EU Decoded

• A Silent Tragedy: The Persecution of Christian Minorities in Africa and the Middle East

  Christian communities across Africa and the Middle East are facing unprecedented levels of violence - kidnappings, church burnings, intimidation, and even mass killings. And yet, much of the world remains silent. In this episode, MEP François-Xavier Bellamy sheds light on this overlooked crisis. We discuss why Christians have become one of the most targeted groups globally, how extremist movements and state policies contribute to their persecution, and why Europe cannot look away. MEP Bellamy also reflects on the EU’s responsibility to defend freedom of conscience - a value deeply rooted in Europe’s own history - and outlines what practical steps Europe can take to protect vulnerable minorities. Tune in for a powerful and necessary conversation.

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  20:41

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  20:41
• Voices of Courage: The Sakharov Prize and the Fight for Truth in Belarus and Georgia

  Two countries, two different people, but their stories are so similar. Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli represent two fronts of the same struggle - the defence of truth, dignity, and free expression against Kremlin-sponsored tyranny. Journalists from Belarus and Georgia were jointly awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, following a nomination by the EPP Group and a decision by the Parliament’s political group leaders and President Roberta Metsola. In this episode of the “EU Decoded Podcast,” we talk with Andrzej Halicki, MEP and Vice-Chair of the EPP Group, who co-initiated the nomination for Andrzej Poczobut for the Sakharov Prize; Łukasz Kohut, MEP and Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, as well as co-initiator of the nomination; and Rasa Juknevičienė, MEP and co-initiator of the nomination for Mzia Amaglobeli.

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  6:43

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  6:43
• Sudan: The war the world forgot

  The conflict in Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian disasters of our time – yet it remains largely overlooked. Cities have collapsed, famine is spreading, millions are displaced, and warnings of genocide are growing. Some figures: around 30.4 million people need humanitarian assistance. Over 11 million people are displaced – 8.5 million internally and 3.9 million in neighbouring countries. Sudan is being described as the world’s largest displacement crisis today. Healthcare is collapsing; health facilities have been destroyed, and disease outbreaks (cholera, measles, malaria) are rising. Sexual and gender-based violence is increasing, especially among displaced populations. In this episode of "EU Decoded", we spoke with MEP Reinhold Lopatka, Head of the Austrian Delegation of the EPP Group in the European Parliament and Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula; Ingeborg Ter Laak from the Netherlands, Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly; and Lukas Mandl, also from Austria, EPP Group negotiator of the resolution on Sudan. Furthermore, we have recordings from people in Sudan: Mr Salih Mahmoud Osman, who won the Sakharov Prize in 2007; Mr Mohamed Moustafa El-Nour, a human rights lawyer; and Ms Salwa Elsadik, a Sudanese women’s rights activist.

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  16:30

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  16:30
• Focus points: peace for Ukraine, the EU’s defence, China, and the protection of children and Christian minorities

  In this week’s EU Decoded, we dive into the most pressing topics from the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg. We break down the newly adopted European Defence Industry Programme, designed to boost Europe’s defence industry capabilities. We also discuss how to stop illegal and dangerous Chinese products from flooding the EU market and how to ensure Europe’s children grow up in a digital world that supports, not harms, their development. Tune in!

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  10:27

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  10:27
• Bridging the Atlantic: The Future of EU-US Relations

  Over the past few years, the geopolitical landscape has been reshaped. The recently published EPP Group Position Paper on EU-US relations calls for a renewed Euro-Atlantic strategy - one that adapts to these changes while maintaining Europe’s values and autonomy. In this episode of “EU Decoded,” we discuss the future of EU-US Transatlantic relations and the actions needed. Hear more from MEPs Željana Zovko and Michał Szczerba, with Executive Director Tomi Huhtanen (Martens Centre).

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  29:40

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  29:40

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