In an exclusive interview, FRANCE 24 and Radio France International sit down with France's minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, who was appointed to the job in September. We discuss France's diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East, in Europe and in relation to Ukraine. Barrot addresses Donald Trump's dramatic return to power in the US and insists that US tariffs on Europe – which Trump has said he will impose – would be a "major error". Barrot says that, if Trump persists, France and Europe will defend their interests – their farmers and their industries – "with an iron will". Barrot also stresses that Europe now needs to accelerate the strategic autonomy agenda, in the face of the "global transformation that is happening now".

The EU likes to underline that enlargement towards the east is a security priority. And indeed, since the war in Ukraine started, accession negotiations have begun with several countries, most of them in the Balkans. But in a shock referendum result, barely over 50 percent of voters in Moldova said Yes to pro-EU constitutional changes. And in another shock for Brussels, Georgian Dream beat the staunchly pro-European opposition in the parliamentary election in Georgia; a vote whose integrity the EU has called into question.

For all the talk of "Trump-proofing" Europe, much remains to be done, and there are now only a few short months before the former president takes office again, following his dramatic comeback and resounding victory in the US election. We speak to Pierre Moscovici, who was European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs during the first Trump presidency. He identifies three major areas where the EU is likely to face headwinds – Ukraine, trade and climate action. Moscovici is now First President of the Court of Auditors, which is the highest body for auditing the use of public funds in France. In that capacity, he addresses the challenge of reducing France's huge public deficit.

Deadly floods in Spain and in central and eastern Europe, as well as devastating hurricanes in the US, are just some of the recent potent reminders of climate change. From November 11, world leaders are huddling in Azerbaijan's capital Baku for the COP29 climate conference, with the stated goal of stepping up climate action and offering more protection to those worst affected by this global emergency. 

With the US election just around the corner, is the EU prepared for what might be coming? And what does “being prepared” mean, exactly, when it comes to Europe’s defence capabilities? These are some of the questions we put to veteran French diplomat Pierre Vimont, who was ambassador to Washington during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Vimont argues that the EU needs to develop much longer-term strategic thinking, whether on Ukraine and Russia, or China, or the Middle East, or the EU’s own near neighbourhood.

It's a ritual that happens every five years, and also a test for two of the EU’s key institutions. Once all the European Commission's new members have been designated, they go through confirmation hearings before the European Parliament. The parliament gets to flex its muscles vis-à-vis the EU executive and probe beyond the niceties of designates saying the right things about their commitment to European values. Getting through these grillings is not a foregone conclusion: last time, in 2019, three commissioner-designates were rejected. We ask our apnel of MEPs what they look for in a hearing, and if they see any of the current candidates as being particularly problematic.

We speak to one of the most seasoned players on the European stage, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. During his eight years in office, he has experienced the latter stages of the 2015-16 migrant crisis, the Covid pandemic, and the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as overseeing his country’s entry into the eurozone and the Schengen free-travel area. We discuss topical issues in the EU as well as in his region, particularly EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans.

Ask just about any EU leader who they want to win the US election on November 5, and you will hear a politically correct answer along the lines of “We will work with any US president to develop transatlantic ties”. However there is little doubt that many of them will be privately relieved if Vice-President Kamala Harris wins. She has drawn a clear line from her opponent, former president Donald Trump, on US engagement with the world and particularly on support for Ukraine. But it is not as if the current Biden-Harris administration has always been smooth for Europe: for example, the US Inflation Reduction Act and President Joe Biden’s AUKUS pact with the UK and Australia have created tensions. If Trump does indeed defeat Harris in November, could the EU still work out some sort of arrangement with him? We put this question to two MEPs.

As he nears the end of his term, Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, speaks to Talking Europe about the two crises that he has been most closely involved in: the Middle East and Ukraine. He recounts his efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and in Lebanon, and outlines possible ways to speed up EU assistance to Ukraine. His biggest regret over the past five years? Not being able to bring the EU's 27 member states to a common position on the Middle East. "It has been impossible to talk with a single voice because the positions are too different," he says.

European Union member states have narrowly backed import duties on Chinese-made electric cars, over what the EU considers to be unfair competition. Tariffs of up to 45 percent are set to be imposed from next month for five years. Chinese carmakers have criticised the EU's move, but are moving ahead with plans to expand in Europe and have so far not said that they will raise prices to cover the cost of the tariffs. However, the Chinese government says it is investigating some EU imports, such as pork or dairy products, from countries including Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as brandy and wine imports from France. That has sparked concerns of possible challenges at the World Trade Organization, and a worsening dispute between Brussels and Beijing. We delve into what's at stake with two MEPs.

In this episode we take a look at life, war and politics in Ukraine, through the eyes of its most celebrated writer. Andrey Kurkov rose to international fame with "Death and the Penguin" more than 20 years ago, but he has many other novels to his name, including "The Silver Bone", which has just been published in English. It's the first book in his new series, the Kyiv Mysteries. Kurkov is very active in promoting the literature and culture of his country around the world, and he was travelling around Europe as he recorded this interview.