In this week’s CER podcast, head of our Brussels office Camino Mortera-Martínez speaks to John Morijn, professor of law and politics at the University of Groningen.
 
They discuss the European Court of Justice’s ruling of February 16th, which dismissed Hungary and Poland’s challenges to the conditionality mechanism, a law that allows the EU to stop funding countries which do not comply with rule of law standards. 

They look at how we got here, explain why this law is not as far-reaching as it may seem, and consider how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might affect the standoff between Brussels, Warsaw and Budapest over the rule of law in Europe.

Produced by Rosie Giorgi
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: Unpicking the EU's rule of law conditionality mechanism

In this week's CER podcast, our 2021-22 Clara Marina O'Donnell fellow Megan Ferrando spoke to Malak Altaeb, an environmental consultant and writer based in Paris. Megan recently published a CER paper about water insecurity in the Maghreb, and in this episode with Malak, takes a close look at the situation in Libya in particular. They discuss how the water landscape changed after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the extent of the problem today, and what international actors like the EU can do to help.

02:02 - Why water security should be higher up the political agenda
05:32 - The link between water and politics in Libya
08:00 - Libya's great man made river project 
14:21 - Water scarcity in Libyans' daily life
18:01 - The challenge of long-term solutions in an unstable context
22:06 - What the EU and the international community can do

Produced by Rosie Giorgi
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: Water scarcity: Libya's forgotten issue

In this week's CER podcast, our foreign policy director Ian Bond spoke to three senior figures involved in Ukraine's application for EU membership: Natalie Forsyuk, General-Director of Ukraine's Governmental Office on European Integration & NATO; Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU; and Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, and Head of the Commission's Support Group for Ukraine. 

Ian spoke to Natalie and Ivanna just before the European Council decided on granting Ukraine (and Moldova) candidate status for EU membership, and Katarína shortly afterwards. They discussed what's next on, and what's needed for, the path for Ukraine becoming an EU member-state.

Produced by Rosie Giorgi
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: What next on the path for Ukraine's EU membership?

In this new Centre for European Reform podcast, we looked ahead to Italy's autumn elections. Our media co-ordinator Rosie Giorgi spoke to Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow at the CER, about Mario Draghi’s resignation as Italian Prime Minister; the hard-right firebrand Giorgia Meloni, who’s tipped to replace him; and what a (probable) right-wing coalition government could mean for Italy’s relationship with the EU and Rome's foreign policy.

CER podcast: Draghi out - What next for Italy?

In this week’s Centre for European Reform podcast, our experts answered your questions. Our media co-ordinator Rosie Giorgi spoke to CER foreign policy director, Ian Bond, senior research fellow, Zach Meyers, and our deputy director, John Springford. They considered how Europe should protect its interests while maintaining a strong trading relationship with China, what the EU has planned in the way of tax reforms, and why the EU’s banking union has stalled.

Produced by Rosie Giorgi
Music by Edward Hipkins

Ask CER: The EU's China challenge, its plans for tax reform, and the unfinished banking union

In this week’s Centre for European Reform podcast, Hilary Benn, Labour Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and Co-Convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, joins our director, Charles Grant, to discuss the stalemate between the UK and the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol. They consider how negotiations ground to a standstill, the red lines of each side and the prospects for reaching a compromise. Both Hilary and Charles argue that this is not out of reach, provided both parties are willing to work together in good faith.

Produced by Rosie Giorgi
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: Finding a solution to the Northern Ireland Protocol

Emmanuel Macron set out his vision for a 'European Political Community' in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on May 9th. In this Centre for European Reform podcast, head of our Brussels office, Camino Mortera-Martinez, speaks to our director, Charles Grant, about the potential shape of this new European organisation, the purpose it would serve, and which countries might be involved.

Produced by Rosie Giorgi
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: What might Macron's European Political Community look like?

In this week’s Centre for European Reform podcast, John Springford, our deputy director, and Sander Tordoir, senior economist at the CER, discuss the EU’s fiscal rules. They consider why the rules matter, what their shortcomings are, and weigh up the European Commission’s proposal for tweaking the current fiscal rulebook.

Produced by Helmi Pillai and Rosie Giorgi
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: Will the Commission’s fiscal rules plan work?

In this week’s episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast Helmi Pillai interviews John Springford about his most recent cost of Brexit analysis. John shares his estimate of the damage Brexit caused to the British economy in 2022 and explains the reasons for the negative impact. John also discusses the methodology behind his findings and responds to criticisms of his analysis. 

Produced by Helmi Pillai
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: The cost of Brexit

In this week’s episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, we answer questions you have sent to us. Clara Marina O’Donnell fellow Helmi Pillai speaks to the head of our Brussels office Camino Mortera-Martinez and senior fellows Zach Meyers and Luigi Scazzieri. They discuss the EU’s response to the Inflation Reduction Act, Brexit’s impact on UK science and technology, Qatargate, EU migration policy, Iran's nuclear programme and the prospect of sending fighter jets to Ukraine. 

