Brussels intends to make the EU’s farm policy not only better suited to future challenges, but also lighter and more palatable. But will its budget also be going on a diet?


Image / Shutterstock


Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, President of the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (in Portuguese)

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

Tonight, Wednesday, June 4th, at 6 pm on The Brian Crombie Hour I interview ✅ David Perry. ALL my 🎤 podcasts and 🎦 video casts can be accessed any time on my web site https://briancrombie.com which holds repository of all my shows. 📌 David Perry is the President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, an independent, non partisan international policy think tank, where his research focuses on Canadian defense spending and Procurement. David Perry talks about Canadian National Defense, the 2% of GDP target which might be doubled, what we should spend on, Golden Dome, jets, recruitment, how war has changed, and our geopolitical reality today. The Brian Crombie Hour airs ⏰ 6:00 pm nightly. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2Oioec8. Stream, listen, like, watch and share. Thank You!

#briancrombie #crombie #briancrombieshow #briancrombiehour #thebriancrombiehour #briancrombiecom #mississaugapolitics #torontopolitics #ontariopolitics #canadapolitics #mississauga #transit #transitalliance #podcasts

David Perry | Defence Spending

Tonight, Monday, June 16th, at 6 pm on The Brian Crombie Hour I close the show with my thoughts about ✅ Defence Spending. ALL my 🎤 podcasts and 🎦 video casts can be accessed any time on my web site https://briancrombie.com which holds repository of all my shows. 📌 The Brian Crombie Hour airs ⏰ 6:00 pm nightly. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2Oioec8. Stream, listen, like, watch and share. Thank You!

#briancrombie #crombie #briancrombieshow #briancrombiehour #thebriancrombiehour #briancrombiecom #mississaugapolitics #torontopolitics #ontariopolitics #canadapolitics #mississauga #transit #transitalliance #podcasts

Brian Crombie | Defence Spending

All eyes were on The Hague this week, as a historic NATO summit concluded on Wednesday with new commitments to increase defence spending. 

US president Donald Trump dominated the conversation and managed to do what many previous US presidents had more or less openly hoped to achieve: get the allies to pay up more. 

The 32 members of the alliance agreed to a steep hike in defense spending, up to 5% of GDP, but starting with a target of 3.5% by 2035. Most of that would go to armament and technology, but 1.5% of defense-related spending must also go towards improving the infrastructure needed to deploy this new technology: from roads and bridges to railroads and ports. An easy feat for budget champion Poland, but an uncomfortable target for countries like Spain or France. 

Our new podcast host, Sabina Șancu, sits down with two former high-ranking NATO officials to unravel the most important developments from this summit and look to the future, both within and outside the alliance. 

Rose Gottemoeller, former deputy secretary general of NATO and trustee of Friends of Europe, comments on the tense ‘bromance’ between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Jamie Shea is the senior fellow for peace security and defence at Friends of Europe and a former deputy assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges at NATO. Shea wonders if Trump will truly commit to upholding Article 5 of the NATO treaty, conditioned on his allies implementing the promised spending boost.

If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org

Policy Voices | A historic NATO summit raises defence spending target to 5% of GDP

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 another of our international series, we present to you Elie Pieprz, Director of International Relations at the Israel's Defense & Security Forum.

Conversation about the crisis in the Middle East along the Israel-Iran-Gaza axis.
What is the genesis of the conflict, the reasons for its continuation and its ultimate goals, as well as its diplomatic conclusion?

Eli is a graduate of Yeshiva University. Previously, he served as Director of International Relations at the Yesha Council, a lobbyist in the field of economic policy and taxation, and as director of political campaigns in various countries in the United States and around the world.

Enjoy watching and listening!

Follow us:

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2FJlMHl
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-
Георги Харизанов
Веселин Вълчев

Легенди / Legends
Българският подкаст / The Bulgarian podcast

Israel-Iran-Gaza, Elie Pieprz, Israel's Defence & Security Forum at “Legends”

This is the second episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a new podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re discussing distrust, disinformation and a dissonant future in the EU, NATO and Ukraine. 
Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? 
In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. 
In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu is speaking with Eugene Slavnyi, news director at United24 Media Ukraine, the biggest English-speaking outlet covering all things Ukraine, about trust within communities, combating Russian disinformation by mastering social media narratives and the importance of preventing war in order to protect tomorrow’s climate.  
Former host Catarina Vila Nova sat down with Jamie Shea, Senior Fellow for Peace, Security and Defence at Friends of Europe, to discuss building a European defence project and who will take charge of it, in light of intricate regional relationships and a complicated rapport with the United States.  
If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org  

Policy Voices | Defence in the time of distrust

This is the third episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re discussing the EU’s enlargement, with a particular view to the Western Balkans. 

Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? 

In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. 

In today’s show, former host Catarina Vila Nova sat down with Nathalie Tocci, director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, to discuss the faultlines keeping EU states from agreeing on enlargement and EU citizens’ lack of knowledge about many of the candidate countries. 

Host Sabina Șancu is speaking with Valbona Zeneli, senior fellow for Peace, Security and Defence here at Friends of Europe, and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, about “enlargement fatigue”, external influences on the Western Balkan countries, and the steps these countries still need to take in order to create prosperity. 

If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org 

Policy Voices | Enlargement and the EU's defence

In this episode of the Defence Property Podcast, co-hosts Kane Dury from Discover Buyers Agency and Liam Garman, editor of Smart Property Investment, dive into two of the most overlooked but critical aspects of property investing: opportunity cost and due diligence.


They unpack the hidden cost of waiting too long to invest and how analysis paralysis or emotional decision-making can leave defence personnel behind in rising markets. Dury shares real-world examples of missed opportunities, and why timing the market perfectly can sometimes do more harm than good.

The duo also stress the importance of detailed due diligence, looking beyond the surface appeal of a property. From flood zones and bushfire overlays to public housing density and infrastructure plans, defence investors are walked through the essential checks before signing on the dotted line.

Whether you’re looking to build a portfolio or buying your first investment property, this episode is packed with hard-won insights to help ADF members maximise returns and minimise risk.

To listen to Kane Dury’s interview with Mark Donaldson VC, click here.
To see how you can avoid bad property advice, click here.

Why your ‘analysis paralysis’ could cost you thousands

Stay up to date with this regular podcast on EU affairs. Sounds dry? Don't worry, we'll be sure to find something to wet your appetite.
Stay tuned, stay fresh, stay informed.

Welcome to the Defence Property Podcast, the ultimate podcast for current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who are keen on building wealth through property investing. Hosted by Kane Dury from Discover Buyers Agency, an ex-serving member of the Australian Army with 20 years of property investing experience, this podcast is designed to provide you with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to start and scale your property portfolio.

In each episode, we dive deep into topics such as property investing, Australian property markets, finance and mortgage broking, and investment strategies. We also tackle common investing problems and offer practical solutions to help you navigate the complex world of real estate.

What sets us apart is our unique perspective and the frequent inclusion of guest speakers, including successful property investors and industry professionals who were previously ADF members. These interviews and case studies provide real-world insights and experiences that you won't find anywhere else.

Whether you're an ADF member or simply someone interested in property investment, the Defence Property Podcast has something for you. Our goal is to equip you with the education, knowledge, and tools you need to make informed decisions and achieve your investment goals.

Join us on this journey and subscribe to ADF Property Podcast today. 
You can find us on our website, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel. Stay tuned for new episodes and start transforming your property investment approach now.

For more information and updates, follow us on:
•	[Website] = https://www.discoverbuyersagency.com.au/
•	[Instagram] = @adf_property_podcast
•	[YouTube] = @DiscoverBuyersAgency

We're a leading think-tank that connects people, stimulates debate and triggers change. Don't forget to tune into our weekly Frankly Speaking Podcast on European and world affairs.

EURANET PLUS NETWORK:
UNDERSTANDING EUROPE BETTER

Euranet Plus is composed of 15 leading public and private broadcasters within the European Union reaching more than 15 million listeners in a daily cumulated reach.

Producing and broadcasting in 15 official EU languages, Euranet Plus broadcasts EU related content through its international, national and regional radios in 15 EU states of the European Union.

Brian Crombie has 20 years of corporate experience, a depth of knowledge in all facets of finance, strategic planning and corporate / business development for a wide breadth of companies in several industries. Brian has deep political, community and charitable involvement as well.

Българският подкаст - The Bulgarian podcast

New tracks tagged #Defence