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Policy Voices | Election in Hungary: a national vote with European consequences
In this episode of Policy Voices , we unpack the outcome of Hungary’s 12 April 2026 landslide election, examining its impact domestically, across Europe and the Europe-made brand of far-right populism. We ask what Péter Magyar’s victory means not only for the country’s political future, but for Europe as a whole.
Host Thomas Van Vynckt is joined by Gábor Iklódy, Senior Fellow for Peace, Security and Defence at Friends of Europe and former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, to explore the domestic shifts and wider European implications of the election, as well as the lessons Europe must draw to strengthen the integrity of its democratic institutions following 16 years of Viktor Orbán’s premiership.
11 Mar 2026
Europe’s energy grids: towards a more integrated approach
Electricity grids have become the backbone of Europe’s energy transition, yet the infrastructure needed to meet rising demand, decarbonise industry, and strengthen energy security remains under pressure. In this episode, we explore the challenges, bottlenecks and opportunities shaping Europe’s grids today.
Host Davide Sofia speaks with Matt Ersin, Senior Director at Fastned and Chair of the Green Industrial Grids Association (GIGA), who highlights the perspective of companies relying on medium- and large-scale electricity, underlining the practical realities of grid access, congestion and long-term planning.
Our other guest, Anastasio Papandreou, Energy Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU, provides insight into how the EU presidency is advancing the Energy Union agenda, fostering interconnections, modernisation and digitalisation to support competitiveness, security and affordability across the continent.
4 Mar 2026
Policy Voices | Cutting methane, cutting uncertainty: energy security and simplification
Methane is often overlooked in climate debates, yet it is a powerful driver of global warming. Far more potent than CO₂ in the short term, cutting methane emissions today can slow warming within the next decade. For Europe, tackling methane is not just about the climate: it also strengthens energy security, improves transparency in the energy system, and reduces waste across oil, gas and coal supply chains.
In this episode of Policy Voices, host Davide Sofia explores the EU methane regulation and its role in shaping a cleaner, more secure and more reliable energy future. He speaks with Dr Léa Pilsner of Environmental Defense Fund Europe, who explains how the regulation establishes monitoring, reporting, and leak detection, including for imported fossil fuels, and why these measures are a practical opportunity to make rapid progress on emissions.
The conversation continues with Ursula Woodburn of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and the Corporate Leaders Group Europe, who reflects on the broader policy landscape. They discuss the challenges and opportunities for Europe’s industrial transformation, the impact of the simplification agenda, and the critical decisions ahead as the EU looks towards 2030.
Who has been a guest on Friends of Europe podcasts
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Eugene Slavnyi
Jamie Shea
Rose Gottemoeller
Jonathan Fowler
Miriam Gonzalez
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,039,236
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
1.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
72
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
81
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