent University, a published author, and a strategic consultant. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

The European Union is built on a set of supposedly shared values among its Member States, defined in the Treaties as "human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights". But democratic backsliding means that even if a Member State 'signs up' for these at time of accession, it's no guarantee that this commitment will remain during their membership. In this episode of EU Democracy Explained, the second in a two-part mini-series on democratic backsliding in Europe, Hugh Evans explains why Article 7, infringement procedures, and the rule of law conditionality regulation may not be all they're cracked up to be in terms of protecting the quality of democracy in the EU. We also look at what might change in future, looking ahead to the new Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen. EU Democracy Explained is a series where we delve into detail about what democracy actually is and how it works in Europe, and ask ourselves: “what makes the EU democratic?” Script, Recording & Editing: Hugh Evans Music: Wondershare Filmora X Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

We all have a basic instinct for what kinds of governments are and aren't democratic, but have you ever thought about how to actually define 'democracy'? It's harder than you might expect... In this video, Hugh Evans asks a crucial question: is democracy failing in the EU? The European Union's democracy is built on a foundation of dual legitimacy provided by directly elected MEPs on the one hand and democratically elected national governments on the other. So what happens if one of these national governments becomes undemocratic? EU Democracy Explained is a series where we delve into detail about what democracy actually is and how it works in Europe, and ask ourselves: “what makes the EU democratic?” Script, Recording & Editing: Hugh Evans Music: Wondershare Filmora X Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

In this video, Hugh Evans explores the ways in which national politicians, in addition to their role in the legislative process via the Council, can help steer the overall direction of the European Union. To this, we need to focus on an EU institution that is not actually part of the legislative process. This is the place where the Heads of State or Government meet to discuss pressing issues, react to crises, and set the European agenda: the European Council. EU Democracy Explained is a series where we delve into detail about what democracy actually is and how it works in Europe, and ask ourselves: “what makes the EU democratic?” Script, Recording & Editing: Hugh Evans Music: Wondershare Filmora X Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Enrico Letta, former Italian Prime Minister and President of the Institut Jacques Delors, and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The discussion follows our series of interviews with former members of the European Council to mark the 50th anniversary of the institution, but also focuses on Mr. Letta's vision for the future of the European project, based on his recent report "Much more than a market". This episode is a discussion with Enrico Letta . Enrico Letta is President of the Jacques Delors Institut, Dean of the School of International Affairs at Sciences Po Paris (PSIA) and former Italian Prime Minister. He has also been a Member of the Chamber of Deputies between 2006 and 2015. Letta was Minister of European Affairs from 1998 to 1999 and Minister of Industry from 1999 to 2001, and served as Secretary to the Council of Ministers from 2006 to 2008. He is a founding member of the Democratic Party. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Prof. Erik Jones, Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute, and TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion focuses on EU enlargement - but from a different angle than usual: people, not just institutions; firms, not just nation states; and also the security foundations of EU enlargement. With the accession agenda firmly in the foreground of European politics once again, thanks to recent decisions to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova (agreed in December 2023 European Council) as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina (agreed in the March 2024 European Council), it is more crucial than ever to explore the ins and outs of enlargement policy, and discuss the ways forward for EU candidate countries. In particular, the discussion focuses on topics such as the de facto enlargement of the EU resulting from the influx of millions of people from the Western Balkans or Ukraine, as well as the business ties already established between the EU and candidate countries, in addition to topics like how to maintain the rule of law in an enlarged Union, and how to build democratic resilience. This episode is a discussion with Prof. Erik Jones. Erik Jones is Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute and author, editor, or co-editor of books and special issues of journals on topics related to European politics and political economy. Professor Jones is co-editor of Government & Opposition and a contributing editor of Survival. His commentary has appeared in the Financial Times, the New York Times, and other major newspapers and magazines across Europe and North America. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats takes place in French. Cet épisode d'EuropeChats s'inscrit dans le cadre des activités variés de TEPSA sur le sujet des cinquantième anniversaire du Conseil Européen. Jim Cloos, Secrétaire Général de TEPSA, s'est rendu au Luxembourg pour parler avec l'ancien Président de la Commission Européenne Jacques Santer. Le Président Santer a été Premier Ministre du Luxembourg entre 1984 et 1995, et Président de la Commission entre 1995 et 1999. Pendant son mandat à la Commission, Jim était son Chef de Cabinet. Leur entretien porte sur les expériences de Monsieur Santer au sein du Conseil Européen en tante que Premier Ministre aussi qu'en temps que Président de la Commission. Cette discussion constitue une ressource importante d'une vie politique Européenne. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is the second in our two-part discussion with former Belgian Prime Minister and first permanent President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. In the first part, TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos sat down with President Van Rompuy to discuss his experience and working practices in the EUCO; in this part, they discuss the main policy priorities he had to face during his tenure as President between 2009-2014. President Van Rompuy has experienced different iterations of the European Council from different perspectives: he first joined the club as Belgian Prime Minister before the Lisbon Treaty entered into force and where Foreign Ministers where thus still taking part in the meetings. Then, when he became the Institution's first permanent President, he held the position in the iteration of the EUCO currently extant in the Treaties. All of this at a time where the EU's early 21st century so-called  'perma-crisis' was gathering momentum, with the fallout of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis continuing into the 2010s, and the early days of the Refugee Crisis coming to the fore towards the end of his tenure. This episode is a discussion with Herman Van Rompuy. President Van Rompuy was Prime Minister of Belgium from 2008-2009, President of the European Council 2009-2014, and is Honorary President of the European Policy Centre. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is the first in a number of discussions both within and outside of the EuropeChats series that TEPSA and its Member Institutes are conducting to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the European Council. In this discussion, TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos sits down with former Belgian Prime Minister and the first ever permanent President of the European Council: Herman Van Rompuy. President Van Rompuy has experiences different iterations of the European Council from different perspectives: he first joined the club as Belgian Prime Minister before the Lisbon Treaty entered into force and where Foreign Ministers where thus still taking part in the meetings. Then, when he became the Institution's first permanent President, he held the position in the iteration of the EUCO currently extant in the Treaties. All of this at a time where the EU's early 21st century so-called  'perma-crisis' was gathering momentum, with the fallout of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis continuing into the 2010s, and the early days of the Refugee Crisis coming to the fore towards the end of his tenure. This episode is a discussion with Herman Van Rompuy. President Van Rompuy was Prime Minister of Belgium from 2008-2009, President of the European Council 2009-2014, and is Honorary President of the European Policy Centre. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), and TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion focuses on the current prospect of the EU enlargement file. With the accession agenda firmly in the foreground of European politics once again, thanks to recent decisions to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova (agreed in December 2023 European Council) as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina (agreed in the March 2024 European Council), it is more crucial than ever to explore the ins and outs of enlargement policy, and discuss the ways forward for EU candidate countries. In particular, the discussion focuses on topics such as the 50 billion euro Ukraine Facility as well as the 6 billion euro Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. In addition, Mariam and Gert Jan cover difficult issues such as citizens' (particularly farmers') concerns about the effects of Ukrainian grain exports on the EU's internal market and competitiveness, and a climate of disinformation surrounding the future accession of candidate countries. This episode is a discussion with Gert Jan Koopman. Gert Jan is the Director-General of DG NEAR, with an ambitious agenda for strengthening integration between the EU and its neighbours. He has also previous worked on economy and competition policies and was in charge of the EU budget. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

In this series from the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), Hugh Evans explores the ways democracy weaves its way in and out of the EU system. This episode tackles the institution that you might already be most familiar with: the European Parliament. We will learn about its history dating all the way back to the 1950s and about what developments over the course of that period have served to increase the quality of representation, accountability, and ultimately democracy within it. We will also tackle a crucial concept in democracy theory: representation. While you might think you already know about this concept, there is more to the theory of representation than you might think, and its nuanced and vital role in democracy is implemented in a unique way in the EU system, EU Democracy Explained is a series where we delve into detail about what democracy actually is and how it works in Europe, and ask ourselves: “what makes the EU democratic?” Script, Recording & Editing: Hugh Evans Music: Wondershare Filmora X. Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

O’Sullivan This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion on the implementation and effectiveness of EU sanctions against third countries, with a particular focus on Russia. TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos is joined by EU Sanctions Envoy David O'Sullivan and a leading expert on sanctions, Dr Clara Portela from the University of Valencia. Sanctions are a key tool in the EU's external policy, and can be employed in a variety of ways and with a variety of possible aims and outcomes. The most recent high-profile occasions in which the EU has chosen to impose sanctions on a third country is in a series of sanctions packages preceding and in the aftermath of Russia's aggression of Ukraine, which started in February 2022. Throughout the ensuing war, the EU has continued to ramp up its sanctions measures, and this episode discusses their implementation and effectiveness. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