Produced by Helmi Pillai and Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

Ask CER - Episode 8: Inflation Reduction Act, Qatargate and Iran

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Dr Olesya Khromeychuk, historian, writer, and director of the Ukrainian Institute London and Sir Richard Shirreff, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, join our director of foreign policy, Ian Bond, to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war. They consider how to avoid 'Ukraine fatigue' in the West, what can be learnt from Ukraine's military successes and whether Western leaders' visits to Kyiv have a practical value, or risk becoming war tourism. Olesya, Richard and Ian agreed that Britain could be providing military support more effectively and that there should be no impunity for Russian war criminals.

Produced by Helmi Pillai and Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: One year of war in Ukraine

In this week's episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, our director Charles Grant is joined by Catherine Barnard, Professor of EU Law and Employment Law at the University of Cambridge and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe, to discuss the recently agreed Windsor Framework. Together, they delve into how the new framework modifies the previous UK-EU trade deal and its implications, examine the role of the European Court of Justice in the agreement, and explore the domestic reactions to the new agreement.

Produced by Helmi Pillai and Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER Podcast: What does the Windsor Framework mean for EU-UK relations?

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Ian Bond, director of foreign policy, joins host and head of the CER’s Brussels office, Camino Mortera-Martinez, to discuss the EU's elusive China policy. They talk about the lack of consensus among EU member-states on an effective China policy and explain why Brussel's stance on China is different from Washington's. Can Beijing be an honest broker between Moscow and Kyiv? And how will Europe’s China policy evolve over the next year?

Produced by Octavia Hughes
 Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: What is the EU's China policy?

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Senem Aydin Düzgit, Professor of International Relations at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Sabancı University and Senior Scholar and Research and Academic Affairs Coordinator at the Istanbul Policy Center, and Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow at the CER, join host Octavia Hughes to discuss the potential outcomes of Turkey's elections which will take place on May 14th. Senem explains why the presidential election is more significant for Turkey's future than the parliamentary one, and Luigi offers some insight as to how the country's foreign policy would change if the opposition were to win.

CER podcast: What's at stake in Turkey's historic election?

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Brad Setser, senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, and the CER’s Sander Tordoir and John Springford discuss green tech industrial policy and ‘de-risking’ trade with China. They discuss the growing consensus between Europe and the US on China, as well as the ‘risks of de-risking’ – how challenging China might slide into protectionism and weaken competition. John and Sander’s paper on the effects of Chinese and American green tech subsidies on Europe can be read here:

https://www.cer.eu/publications/archive/policy-brief/2023/europe-american-chinese-green-tech

Produced by Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER podcast: The politics of China-US-EU trade: Pulling up the drawbridge?

In this week’s Centre for European Reform podcast Camino Mortera-Martinez, head of the Brussels office, joins Charles Grant, director of the CER, and Heather Grabbe, senior advisor at the Open Society Foundation, to discuss the prospect of EU enlargement. They talk about the likely timeline of the accession process, the countries with prospects of joining and which of these will struggle to meet the EU's criteria. Camino and Charles then debate whether the Lisbon Treaty will be used for this next round of accession or if treaty change might be required.

CER Podcast: Is the EU ready for enlargement?

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Charles Grant, Director of the CER, and Neil Kinnock, leader of the Labour party 1983 - 1992, European commissioner 1995 - 2004 and member of the house of Lords since 2005, join podcast host, Octavia Hughes, to discuss a European strategy for Labour. They set out the steps the party should take to foster a better relationship and consider how European governments view the British. They consider whether a much closer economic relationship could be viable and conclude by asking when – if ever – the UK could rejoin the EU.

Produced by Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER Podcast: A European strategy for Labour

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Camino Mortera-Martinez, head of the CER Brussels office, and Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow, join podcast host, Octavia Hughes, to discuss EU enlargement, the EPC and migration policy. They set out the successes and failures of the EPC  summit in Granada and the subsequent informal meeting of EU leaders. Camino explains why migration is back at the top of the EU's agenda and Luigi sheds some light on the catch-22 of Ukraine's EU membership.

Produced by Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER Podcast: EU enlargement and reform, migration and the EPC summit

One month on from Hamas’s attack on Israel killing 1400, Israeli forces have killed more than 10000 Palestinians in Gaza. The head of our Brussels office, Camino Mortera-Martinez asks Nathalie Tocci, director of the Institute of International Affairs in Rome, and senior research fellow Luigi Scazzieri what Europe's role is in this latest iteration of a decades long conflict, and where it should be.

CER Podcast: Where is Europe in the Israel Hamas conflict?

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Zach Meyers, Assistant Director of the CER, is joined by Kai Zenner, Head of Office and digital policy advisor to MEP Axel Voss, to discuss AI’s implications for Europe. They discuss how Europe can make the most out of AI while managing its risks. The pair also discuss the progress of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, and the possibility of it becoming a global standard.

Produced by Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER Podcast: What does AI mean for Europe?

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Sander Tordoir, senior economist at the CER, and Caroline de Gruyter, author and columnist for the leading Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, join podcast host, Octavia Hughes, to discuss the outcome of the Dutch general election and what the surge of Geert Wilders’  far-right means for the EU. Caroline explains how the adoption of more extreme policies by centre-right parties across Europe has strengthened far-right parties like the Netherlands' Party for Freedom. Sander sets out scenarios for the coalition negotiations and the odds of Wilders becoming Dutch prime minister.

