Just Europe

Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

A podcast series that takes a closer look at the challenges we face on the path to a fair and inclusive Europe and brings open conversations on how research, innovation and policy-making support people, strengthen Europe’s social model and ensure a just transition for all.

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16 episodes
monthly
English

Episodes 16

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Tuesday · length unknown
Home Sweet Home: where affordability meets sustainability
In this episode we talk 'housing' - how can we make it affordable and climate resilient for everyone? Since 2013, house prices in the EU have risen by more than 60%. Rent costs have jumped, especially in cities, and affordable housing supply just isn't keeping up with demand. At the same time, extreme weather conditions are imposing as much stress as sky-rocketing energy bills and unequal living environments. Political scientist and Secretary general of SOLIDAR Mikael Leyi, Anna Iafisco, Policy Advisor at Eurocities, and Federica Rotondo, post-doc researcher at Sciences-Po involved in the Horizon project ReHousIn Europe - discuss how Europe can make housing more affordable, accessible and climate resilient, and why there is no time to waste…
July 19 · length unknown
The power of doubt: how climate disinformation delays action
In this episode, we put the climate conversation into the spotlight, exploring how disinformation can drown out more nuanced, evidence-based perspectives. When that happens, it's easy to think those who care are in the minority — and climate progress stalls. What is climate disinformation? Who is most vulnerable to believing it? Who is spreading it? And what is Europe doing to tackle it? Three experts in social science, disinformation research, and digital governance discuss this complex landscape: Max Falkenberg, Computational Social Scientist, AI+ Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London and Principal Investigator of the Horizon Europe project POLARCLIMATE; Jennie King, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and co-founder of Climate Action Against Disinformation; and Paul Nemitz, former adviser at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice, visiting Professor at the College of Europe.
June 28 · length unknown
Can learning stay fair and human in the age of AI?
Can we use AI to bridge gaps — or will it become another social divide? Can we harness AI to build a more inclusive education system —or will it become another tool that leaves the most vulnerable behind? Education is fundamental to addressing inequalities and promoting equal opportunities and social mobility. From vocational training to adult education, teachers and trainers are at the forefront of preparing children, young adults and workers for Europe’s transition to a greener, digital economy. They have the pressure to prepare learners for jobs that don’t yet exist. Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to help: less paperwork, personalised learning, even virtual labs for hands-on skills. But, fewer than 40% of educators feel ready to use AI. We put these questions to three experts specialised in digital learning environments and technologies: Tobias Ley, Head of the Center for Digitalisation in Lifelong Learning at the University for Continuing Education, Krems, Project coordinator of Horizon Europe Project TAICo; Diletta Huyskes, Researcher, University of Milan, Co-founder of Immanence; Niels Kerssens, Researcher, University of Utrecht, leader of the RECLaiM-EDU project.
June 3 · length unknown
From grey to green: cities that belong to us all
Lush green spaces, cool tree-lined streets, shaded parks for children, benches for resting, and public places to shelter during extreme heat - cities across Europe are rethinking public space. Urban mobility is no longer just about getting from point A to point B, but about creating spaces that foster connection, inclusion, and community. When cities are designed with the most vulnerable in mind, they become better for everyone.In this episode, we ask: what happens when fairness becomes the foundation for building greener, more socially just cities? We explore ideas with Karen Vancluysen, Secretary-General of the POLIS Network, Sarah Stein Lubrano, writer, researcher and Head of Research at the Future Narratives Lab, and Francesco Pilla, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Cities at University College Dublin, coordinator of the Horizon-funded REALLOCATE project.
May 5 · length unknown
Jobs that work: safe and fair in a changing world
This 12th episode focuses on occupational health and safety: The EU has strong and flexible rules in place to help protect workers, and engages with trade unions, employers, researchers - and more - to ensure legislation is known and respected. Our guests include Maria Albin, Professor, Consortium member and Scientific Contributor in the EPHOR Horizon project, Task leader and partner for the Horizon project INTERCAMBIO, Klaus Heeger, Secretary General at European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions CESI, William Cockburn Salazar, Executive Director of EU-OSHA, and Robert Marinkovic, Adviser at the International Organization of Employers IOE. We'll hear their thoughts and experiences on how to best collaborate to keep people safe across their entire working lives.
March 31 · length unknown
Ethics and the green transition: Just for all?