In this series from the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), Hugh Evans explores the ways democracy weaves its way in and out of the EU system. This episode revolves around one of the institutions in the EU triangle that represents one of the two poles of the EU’s dual legitimacy: the Council of the European Union – legitimacy via the 27 governments. We will explore its makeup, its role and internal functioning, and we’ll discover what its crucial role in the legislative process might mean in terms of defining what the EU actually is. In addition, we will learn about the complex academic debate surrounding the question of defining the EU as an entity. In exploring different theories of European integration and functioning, we will discover what aspects of the system conform to the various theories. EU Democracy Explained is a series where we delve into detail about what democracy actually is and how it works in Europe, and ask ourselves: “what makes the EU democratic?” Script, Recording & Editing: Hugh Evans Music: Wondershare Filmora X Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion on a crucial question for the EU in 2024: what will the next Strategic Agenda look like?. Every five years, EU leaders agree on the EU's political priorities for the future. It is a collective effort led by the President of the European Council, where leaders discuss and decide together. It takes place in the context of the European Parliament elections and ahead of the appointment of each European Commission. Given the way Belgium has chosen to structure its Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2024, the 6 months immediately preceding the finalisation of the Strategic Agenda, such that its second half can be dedicated to supporting the formulation of that Agenda, TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos speaks with Wouter Detavernier, who is the Deputy Directory-General for European Affairs and Coordination at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Richard Youngs, Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe and TEPSA Board Member, joins the discussion too, in order to give his expert insights as a researcher. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

In this new series from the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), Hugh Evans explores the the ways democracy weaves its way in and out of the EU system. This first episodes revolves around a crucial and unique EU institution: the European Commission. We will explore how the Commission works, learn about its history, and discover how a proposal gets passed in the institutional triangle. In addition, we will explore an important element of what makes the EU democratic: accountability. Many people worry that the Commission is not accountable, but despite the caricature of 'Brussels bureaucrats', the truth is very different - this video explains how accountability is crucial in the European Union. EU Democracy Explained is a series where we delve into detail about what democracy actually is and how it works in Europe, and ask ourselves: “what makes the EU democratic?” Script, Recording & Editing: Hugh Evans Music: Wondershare Filmora X Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Jim Cloos, TEPSA Secretary-General and former Director General for General and Institutional Policy at the General Secretariat of the Council, and TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion focuses on a topic which comes around every six months in EU affairs: the Rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Rotating Presidency is  system whereby each of the 27 EU Member States takes turns in chairing various formations of the Council of the European Union. Each Presidency lasts six months and always has its own priorities. The system is a way for Member States to each hold the reins of a key EU Institution on an equal basis, and the Presidency plays a key role in many of the legislative achievements of the European Union. In particular this episode is a discussion on the history, role, and relevance of the Rotating Presidency, drawing on Jim Cloos' longstanding involvement in Presidencies, first as a Luxembourgish diplomat, then as a European diplomat. Together, Mariam and Jim explore the support each Presidency gets from the General Secretariat of the Council, what challenges Presidencies may face, what opportunities they have to make a difference, and they try to answer a key question: what makes a good Rotating Presidency? At the time of this episode's publication, Spain has just taken the reins of the Rotating Presidency from Sweden. For the coming six months, the new Presidency will have to tackle a number of challenges both at the national and European elections, not the least of which is a national election in Spain set for July 23. TEPSA has been working hard to give concrete recommendations to the Spanish Presidency, via the holding of a Pre-Presidency Conference in Madrid at the start of June, and via the presentation of a set of policy recommendations in various areas. To learn more about the Recommendations from Members of the TEPSA Network to the Spanish Presidency, check out our website: https://www.tepsa.eu/recommendations-from-members-of-the-tepsa-network-to-the-spanish-presidency/ EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Frank Schimmelfennig, Professor of European Politics at ETH Zürich, and TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. The discussion focusses on building a new future for EU enlargement. With the accession agenda firmly in the foreground of European politics once again, thanks to the new candidacy of Ukraine and Moldova, it is more crucial than ever to explore the ins and outs of enlargement policy, and discuss how to improve it. In particular, an in the context of potential future enlargement in the Western Balkans, the discussion focusses on the update to enlargement methodology which was made in 2020 for the purpose of reinvigorating the accession process for candidates in that region. In addition, Mariam and Frank discuss the thorny issues of the EU’s “absorption capacity”, the prospect of “staged accession”, and the costs of non-enlargement geopolitically, economically, and in terms of the EU’s internal functioning. This episode is a discussion with Prof. Frank Schimmelfennig. Frank is Professor of European Politics and a member of the Center for Comparative and International Studies at ETH Zürich. He is a leading expert on all things EU integration, and a key protagonist in the current debate about the accession process and enlargement policy writ-large. His new book, “Integration and Differentiation in the European Union”, was recently published by Palgrave Macmillan. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

