In this episode of The Language of Power, the EPC’s Paul Taylor is joined by Amanda Paul and Demir Murat Seyrek to unpack Turkey’s evolving geopolitical role amid US attempts to end Russia’s war on Ukraine. As Turkey’s strategic relevance grows, so does concern over President Erdoğan’s crackdown on the democratic opposition, notably the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The discussion explores the EU’s dilemma: engage Turkey as a vital NATO partner or stand firm on human rights? The episode also sheds light on Turkey’s relations with the US, Russia, and EU, the strength of its civil society and opposition movements, and whether a new EU-Turkey relationship beyond accession is both necessary and possible. 

The Language of Power: Talking Turkey

In this episode, host Paul Taylor explores how cryptocurrency, once seen as fringe “funny money,” is now influencing democracy and financial systems. Paul Taylor is joined by guests Joe Litobarski and Alice Stollmeyer to unpack how crypto works, its regulation or lack thereof, and its political implications, especially under the second Trump administration. Debating whether crypto is empowering citizens or undermining states, this episode shares critical insights into crypto’s risks, benefits, and what Europe should do in response.

The Language of Power: Crypto Democracy

In this episode of The Language of Power podcast, host Paul Taylor is joined by Mihai Chihaia, a policy analyst in the EPC’s Europe in the World programme, and Ionela Ciolan, a research officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, to unpack how Russia’s war on Ukraine has reshaped security in the Black Sea.  

From Ukraine’s use of naval drones to Turkey’s control of the straits and NATO’s limited naval presence, the discussion explores the shifting balance at sea, the EU’s new Black Sea Strategy, and what’s next for regional defence. 

The Language of Power: Murky Waters: Navigating the Future of Black Sea Security

The Language of Power – NATO’s summit in The Hague: a turning point or a phoney deal?

This week, host Paul Taylor is joined by Jamie Shea and Iana Maisuradze to unpack the outcomes of the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague – the first under President Trump’s return. Was it a moment of renewed unity or a carefully choreographed illusion? From Article 5 ambiguity to the 5% defence spending pledge, the episode explores what the summit means for transatlantic credibility, European rearmament, arms control, and Ukraine’s NATO path.

Tune in for sharp insights, critical analysis, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on NATO’s most consequential gathering in years.

The Language of Power: NATO’s summit in The Hague: a turning point or a phoney deal?

In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor explores the high-stakes geopolitical tug-of-war over Moldova, a small country caught between EU integration and Russian interference ahead of its crucial parliamentary elections on 28 September.

With insights from Tatiana Cojocari (WatchDog.MD Community) and Anastasia Pociumban (DGAP), the episode unpacks:

• Russia’s full-spectrum campaign of disruption in Moldova;
• EU and US support for Moldova’s democratic resilience;
• The role of Transnistria and recent gas cut-offs;
• The dilemma of decoupling Moldova’s EU path from Ukraine’s amid Hungarian opposition;
• The emergence of Alternativa and the potential election surprises.

The outcome in Moldova could shape the credibility of EU enlargement and the resilience of democracy on Europe’s eastern frontier.

This Podcast is part of the EPC's Europe in the World Programme.

The Language Of Power: Moldova's Moment

In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor, Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Policy Centre, examines the EU’s recent high-level summits with China and Japan. 

What can we learn from the frosty EU-China meeting in Beijing, which marked a tense 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations? And how does it compare to the broader, more cooperative outcomes of the EU-Japan summit held just a day earlier in Tokyo? 

Joining the discussion are Ivano di Carlo, Senior Policy Analyst, and Elixabete Arrieta, Junior Policy Analyst, both from the EPC’s Europe in the World programme. Together, they explore the current state of EU-Asia relations, the impact of the second Trump administration, and whether a distinct European approach in Asia is still possible. 

Europe’s two Asian summits - Beijing blues and Tokyo two-step

In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor, Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Policy Centre, examines the EU’s recent high-level summits with China and Japan.

What can we learn from the frosty EU-China meeting in Beijing, which marked a tense 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations? And how does it compare to the broader, more cooperative outcomes of the EU-Japan summit held just a day earlier in Tokyo?

Joining the discussion are Ivano di Carlo, Senior Policy Analyst, and Elixabete Arrieta, Junior Policy Analyst, both from the EPC’s Europe in the World Programme. Together, they explore the current state of EU-Asia relations, the impact of the second Trump administration, and whether a distinct European approach in Asia is still possible.

The Language of Power: Europe’s two Asian summits - Beijing blues and Tokyo two-step

The Language of Power Podcast: Europe’s two Asian summits - Beijing blues and Tokyo two-step

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The Language of Power: Murky Waters: Navigating the Future of Black Sea Security

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