Produced by Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER Podcast: Will Wilders’ Dutch election win weaken the EU?

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Charles Grant, director at the CER, and Camino Mortera-Martinez, head of the CER's Brussels office, join senior research fellow Luigi Scazzieri to discuss the prospects for EU enlargement and institutional reform.

Produced by Octavia Hughes
Music by Edward Hipkins

CER Podcast: Can EU enlargement happen without reform?

In our latest Centre for European Reform podcast, podcast host Octavia Hughes speaks to eight of our researchers. They reflect on the EU's past year from different perspectives, including climate action; support for Ukraine; UK-EU relations; and the possibility of enlargement and reform. They then look ahead to 2024.

00:41 Elisabetta Cornago on energy and climate policy

11:57 Charles Grant on UK-EU relations

20:07 Luigi Scazzieri on defence and security policy

27:03 Zach Meyer and Sander Tordoir on AI and industrial policy

39:53 Ian Bond on Ukraine

47:00 Christina Keßler on German security policy

50:27 Camino Mortera-Martinez on enlargement, rule of law and reform

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER review of 2023: What's next for Europe?

In our latest Centre for European Reform podcast, Deputy Director Ian Bond speaks to Philippe Le Corre, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society's Centre for China Analysis, Helena Legarda, Lead Analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, and Christina Keßler, Clara Marina O'Donnell Fellow 2023-24. They provide some background on Taiwan's recent elections before examining reactions to the result from China, the US and Europe. They then debate what Europe's role should be in the Taiwan Strait.

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER Podcast: The Taiwan election: China cares, but should Europe?

In our latest Centre for European Reform podcast, Camille Grand, Distinguished Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and Luigi Scazzieri, Senior Research Fellow at the CER, speak to podcast host Octavia Hughes about the challenges of European defence production. They examine the challenges Europeans have faced in ramping up defence production after Russia's invasion, and examine the roles of NATO, the EU and smaller groups of counties.

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER Podcast: Europe's defence production challenge

In our latest Centre for European Reform podcast Dame Melinda Simmons, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ukraine 2019-2023, and Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Programmes at the Foreign Policy Council Ukrainian Prism, join the CER's Deputy Director, Ian Bond, on the two-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They examine the media's portrayal of the conflict and shed light on the mood in Ukraine before suggesting how Ukraine might navigate its defence production challenges and what Europe can do to help.

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER Podcast: War in Ukraine: Where are we two years on?

As we enter the third year of full-scale war in Ukraine and the possibility of Trump's re-election becomes more likely, Charles Grant, director, and Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow, consider how the EU's role in defence is changing. They discuss where the money for a larger defence budget would come from and whether the Commission could play a role in defence planning. Charles concludes the podcast with a quiz on the many acronyms that appeared in the Commission's latest press releases on defence.

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER Podcast: How is the EU's role in European defence changing?

Globalisation may not have gone into reverse, but it is surely changing – and not in Germany’s favour. Encouraged by the US, von der Leyen wants to push ahead with the ‘economic security strategy’, which would seek to limit the export of advanced technologies to China. But Germany worries that the Commission is trying to grab new powers and that it could provoke retaliation or even a trade war with China. In this week's podcast, host Octavia Hughes is joined by Sander Tordoir, senior economist at the CER, and Shahin Vallée, senior research fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss all this and more. Sander and Shahin explain why Germany has such a special relationship with China and the steps the EU can take  to mitigate the risks China poses to the German economic model.

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER Podcast: Can Berlin and Brussels disentangle their economy from China’s grasp?

The EU has for years been a proponent of better regulation: steps to make sure regulation is evidence-based, proportionate, and made in a transparent way. However, there has been a perception that the quality of regulation in the bloc has declined recently. To discuss the EU's performance on better regulation and what the next Commission might improve on, assistant director Zach Meyers was joined by Anthony Teasdale, visiting professor at the London School of Economics and past Director-General of the European Parliamentary Research Service. They debate the efficacy of von der Leyen's 'one-in, one-out' system and explain what the five year term for president of the Commission means for policy making, among other things.

Zach's paper on better regulation can be read here: https://www.cer.eu/publications/archive/policy-brief/2024/better-regulation-europe-action-plan

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER Podcast: Unlocking better regulation in Europe

On April 18, former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta published his hotly-anticipated report, assessing the state of Europe's single market. Research fellow Aslak Berg and assistant director Zach Meyers sat down with podcast host Octavia Hughes to discuss the key takeaways from the report, as well as its shortcomings. They assess the reaction from European leaders and the Commission, and  share their thoughts on what we can expect to see in Mario Draghi's report on competitiveness, due to be published in June.

Their insight can be read here: https://www.cer.eu/insights/enrico-lettas-report-more-market-less-agenda

Music by Edward Hipkins
Produced by Octavia Hughes

CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Evaluating Enrico Letta’s report on the single market

The Centre for European Reform is a think-tank devoted to making the European Union work better and strengthening its role in the world. The CER is pro-European but not uncritical.

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