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NEXTEUK

Podcasts

Pandemic Politics: A Student View of the EU in the Time of Corona

Listen to the new NEXTEUK podcast series. In each episode, Queen Mary University of London students will discuss how the European Union has dealt with the ongoing Coronavirus: which countries have dealt with the pandemic most effectively? What more could the European Union have done? What position is the EU now in after another significant crisis? 

In the first episode, dedicated to lockdowns and quarantines (with a small dose of face mask talk for good measure), Natascha from Switzerland and Eleanora from Italy express their views on the policies in place in their respective countries as well as look at which countries have put in place the most effective quarantine and lockdown procedures.

 

In the second episode, two QMUL students and Dr Stella Ladi, one of our NEXTEUK experts, investigate why Greece, a country so badly affected by previous EU crises has been an example for the rest of the continent this time around. Christianna and Despina join for a discussion on the Greek response to the virus. Christianna also provides a fascinating insight into her area of expertise - EU-China relations - and how the virus could affect it. As a final bonus, Dr. Stella Ladi joins for special interview, giving her expert opinion on the key to Greece's success. 

 

In the third episode, we get a sense of what the view of the EU's response to Coronavirus is from outside Europe. Cristofori talks briefly about America's handling of the crisis, how it compares to the UK and the lack of attention given to the EU in the US. Manuela provides a summary of Brazi's response and the problems being created by President Jair Bolsonaro. Finally, Professor Philip Cowley gives an in-depth analysis of the situation in Hong Kong, as well as his views on what COVID could mean for Brexit negotiations.

 

The fourth episode is focused on the ambitious recovery fund of 750 billion Euros to help the economies hit by Coronavirus proposed by the European Commission, at the end of May. This answer has raised many debates and questions that Griffin, Antonio Astolfi, intern at the European Parliament, and Dr Francoise Boucek from QMUL discuss about, such as the role of the European Parliament, what it could mean for the future of European integration and the possible impact it could have on the future of EU-UK relations. 

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