The Ideas Lab, hosted by CEPS, is an influential annual forum that fosters dialogue on Europe's most critical policy issues. Now, our new podcast allows you to directly explore the policy issues and challenges discussed at the event, giving you an insight into the brand-new ideas that could shape Europe's future in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Hosted by Tom Parker, the podcast brings together leading policymakers, experts and researchers to discuss key issues from EU enlargement to security, digital innovation and sustainable development. Individual episodes offer diverse insights and discussions on how Europe can navigate geopolitical tensions, technological advances and economic change. Tune in to hear renowned policymakers and researchers discuss Europe's evolving role and current challenges!
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S2.4 Beyond Covid: How Europe prepares for the next health emergency ft. Florika Fink-Hooijer
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.
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25 Mar 2026
S2.3 Pricing carbon: Europe’s climate strategy under pressure ft. Jos Delbeke
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.
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20 Mar 2026
S2.2 Prepared or Not? Lessons from Finland on Russia and security ft. Sauli Niinistö
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.
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Who has been a guest on Voices from CEPS Ideas Lab
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Paula Gürtler
Cosima Lenz
Nicole Reynolds
Apostolos Thomadakis
Louise Bengtsson
Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100
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