In this year's State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen laid out her plans for the EU's transition "from fragility to a new vitality". But is the Commission president being too optimistic here? In the latest Centre for European Reform podcast, Charles Grant, Christian Odendahl and Camino Mortera-Martinez discuss the Commission's outline for the next year and what it says about how well it is leading the EU.

Centre for European Reform

New CER podcast: What does the 2020 SOTEU speech reveal about the EU’s ambition?

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regional ambitions and push for control of gas resources in Eastern Mediterranean have put Turkey on a collision course with the European Union. Dangerous military incidents involving Turkey, Greece and France have raised the risk of conflict. EU member-states have been split on how best to manage relations with Ankara – France wants a tougher stance while Germany is urging caution. But the more Turkey continues its current course of action the likelier it is that the EU will shift towards imposing economic sanctions. CER research fellow and regional expert Luigi Scazzieri discusses the latest developments and implications of the rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean with senior research fellow Camino Mortera-Martinez.

CER podcast: Tensions rising between Turkey and EU in Eastern Mediterranean

Lukashenka has rigged his re-election as president of Belarus, and begun a violent crackdown on protesters rejecting the result. The EU, US and Russia face dilemmas in responding to events. Charles Grant and Ian Bond discuss Sunday's election.

CER podcast: A rigged election in Belarus: Can Lukashenka cling to power?

Growing economic tensions, COVID-19, cyber attacks, disinformation, intellectual property theft, a security clamp down in Hong Kong, treatment of the Uyghurs, and restrictions on Huawei: the CER’s director Charles Grant and director of foreign policy Ian Bond examine Europe’s increasingly troubled relationship with China.

CER podcast: The EU's increasingly troubled relationship with China

Lukashenka is certain to win Belarus’s presidential election. But his suppression of dissent poses a dilemma for the EU: punishing Lukashenka could help Russia to extend its sway over the country.

CER podcast: Belarus may be less stable than it appears

European Union leaders will meet in Brussels on July 17-18 to discuss plans for a new recovery fund and long-term budget to help Europe bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis. The CER’s chief economist Christian Odendahl and deputy director John Springford discuss how the EU should spend the money.

CER podcast: The EU’s €750 billion question: How should the COVID-19 recovery fund be spent?

Following Monday’s meeting between Boris Johnson and the three Presidents of the EU, has a deal between the EU and UK become more or less likely? Charles Grant and Sam Lowe discuss.

CER podcast: Can the EU and the UK strike a deal on their future relationship?

Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic is creating new friction in the transatlantic relationship and exacerbating existing differences on China, trade and defence spending. Tensions will get worse if Trump is re-elected in November.

CER podcast: Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic is deepening the transatlantic rift

On 18th May, Merkel and Macron proposed a €500bn recovery fund for the EU. John Springford and Christian Odendahl discuss why it's needed, and whether reluctant countries will back it.

CER podcast: A Hamilton moment?

As 2020 started, Vladimir Putin’s economic, political and diplomatic position looked strong. Now he faces recession, an exploding COVID-19 pandemic and declining domestic support. What does that mean for the West?

CER podcast: Putin hits a bad patch

Charles Grant and Sam Lowe discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on the EU-UK trade talks, and whether the pandemic will lead to the transition period being extended, taking into account the arguments for and against.

CER podcast: What does COVID-19 mean for the EU-UK trade talks?

The EU, the US and China are the most important economic blocs in the world. But trade, political and security relations between them are becoming dangerously tense. Can the EU calm things down?

CER podcast: The EU, the US and China: Irresponsible stakeholders in the global order?

EU solidarity went missing when the COVID-19 pandemic started, feeding eurosceptic narratives. The Union is now getting its act together internally. It should also help to mitigate the impacts of the crisis beyond its borders.

CER podcast: The EU must fight COVID-19 on the home front and abroad

Western leaders must know their facts before they talk to Putin, and take a firm line on unacceptable actions. But there are things that they need to talk about; they should not regard not talking as a sanction.

CER podcast: Western leaders should talk to Putin, but not be taken in by him

The new coronavirus has been spreading rapidly in Europe, and Italy has imposed strict constraints on movement to contain the outbreak there. Luigi Scazzieri, Christian Odendahl and John Springford discuss whether Italy’s policies will be enacted elsewhere, and how policy-makers can confront the economic fall-out from the epidemic.

CER podcast: How to contain the coronavirus fall-out

The Centre for European Reform is a think-tank devoted to making the European Union work better and strengthening its role in the world. The CER is pro-European but not uncritical.

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