Just Europe Podcast

Episode 9 - Making the link – jobs in Europe and global supply chains

This episode in the series is a deep dive into global supply chains, employment and what this means for the just transition. Our guests include:

• Holger Görg, renowned economist in supply chains at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, and leader of the EU Rethink GSC project
• Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope
• Román Arjona, Chief Economist in DG Grow of the European Commission

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Episode 8 - From classroom to workforce: exploring migrant integration

This eighth episode is about migrants in Europe. We look at what research can tell us about integration and the contributions that people who arrive in the EU make to our economies and our societies.

With Teresa Sordé Martí, we will hear the positive outcome of the REFUGE-ED project. This project is on integrating refugee children through education and literature to improve their social integration and skills, mental health and wellbeing. Olaf van Vliet will help us debunk some myths which claim that migrants are more of a financial burden than the native-born population.

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Episode 7 - Keep learning! – everyone onboard for a just transition

This episode is an in-depth discussion about how adult lifelong learning is vital to provide Europe with the skills required for a just transition. Making education available for everyone, no matter what stage of life they are in, also ensures that no one is left behind during the transition.

Our guests on this episode include:

• Elisa Gambardella, Education & Lifelong Learning Coordinator at SOLIDAR Foundation
• Frank Siebern-Thomas, Head of Unit of the Fair, Green and Digital Transitions, Research unit in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment
• Nora Fahy, Manager of the Roscommon Women's Network

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Episode 6 - Smart, fair, wise: keeping strong social sciences and humanities in Europe

This episode in the series is on keeping strong social sciences and humanities in Europe – an in-depth discussion about why understanding people, cultures and societies is so vital for Europe, and how it contributes to competitiveness, social cohesion, just transitions and democratic stability. The EU is currently outlining its budget and all eyes are on how much money will be made available for research and innovation, and crucially, how much for of that will go into researching our societies. 

Our guests include:

• Vera Jourova, the Vice-Rector of Charles University and former European Commissioner
• Jurgen Rienks, director of the Netherlands house for Education and Research (Neth-ER)
• Jeroen Jutte, Director at DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• Emmanuelle Gardan, Director at Coimbra Group of Universities
• Gabi Lombardo, Director of EASSH
• Georgia Curea, policy officer at The Guild

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Episode 5 - Fighting Poverty: work, wealth and the 1%

This episode in the series is on fighting poverty – with a keen eye on the EU’s upcoming Anti-Poverty Strategy and policies which can greatly improve the situation for European citizens living under the poverty line as well as prevent people from falling into poverty. 

We hear from some of the people who have fallen below that line and investigate what can be done to support people back into work. 

Our guests include:

• Olivier de Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
• Maxime Cerutti, BusinessEurope's Director of Social Affairs department
• Slavina Spasova, Director of the European Social Observatory
• Luca Ratti, Professor in employment rights at the University of Luxembourg

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Episode 4 - Cake, trains and collective dreaming: Just Transition goes global

Our new episode is all about Just Transition. What exactly is Just Transition? What does it mean to different people around the globe, and what is the role of the EU? Shifting to a sustainable economy is something that affects all of society, but how the idea of ‘leaving no one behind’ is delivered, depends on people’s and country’s contexts.

In this episode, we look at this question from an international perspective. You will hear from civil society, youth, indigenous people, from the global north and the global south, as well as representatives of workers and employers. We met them in Bonn, Germany, at the United Nations climate change conference held a few weeks ago to prepare for the COP30 in Brazil. 

You will also hear from researchers who support policy makers with scientific evidence:

• Nthabi Mohlakoana is a reseacher at Delft University of Technology focusing on the social aspects and governance of energy transitions and energy justice, and who talked to us about pathways to a just energy transition in South Africa
• Detlef Van Vuuren is professor at Utrecht University, leads ELEVATE, a project funded by the Horizon Europe programme that’s trying to find ways to integrate justice and equity into climate modelling

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Episode 3 - Fair enough? Unpacking sustainable lifestyles

Our third episode is all about sustainable lifestyles.

What does it mean to live a sustainable life and how realistic is it? Can research insights help make the choices that are good for the planet also people’s default option, and what role can local communities play in all this? 

We delve into two key research projects funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. Our guests, researchers Rosie Robison from the ‘Shared Green Deal’ project and Lewis Akenji from the ‘Positive and Sustainable Lifestyles’ project, unpack the findings from their work and what they could mean for policymaking.

We also dropped into a Brussels market to hear shoppers talk about their buying habits.

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Episode 2 - Union of Skills: game on!

Our second episode in this series is ‘Union of Skills: game on!’ – a plan to improve high-quality education, training, and lifelong learning to help workers respond to changes in the economy and stay competitive in the labour market.

The Union of Skills also aims to bridge the gaps in skills that are hindering European competitiveness.

The episode is built around the recent European Employment and Social Rights Forum, which featured a demonstration by the EU-supported Megaskills project, demonstrating how gaming can help people of any age to develop soft skills – such as problem-solving, resource management and critical thinking – that employers are increasingly looking for. 

Our guests include:

• Afonso Araujo, a partner in the EU Megaskills project
• Sergio Alloza, psychologist and researcher
• Jan Holý, Diana Voutyrakou and Miruna-Ioana Sandor, European Social Forum youth dialogue participants
• Professor Katriona O’Sullivan, digital skills expert
• Mario Nava, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts