Gavin Lee is pleased to welcome former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Italy’s former head of state offers an in-depth, insightful and thought-provoking reading of contemporary geopolitics, European cohesion, and leadership ethics. Speaking from the vantage point of a former leader of a major European country, he reflects on instability in global alliances, energy vulnerability in Europe, and the evolving nature of political leadership. His analysis is marked by a tension between pragmatism and principle, where shifting allegiances are both criticized and, at times, cautiously endorsed.

Our guest in this show is known for crossing swords with the Trump administration on the regulation of big tech and, more recently, for actually coming under a US travel ban. Thierry Breton was the EU Commissioner for the Internal Market from 2019 to 2024, when he had a major role in driving forward the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act. He and four other figures were hit with US travel bans at the end of last year, prompting Breton to denounce what he called « a wind of McCarthyism blowing again ».

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday hosted a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. Macron welcomed Iran’s announcement that the waterway would be reopened to commercial shipping for the rest of the ceasefire, but called for the strait’s « unconditional » reopening.

They are known as « forever chemicals »: synthetic compounds that resist breakdown in the human body and the environment. Also known as PFAS, there are thousands of them, and you might not even realise that you are being exposed to them while doing simple everyday tasks like cooking. The EU does have a strict rulebook on chemicals, when compared to other parts of the world, but some say that industrial lobbying is holding back more stringent regulation. In this episode we look at how the EU is trying to tighten its rules on these pollutants.

They are known as « forever chemicals »: synthetic compounds that resist breakdown in the human body and the environment. Also known as PFAS, there are thousands of them, and you might not even realise that you are being exposed to them while doing simple everyday tasks like cooking. The EU does have a strict rulebook on chemicals, when compared to other parts of the world, but some say that industrial lobbying is holding back more stringent regulation. In this episode we look at how the EU is trying to tighten its rules on these pollutants.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday hosted a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. Macron welcomed Iran’s announcement that the waterway would be reopened to commercial shipping for the rest of the ceasefire, but called for the strait’s « unconditional » reopening. France24 International Affairs Editor Rochelle Ferguson shares further insights.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday hosted a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. Macron welcomed Iran’s announcement that the waterway would be reopened to commercial shipping for the rest of the ceasefire, but called for the strait’s « unconditional » reopening. France24 International Affairs Editor Rochelle Ferguson shares further insights.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday hosted a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. Macron welcomed Iran’s announcement that the waterway would be reopened to commercial shipping for the rest of the ceasefire, but called for the strait’s « unconditional » reopening.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday hosted a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. Macron welcomed Iran’s announcement that the waterway would be reopened to commercial shipping for the rest of the ceasefire, but called for the strait’s « unconditional » reopening. France24 International Affairs Editor Rochelle Ferguson shares further insights.

Les électeurs hongrois ont adressé un cinglant désaveu à Viktor Orban, congédié après quatre mandats successifs après la très large victoire de Peter Magyar, un de ses anciens conseillers devenu adversaire politique. Ses premières paroles laissent augurer d’un changement en profondeur pour tenter de restaurer l’état de droit et se rapprocher de l’Union européenne. Sera-t-il à la hauteur des attentes ?Invité : Alban Mikoczy, grand reporter à France TV.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday hosted a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. Macron welcomed Iran’s announcement that the waterway would be reopened to commercial shipping for the rest of the ceasefire, but called for the strait’s « unconditional » reopening.

William Hilderbrandt is pleased to welcome Basil Germond, Professor of International Security in the School of Global Affairs and Co-Director of the University research institute Security Lancaster. He examines the emerging European-led initiative to secure the Strait of Hormuz in a post-war context, placing it within broader questions of maritime security, geopolitical negotiation, and transatlantic relations. From his perspective, this initiative reflects a strategic shift: European actors are attempting to shape the conditions of peace and stability themselves, beyond a US-led framework.

Les électeurs hongrois ont adressé un cinglant désaveu à Viktor Orban, congédié après quatre mandats successifs après la très large victoire de Peter Magyar, un de ses anciens conseillers devenu adversaire politique. Ses premières paroles laissent augurer d’un changement en profondeur pour tenter de restaurer l’état de droit et se rapprocher de l’Union européenne. Sera-t-il à la hauteur des attentes ?Invité : Alban Mikoczy, grand reporter à France TV.

Cette semaine, nous recevons Thierry Breton, ancien commissaire européen au marché intérieur et ancien ministre français de l’Economie. Il commente la position de l’UE sur le conflit au Moyen-Orient et salue la victoire de Peter Magyar en Hongrie, signe de renouveau pour le pays.