According to Julia Christian, forests and agriculture campaigner at the Brussels-based NGO Fern, the centre-right German party CDU, which lead the European People's Party (EPP), is seeking to disrupt the implementation of the EU deforestation law as national elections approach, aiming to gain votes.

The EU Deforestation law aims to combat global deforestation by imposing due diligence obligations on traders importing raw materials such as beef, cocoa, coffee, and soy into the EU.

The legislation is still supposed to take effect on December 30, 2024, for large enterprises, and mid-2025 for small and micro-enterprises. In October, the European Commission proposed a delay of 12 months, which EU diplomats immediately backed.

However, the European Parliament proposed further amendments, pushed by the EPP, on the substance which are being resisted by EU diplomats.

The three EU institutions will now start negotiations and - until they agree - the original deadline remains.

Today Radio Schuman analyses the situation with Christian.

In the second segment of this podcast, we provided a quick overview of the contenders in Romania's presidential election.

In the final part of the show, Radio Schuman explains why it is so difficult for people who have lost weight to keep it off—spoiler alert, it's the result of a new study published in Nature magazine.

Today's Radio Schuman is hosted by Sasha Vakulina and produced by the journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques. Audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis, Music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Radio Schuman questions whether the EU adopt outgoing US president Joe Biden's approach towards Ukraine regarding the supply of weaponry, together with Euronews's Sasha Vakulina.

On Tuesday, Ukraine reportedly employed six US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets within Russian territory. These long-range missiles, with a range of approximately 190 miles, had previously been restricted for use within Ukraine’s international borders.

However, the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region prompted Biden to revise this policy.

This shift marks a significant change in US military strategy. Should the European Union follow suit? The matter is particularly contentious in Europe, especially in Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz has declined to supply Ukraine with Germany’s Taurus long-range missiles, citing concerns over potential war escalation and domestic political considerations, including his re-election prospects.

In the second block, we take a quick look at the latest development of deforestation law and the EU trade Council on today's agenda - spoiler alert: trade ministers will discuss the US.

In the final part of the show, Radio Schuman explores lesser-known European villages to visit as alternatives to mass tourism destinations.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moldova applied to join the EU in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the country has set 2030 as a target to join the bloc.

But it is is deeply divided between its pro-EU aspirations, and the temptation to side with Russia, which has supported Moldova’s Transnistria since the eastern region declared its independence 30 years ago.

Earlier this month, Moldova's pro-Western incumbent president Maia Sandu won a second term in a race that was marred by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud and intimidation. The EU also held its breath when Moldovans voted in favor of EU membership by only a razor-thin majority of 50.35%.

The country’s foreign affairs minister Mihai Popşoi was in Brussels this week for meetings with his European counterparts and MEPs to discuss progress along Moldova’s path to the EU.

Euronews's Sergio Cantone had an interview with him, today featured in Radio Schuman.

A quick overview at the agenda today, with pivotal events behind closed doors among political group presidents at the European Parliament.

On the last part of the show, Radio Schuman looks at the best and the worst places in Europe to speak English.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.