In a world of overlapping crises, from pandemics to conflict, how prepared is Europe to respond to the next health emergency?

Joining host Aoife White is Florika Fink-Hooijer, who leads the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).

Created in the wake of Covid-19, HERA is designed to ensure Europe is no longer caught off guard. From early detection and research to stockpiling vaccines and medical countermeasures, it takes an “end-to-end” approach to managing health threats.

In this episode, Fink-Hooijer outlines the four major risks Europe must prepare for: future pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, climate-driven diseases, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. As geopolitical instability rises, health security is increasingly linked to defence, with medical countermeasures becoming strategic assets.

The conversation also explores lessons from Ukraine, the growing importance of global cooperation, and the risks of turning away from multilateral systems in favour of more transactional approaches.

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

As Europe’s green transition faces growing political and economic pressure, can the EU stay the course on climate action?

Joining host Aoife White is Jos Delbeke, a key architect of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS).

In this episode, Delbeke explains how carbon pricing works and why it remains central to Europe’s climate strategy. As companies call for slower reforms and continued free allowances, he argues that the system is doing what it was designed to do: drive investment in clean technologies while cutting emissions.

The conversation explores rising concerns about competitiveness, particularly in energy-intensive industries, and the growing pressure from global players like China and the United States. Are current fears justified or is this a moment of transition rather than crisis?

Delbeke also makes the case that climate policy is not just about emissions, but about security: reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports and strengthening Europe’s economic resilience.

Despite political pushback and global uncertainty, he remains cautiously optimistic, pointing to rapid advances in clean technology and tangible progress in reducing emissions.

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

As Europe faces an increasingly uncertain security environment, are we truly prepared for what lies ahead?

Joining host Aoife White is Sauli Niinistö, Former President of Finland, who reflects on how Europe’s mindset on security has shifted.

Drawing on Finland’s long history of navigating relations with Russia, Niinistö shares practical lessons on resilience, preparedness and deterrence and highlights the importance of being ready not just for military threats, but also for hybrid challenges.

While public concern about security is rising across Europe, Niinistö stresses that awareness must translate into action. A stronger Europe, he argues, is essential not only to deter conflict, but to maintain peace.

The conversation also explores the future of European defence, the role of NATO and the need for a more coordinated — and potentially broader — European security framework.

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