In this new episode of EU History Explained, Giulia Bonacquisti, Programme Manager at the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), takes a look at the recent history of the European project, with a focus on how we came from debating what form integration should take in the 1960s and 1970s to the formalisation of much of what we recognise today as the European Union through the Single European Act, Maastricht Treaty, and eventually through the Lisbon Treaty, which is still in force today. In this video, we discuss how, from the purely economic integration project of the European Economic Community, created in 1957, we ended up with today’s European Union: a complex structure comprising not only a single market, but also common policies, as well as rights and obligations for European citizens. Today’s European Union is a polity which, among other things, allows us to circulate freely across Member States, to live and work abroad, to participate in local and European elections in other countries, and to feel part of one big family with our fellow Europeans. But it is also an ongoing process that cannot yet be considered achieved. As the Treaties say, the EU is permanently striving to build “an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”, and even today a broad debate is taking place about the future of the EU and the reforms needed to make it more effective and closer to citizens, including young people. EU History Explained is TEPSA’s video series exploring the origins of the modern EU. If you have ever wondered how the European Union of today came to be, or what lies behind the talk of politics being shaped in ‘Brussels’, then this is the series for you! We would like to thank the Historical Archives of the European Union at the European University Institute for their contribution. Script: Giulia Bonacquisti Recording & Editing: Eva Ribera & Hugh Evans Music: Garrett Bevins - Infinite - Infinite (Wondershare Filmora X)

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Michele Chang, a Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges, and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The discussion focusses on building a competitive economy for Europe. In the context of TEPSA's recently published European Council Experts' Debrief, which drew together experts from across the TEPSA Network and beyond (including Michele Chang) to analyse the conclusions of the March 2023 European Council, Jim's talk with Michele revolves around the challenges to Europe's economy, and opportunities to make it more resilient in future. In particular, the discussion surrounds the United States' Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a source of tension in the trans-Atlantic relationship due to its content which is perceived by European leaders as being too protectionist. The challenge of China also features in the talk on how the EU's economy, dominated as it is by the EU's status as the world's largest trading power, is affected by factors outside its own borders. The discussion then moves on to how the EU might build up the Banking Union and Capital Markets Union, as well as an assessment of the Stability and Growth Pact. This episode is a discussion with Prof. Michele Chang. Michele is the Director of the Transatlantic Affairs Programme and Professor in the European Political and Governance Studies Department at the College of Europe in Bruges. You can read her contribution to the recent European Council Experts' Debrief, as well as all the other fascinating analyses contained therein, on TEPSA's website. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music This video is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Dr. Kristi Raik, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, and TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. They discussion focusses on building European security against Russia. In the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has since February 2022 been thrust into a new and vital debate on how to deal with an expansionist Russia which has initiated the first land war in Europe since the Second World War. In particular, the discussion surrounds the recent Joint Agreement on EU-NATO Cooperation, the reasons why Western military support to Ukraine has been given in such small steps, and why decisions such as sending German Leopard tanks to Ukraine was fraught with indecision. In addition, the two discuss whether there is any prospect for a normalisation of relations with Russia in the wake of a Ukrainian victory, or even after Putin’s rein comes to an end, whether in the short or long term. What is the role of the EU in this war? How can it step up its support to Ukrainian forces? How can Ukraine’s European future be ensured? This episode is a discussion with Dr. Kristi Raik. Kristi is a TEPSA Board Member and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security, where she is also the Head of the Foreign Policy Programme. The discussion occurs on the basis of a paper Kristi recently co-authored with Martin Hurt entitled “Building European Security Against Russia – A View From Estonia”. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music Co-Funded by the European Union.

