The taz foreign podcast: protests, austerity plans and an EU that revolves around itself

The European Union doesn't always have the best reputation: too cumbersome, too divided, too divided - on many political issues it gets in its own way. At the same time, the European project is a great and unique achievement and perhaps that is why it is struggling so much for its position internationally. Currently especially in the Ukraine war.

While delegations from Russia and Ukraine are negotiating a possible ceasefire in Abu Dhabi after months of standstill at the US initiative, the Europeans also want to have a say in the talks. At the moment they are there, but they are just spectators - although the demand for security guarantees is clearly aimed at Europe. Crucial meetings will take place in the next few days at which the EU member states and Great Britain want to agree on a common line. Because this has also been a problem since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

At the same time, Brussels, the EU's center of power, cannot close its eyes to the protests and conflicts in the individual member states. This is not the case in Belgium itself. A veritable government crisis is taking place almost right on the doorstep of the EU apparatus. The Belgian government is facing massive budget cuts. Prime Minister Bart De Wever would like to give up his post, but the king won't let him. Trade unions and other civil society groups have already announced the next protests to demonstrate against the austerity plans.

What is going on in the heart of the EU? And what is it like to report from this area of ​​tension? Tanja Tricarico from the taz foreign department talks about this with the EU and Belgium correspondent Eric Bonse.

This episode of Long Distance was recorded on November 10th at 3pm ET.

Long-distance connection – The taz foreign podcast appears every week on taz.de and everywhere there are podcasts.