This episode unravels the complexities of the Spitzenkandidat process ahead of the European elections on 6-9 June. Discover what a Spitzenkandidat is, the story behind its creation, and how it works, or doesn’t. From its origins to the current candidates and the tug-of-war between the European Parliament and the European Council, we dive deep into …

Join Victor Aguilar and Alex Roth as they tackle the fiery debate surrounding the European Parliament’s odd arrangement of having a “single seat” but multiple places of work. Why do hundreds of parliamentary staff travel monthly between Brussels and Strasbourg? Is this practice a symbol of unity or an outdated extravagance? We discuss the practical…

Innovation is at the heart of human progress. The printing press, the steam engine, the automobile, and now AI have led to industrial and social revolutions. In modern history, Europe has been the cradle of countless technological innovations, but more recently, it seems to be playing catch-up with other regions. The EU is aware of this, and it has…

Let’s be honest, how often do you take the train when crossing borders in the EU? We know flying is anything but sustainable. Yet, the prospect of jetting to our family, friends, or holiday destination fast and (ahem) cheap is all too tempting. Trains have a hard time competing against planes: booking is complicated, trips often take longer, and pr…

Dreaming of landing a well-paid job in the EU institutions? Thinking of having an impact on EU policy? Know that first you must navigate the EU recruitment jungle. Tune in to discover where to find the right information, what to expect from the recruitment exams, and what obscure acronyms such as “EPSO”, “CAST” or “FG IV” really mean. Our guest, Ch…

Description The European Union has an ambitious strategy to usher in data-driven innovation and stay competitive in the digital age. Proposals such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act have been making waves in the EU and abroad, promising to reign in tech giants and protect human rights online. But why all the fuzz? What sets th…

Description The EU Bubble (or should we say “babble”?) has developed its own language. Known as “Eurospeak”, “Euro-English”, or “Brussels English” it is a tongue twister of its own: an international version of English filled with all kinds of technocratic terms and borrowed expressions. In this summer edition, EU Untangled uncovers the origins and …

Description Much has been said about the EU Vaccines Strategy in recent weeks and months. Coverage from various media can largely be boiled down to the conclusion that despite good intentions, the EU strategy is simply a case of “too little, too late”. But is there more to this story? How does the roll-out of the EU strategy measure up against the …

Description From the new crowdsourced Icelandic constitution to the abandoned EU constitution A constitution lays the foundations for how a society is organised and the fundamental principles that must underpin all laws and government decision-making. But how much do constitutions really impact our daily lives? Should they be updated to reflect rap…

Description “A life-changing experience” might be an accurate way to define the Erasmus+ programme. Over the past three decades, the EU’s flagship programme has allowed over 10 million people to benefit from cross-border exchanges in Europe and beyond. Now, Erasmus+ is undergoing changes of its own caused by a larger budget, a messy Brexit and a ra…

Description This episode explores the European Commission’s work programme for 2021 and the EU policies that will steal the show next year. Links European Commission Work Programme 2021 (European Commission) The European Commission’s priorities (2019-2024) (European Commission) Contact We would be happy if you leave us a comment on Facebook, Instag…

Description Thanks for tuning in! Victor and Alex are rebooting EU Untangled with a discussion about the European Green Deal. Links Overview: A European Green Deal – overview page (European Commission) A European Green Deal – official communication (European Commission) EU Commission unveils ‘European Green Deal’: The key points (Euractiv) Analysis…

Description I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want. A referendum gives the people the option to have the final say in political matters of the utmost importance. And that’s what we ALL want, right? Well, the story of Brexit tells us that despite their relative simplicity, referendums can be a very tricky business. Harpa, Alex and Vict…

From the 23 to the 26 of May, the citizens of 28 (most likely 27… ) countries will vote in the largest transnational elections in the world. Over 700 members will be elected to the European Parliament and Bruzzels is buzzing with excitement. But what exactly is the European Parliament and what role does it play in the EU? With so much at stake, why…

Description Not all that glitters is gold and not all gold shines bright. Rosie Birchard helps us examine the dark glow of the EU golden visas and passports, as well as the risks and ethical questions that arise from the murky business of selling and buying EU citizenship. Links You can download here the full report of the European Commission on In…

Ever since the World Wide Web gave us all access to the Internet, it has fundamentally changed our communications, businesses, services and even politics. Now, policies are trying to catch up, and the Internet as we know it may be about to change for good. The European Union’s Parliament has approved a new legislation to address copyright issues in…

Description Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) have for decades clashed over nine letters: M-A-C-E-D-O-N-I-A. The conflict isn’t new, but the solution is. Last June, the two nations signed an agreement that officially changes fYROM’s name to the “Republic of North Macedonia”. But why did the country have to change its name…

Welcome to EU Untangled, the podcast that helps you to understand the large picture and the nitty-gritty details of EU politics. Check out our website: http://www.untangled-podcast.euAv EU Untangled