This episode of EuropeChats is a special talk between Heidi Hautala MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Jim Cloos & Mariam Khotenashvili, on the subject of the European Union's response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In the context of a recently published book coordinated by TEPSA, "Russia and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals", we discuss a number of questions surrounding the war. In particular, the discussion surrounds the current measures taken by the EU, including 8 sanctions packages, financial & equipment support to Ukraine's struggle, and the crucial granting of EU Candidacy status to Ukraine, as well as what the EU can do to better support Ukraine in the ongoing war. In addition, the recent recognition of the European Parliament that Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism forms an important part of the discussion: what does this mean in practice, and what can the EU do to further punish Russia for its aggression? This episode is a special talk with Heidi Hautala, Finnish MEP for the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, and Vice-President of the European Parliament. MEP Hautala is serving her fifth term in the European Parliament and has dealt for many years with international trade, EU external relations, human rights, development, legal affairs and the EU budget. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music

In this new episode of #EUHistoryExplained, Giulia Bonacquisti, Project Manager at the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), takes a look at the role the United States played in the history of European integration. In this podcast, we investigate how this informal cooperation formed in the so-called European Political Cooperation will lead over recent decades to today’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Two main Treaties are significant in this more recent development of European foreign policy: Maastricht, signed in 1992 and establishing the European Union proper. As part of this Treaty, one of its three 'pillars' becomes Common Foreign and Security Policy. Year later, when the Lisbon Treaty is signed in 2007 and comes into force in 2009, the Common Security and Defence Policy is born and the EU is granted legal personality, meaning it can conclude international agreements. But the road is not so smooth: in this episode we discover yet more challenges posed in the road to a European foreign policy. This episode is the second in a two-part series on European Foreign Policy. EU History Explained is TEPSA's series exploring the origins of the modern EU. If you have ever wondered how the European Union of today came to be, or what lies behind the talk of politics being shaped in 'Brussels', then this is the series for you! We would like to thank the Historical Archives of the European Union at the European University Institute for their contribution. Script: Giulia Bonacquisti Recording & Editing: Eva Ribera & Hugh Evans Music: Garrett Bevins - Infinite - Infinite (Wondershare Filmora X)

In this new episode of #EUHistoryExplained, Giulia Bonacquisti, Programme Manager at the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), takes a look at the history of a difficult policy area for Europe: foreign policy. A sensitive subject for European countries in the wake of World War II, foreign policy integration has a storied history and remains a key area of discussion in the modern European Union. In this podcast, we take a look back to the early days of the European project, mapping proposals and developments, both failed and successful, to further integrate European states in the foreign policy field. In a context of a war-weary post-war European continent, a new geopolitical factor in NATO, and rising Cold War tensions, European leaders' efforts to integrate their countries' foreign policy was no less complex. This episode, the first in a two-part series on the history of European foreign policy, deals with the initial steps on the way to a European foreign policy, and a series of unsuccessful attempts in the early years to development in the 1970s of certain informal cooperation practices – the so-called European Political cooperation. EU History Explained is TEPSA's series exploring the origins of the modern EU. If you have ever wondered how the European Union of today came to be, or what lies behind the talk of politics being shaped in 'Brussels', then this is the series for you! We would like to thank the Historical Archives of the European Union at the European University Institute for their contribution. Script: Giulia Bonacquisti Recording & Editing: Eva Ribera & Hugh Evans Music: Garrett Bevins - Infinite - Infinite (Wondershare Filmora X)

This episode of EuropeChats focusses on the foreign and security policy of the European Union, in particular the transformation it has gone through since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. This episode was recorded in November 2022 shortly after the Ukrainian liberation of Kherson. With Ukraine’s victory becoming more and more plausible, TEPSA Executive Director asks special guest Benjamin Tallis where the EU and its 27 Member States stand between unity and division. How ready are they to support Ukraine in the coming months? This episode is a special interview with Benjamin Tallis, research fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). He focuses on the politics of European security, particularly concerning the European Neighbourhood, borders and migration. He previously worked for the EU on security missions in Ukraine and the Balkans and was policy officer at the European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management in Berlin. He also worked at the Institute of International Relations in Prague and contributed to drafting the EU Global Strategy in 2016. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music

One of the greatest benefits the EU has given to its Member States, beyond the political and economic integration on which it was founded, is the integration of infrastructures. There is no more visible example of this than in transport connectivity. In this episode of EuropeChats, TEPSA Secretary-General and long-time EU insider Jim Cloos sits down with former Director-General for Energy and Transport Matthias Ruete for a discussion on Trans-European Networks. What are they? Where do they come from? And why are they so important? These are some of the questions we will tackle in this episode of EuropeChats. Matthias Ruete is a longstanding European practitioner. Starting off as a "mildly Eurosceptic professor at an English university", he eventually joined the European Commission in 1986, climbing the ranks until he was appointed to lead the Directorate-General for Energy and Transport (DG TREN) in 2006. He also led the Migration and Home Affairs file at the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) between 2014 and 2017. Since leaving a role as special adviser to the European Commission, dealing with energy policy among other files, Ruete has worked as one of eleven European Transport Coordinators for the European Rail Traffic Management System. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music

Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for almost four months. The European Union has adopted six packages of sanctions against Russia in this period. The first package aimed at dissuading Russia from starting the war, the subsequent packages have tried to convince Russia to stop. More limited sanctions against Russian individuals have actually been in place since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine. What can sanctions achieve? How do EU sanctions actually work? How are they decided? What role do they play in the EU’s foreign policy? These are some of the questions we will tackle in this episode of EuropeChats. In this episode, we discuss the role of sanctions in EU policy more generally, and the role they are playing in the European Union's response to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili discussed with TEPSA Secretary-General and former Deputy Director General for General and Institutional Policy at the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union Jim Cloos. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music

In this new episode of #EUHistoryExplained, Giulia Bonacquisti, Project Manager at the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), takes a look at the role the United States played in the history of European integration. In this podcast, we take a look back over decades of European integration, highlighting key moments where US involvement was, or was not, a crucial impetus for further integration, and analysing the changing attitudes of the US government towards the European project over the years. We can distinguish two main phases in the US’ attitude towards European integration: a first phase, from the end of World War II to the end of the 1960s, marked by a strong support; and a second phase, starting from the Nixon administration, where increasing economic and political competition from the European Economic Community resulted in a more ambivalent US attitude. Part 2, deals with the second phase of relations in the second half of the post-war years. EU History Explained is TEPSA's series exploring the origins of the modern EU. If you have ever wondered how the European Union of today came to be, or what lies behind the talk of politics being shaped in 'Brussels', then this is the series for you! We would like to thank the Historical Archives of the European Union at the European University Institute for their contribution. Script: Giulia Bonacquisti Recording & Editing: Eva Ribera & Hugh Evans Music: Garrett Bevins - Infinite - Infinite (Wondershare Filmora X)

In this new episode of #EUHistoryExplained, Giulia Bonacquisti, Project Manager at the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), takes a look at the role the United States played in the history of European integration. In this podcast, we take a look back over decades of European integration, highlighting key moments where US involvement was, or was not, a crucial impetus for further integration, and analysing the changing attitudes of the US government towards the European project over the years. We can distinguish two main phases in the US’ attitude towards European integration: a first phase, from the end of World War II to the end of the 1960s, marked by a strong support; and a second phase, starting from the Nixon administration, where increasing economic and political competition from the European Economic Community resulted in a more ambivalent US attitude. This podcast, the first of two parts dealing with US influence on European integration, deals with the first phase, in the early years of the European project. EU History Explained is TEPSA's series exploring the origins of the modern EU. If you have ever wondered how the European Union of today came to be, or what lies behind the talk of politics being shaped in 'Brussels', then this is the series for you! We would like to thank the Historical Archives of the European Union at the European University Institute for their contribution. Script: Giulia Bonacquisti Recording & Editing: Eva Ribera & Hugh Evans Music: Garrett Bevins - Infinite - Infinite (Wondershare Filmora X)

In the first half of 2022, the European Union finds itself at a crossroads. Two years of a global pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have set into motion a major geopolitical crisis cutting to the very heart of EU policy. Three countries (Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova) are working their way towards accession to the EU, their clear European choice a thorn in Russia’s side. In an effort to extend his sphere of influence, Russian President Vladimir Putin is de-facto occupying territory in all three countries. None of these countries are in NATO although Ukraine and Georgia have been knocking on the door for almost twenty years. All three countries have strong European aspirations. The upcoming European Council in June might decide to recognise the three countries as candidates for membership. The European Commission is currently preparing its opinions on the three applications. In this discussion with special guest Richard Youngs, we discuss the EU membership prospects of these three countries. Richard Youngs is a leading European expert on the topic of EU accession, the neighbourhood, and conflict. He is a Senior Fellow at the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program of Carnegie Europe, Professor at the University of Warwick, visiting professor at the College of Europe, and author of over 15 books on EU foreign policy, democracy and Eastern Europe. EuropeChats is is the flagship podcast of TEPSA and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks” Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music