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 ambitious plans in store to ramp up innovation in the digital age. The million-dollar question is: can the EU succeed? In today’s episode, we discuss what innovation is, why it matters, and what the EU is doing to earn itself a place among innovatio ..read more

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 prices can be irrationally high.  We join forces with Philipp Cerny to untangle the complexity of EU cross-border train travel. After all, Europe has one of the densest railway networks in the world, but markets, policy and incentives seem to move ..read more

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 rapid societal changes? How would you even go about making a new constitution in the first place? And whatever happened to the new Icelandic and EU constitutions? Tune in and listen to Vic, Alex, and Harpa ponder these questions with the help of Valger ..read more

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, Chiara Bellani, who has worked in the EU Commission for several years, helps us untangle the EU selection process. Hosted & produced by: Victor Aguilar & Alexander Roth Useful links Overview EPSO test (EPSO) Information on CAST (EPSO) Upcoming ..read more

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 these initiatives apart and can they live up to their promise? What else is in the EU’s digital arsenal and why should we care? Is Europe too early or too late to the digital party? Buckle up, tune in to EU Untangled, and get into digital with us. Link ..read more

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 sounds of this strange language and takes a ride through its highs and lows. Links War of words: who will win the eurojargon battle (Euronews, 09 January 2014) Misused English Words and Expressions in EU Publications (European Court of auditors, Sep ..read more

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 rest of the world? And most importantly, what are our reference points? Join Alex, Harpa, and Vic on a deep dive into the EU Vaccines Strategy and discover the good, the bad, and the ethically questionable elements of the complex world of COVID-19 va ..read more

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 ravaging pandemic that has stalled mobility flows all over the world. ESN President Kostis Giannidis joins Victor, Harpa and Alex to discuss the challenges and opportunities lying ahead of an Erasmus+ programme that promises to be more inclusive, more ..read more

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, Instagram, Twitter or contact us via email (mail@untangled-podcast.eu) or check out our website ..read more

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: Four pillars to make or break the European Green Deal (Bruegel) Criticism: A grey deal? (Corporate Europe Observatory) Basescu: European Green Deal risks pushing ‘two or three countries’ towards EU exit (Euractiv) The EU’s green deal is a colo ..read more