Europe
matters

#12

How space (law) works

Space exploration used to be a race between national space agencies like NASA and Roscosmos (Russia), but the private sector dominates the field today. How can we establish regulations in outer space that apply to both governments and private companies? Can Elon Musk create his own country on Mars? In this cosmic interview with Anass Hanafi Dali, we discuss space law, Martian tax havens and how Russia shooting down their own satellites could lead to WWIII.

#11

How This is Gendered

Sinks, Google Maps and public spaces. Could they be made more accessible and inclusive if approached with a gendered view? Inspired by the thought that “everything is political”, Alina Karlsen and Tess de Rooij claim that “everything is gendered”. To prove this claim, in the summer of 2020, they started working on the first feminist encyclopedia - THIS IS GENDERED. We explore how gender and feminism affect our daily lives, what “gendered” means to them, and the role of gender in politics.

#10

How to shape the future of Europe

The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) has just ended, leaving us to wonder whether European citizens will be listened to or if it is just a “cosmetic” exercise to make everyone feel better about European democracy. Our guest is Alberto Alemanno, author, founder of the Good Lobby and professor of EU law at HEC Paris. We discuss how the EU would look like if citizens had the opportunity to engage with decision-makers, if there is a need to reinvent democracy, and what citizens should do to ensure their voices are heard.

#9

How to Walk for Europe

In this interview, we talk to Valerie Thatcher, an activist, author, and initiator of the Walk for Europe, about the life-changing experience of travelling through Europe by foot to encourage a conversation about the EU. In 2019, motivated by the indifference towards Europe and the lack of interest in the upcoming European election, Valerie set out on a journey to promote voting, walking more than 750km from Lyon to Brussels. In 2021 she took up the challenge once again, crossing 12 Central and Eastern European countries and walking more than 1400km.

#8

Noam Chomsky on the pandemic, the Ukraine crisis and climate change

In this special interview, Noam Chomsky, global thought leader, linguist, political dissident and political theorist, tells us why he thinks Europe has accepted to subordinate itself to the United States, even though it has always had the option to become an independent force in international affairs. We discuss the consequences of this choice, the lessons learnt from the pandemic, vaccine patents, and the role Europe could play in the transition towards a more equitable and ecological future.

#7

2021 The Year of Broken Promises

2021 was a year of many promises, from a return to pre-covid life to new ways of defeating climate change. Was it all a lie? In this winter special, Paolo Destilo and Gilberto Morishaw recap the year by discussing the effects of vaccine hoarding, distrust towards Big Pharma and the phenomenon of the great resignation. Finally, they discuss the broken promises of COP 26 (Climate Change Conference) and that there is still hope for 2022.

#6

How to feel the Pulse of Europe

The dissatisfaction with the European Union is ever-growing. What can we do as a civil society to make a difference? Why should we hold on to the idea of a United States of Europe and European values? A Georgian artist, actress, author and activist, Nini Tsiklauri, discusses the Russo-Georgian war, how meeting Angela Merkel inspired her to become an activist and board member of Pulse of Europe, and the difficulties of spreading awareness about European topics.

#5

How to make a European laugh

Laughter is said to be the best medicine. Could it also be a means of bringing Europeans together? Our guest is Dragos Giugula, a Romanian stand-up comedian who started his career in Singapore and currently lives in Berlin. Like Dragos’s comedy, this talk is "dark but cute". We talk about why a European media platform is needed, how humour has helped many people cope with death during Covid and much more.

#4

How to recharge civil rights in Europe

The fates of the European countries are tied together; what happens in one country has an impact on the entire EU. So what happens when some countries go down the path of democratic regression? Should we still hold Europe and its core values as an example to follow despite widespread violations of fundamental rights and threats to the rule of law? Márta Pardavi, a civil society leader and human rights advocate, joins us to explore this and much more.

#3

How to build a European political party

In 2017, as a reaction to Brexit and growing populism in Europe, a pan-European political movement was born. The co-presidents of Volt Europa, Valerie Sternberg-Irvani and Reinier van Lanschot, guide us through the inner workings of a political party that goes beyond national borders.

#2

How to check-in to Grand Hotel Europa

What does it mean to feel European? Best-selling Dutch author, Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer, asked himself the same question before writing “Grand Hotel Europa”. In this talk, we look at European identity, the nostalgia that defines it, the phenomenon of mass tourism that floods Venice as well as unexpected ties between immigrants and tourists and much more.

#1

How to conquer colonialism

Our past is tainted with injustice and whitewashing. How do we accept and make amends for our historical wrongdoings? Gilberto Morishaw, a global shaper of the World Economic Forum, tells us about his love-hate relationship with the Netherlands. We discuss provocative issues like the impact that the colonial history of Europe has on immigration policies today and much more.