This episode explores the ethical dimensions of the green transition, unpacking what it truly means to make it fair and inclusive in practice. Building on the latest report from the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), the discussion highlights key principles and real-world challenges in delivering a just transition. The guests for this episode include Barbara Prainsack, Chair of the EGE, Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of the Climate KIC, Anna Sekula, Project Officer at the European Agency for Fundamental Rights, and Daniel Botha, Expert involved in the Horizon ACCTING (AdvanCing behavioural Change Through an Inclusive Green deal) Horizon project.
March 5 · length unknown
One step beyond - GDP and into wellbeing
This is Just Europe – a podcast series that takes a closer look at the challenges we face on the path to a fair and inclusive Europe that strives to leave no one behind as we decarbonise, modernise and digitalise our economies. This episode in the series is ‘One step beyond - GDP and into wellbeing ’ – an in-depth discussion about how moving the measure of success beyond economic growth to include wellbeing, could greatly improve the lives of European citizens. Our guests include Professor Mario Biggeri from Department of Economics and Management at the University of Florence, Philippe Lamberts, advisor to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Sandrine Dixson-Declève, former President of the Club of Rome, author, and Executive Chair of Earth4All.
March 3 · length unknown
Keep learning! – everyone onboard for a just transition
This is Just Europe – a podcast series that takes a closer look at the challenges we face on the path to a fair and inclusive Europe that strives to leave no one behind as we decarbonise, modernise and digitalise our economies. This episode in the series is ‘Keep learning! – everyone onboard for a just transition’ 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, and Nora Fahy, Manager of the Roscommon Women's Network.
January 19 · length unknown
Making the link – jobs in Europe and global supply chains
This is Just Europe – a podcast series that takes a closer look at the challenges we face on the path to a fair and inclusive Europe that strives to leave no one behind as we decarbonise, modernise and digitalise our economies. This episode in the series is “Making the link – jobs in Europe and global supply chains ”– 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, the CEO of WindEurope, and Román Arjona, Chief Economist in DG Grow of the European Commission.
Nov 4, 2025 · length unknown
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.
Sep 25, 2025 · length unknown
Smart, fair, wise: keeping strong social sciences and humanities in Europe
This is Just Europe – a podcast series that takes a closer look at the challenges we face on the path to a fair and inclusive Europe that strives to leave no one behind as we decarbonise, modernise and digitalise our economies. 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, and Georgia Curea, policy officer at The Guild.
Sep 4, 2025 · length unknown
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’ve fallen below that line and investigate what can be done to support people back into work. Our guests include UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier de Schutter; BusinessEurope's Director of Social Affairs department, Maxime Cerutti; Director of the European Social Observatory, Slavina Spasova and Luca Ratti, Professor in employment rights at the University of Luxembourg.
Jul 10, 2025 · length unknown
Cake, trains and collective dreaming: Just Transition goes global
This 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 international perspectives. 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 researcher at the Delft University of Technology, on the social aspects and governance of energy transitions and energy justice who talked to us about pathways to a just energy transition in South Africa. And Detlef Van Vuuren, who leads ELEVATE, a project funded by the Horizon Europe programme that’s finding ways to integrate justice and equity into climate modelling.
May 7, 2025 · length unknown
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.
Apr 2, 2025 · length unknown
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 Social 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 a partner in the EU Megaskills project, Afonso Araujo; psychologist and researcher Sergio Alloza; European Social Forum youth dialogue participants Jan Holý, Diana Voutyrakou and Miruna-Ioana Sandor; digital skills expert Professor Katriona O’Sullivan; and Mario Nava, director-general of the European Commission’s directorate-general for employment, social affairs and inclusion.
Mar 4, 2025 · length unknown
Left behind: fact or feeling?
This episode examines the challenge for policymakers at all levels – European, national, regional and local – of addressing European citizens’ concerns that they and their communities may not benefit from economic, social and technological change. We look at this question from various perspectives with guests including Lars Katzmarek, a German policymaker and rapper chronicling the challenges facing his home state of Brandenburg; researchers James Scott and Žarko Šunderić, both participants in research projects looking at the concept of leftbehindedness from different angles; and Judit Carreras, director of Spain’s Just Transition Institute, who shares with us her country’s pioneering work to ensure that policymaking for the future leaves no-one in the past.

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