European Liberal Forum
Episodes
On Resource to Rule Them All with Sven Gerst
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can Europe secure its essential resources in a turbulent geopolitical world? What does economic thought tell us about today’s geoeconomics? And ...
Total Defense in Europe: What Is It and Why Do We Need It? with Helena Quis
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When talking about total defense, for whom and against what is it? What should the European total defense look like? Why cannot everyone be like Finla...
Electric Grids for Europe's Energy Independence with Eloi Borgne
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do we power a carbon-neutral Europe when the grid can’t keep up with the energy transition? From congestion and permitting delays to smart meter...
The Future of Independent Journalism and Public Interest Information with Patrice Schneider
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to deal with the weaponization of information? What is the future (if any) of independent journalism? What does public interest information mean a...
Food security and CAP with Jelte Wiersma
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As global pressures reshape agriculture, Europe faces tough questions about food security, sustainability, and the future of the Common Agricultural P...
The Return of History to the Present with Luuk van Middelaar
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to interpret the results of the Dutch elections? What does the return of history to European affairs really mean? Is the EU a stage or an actor in...
Security and Defence of the Black Sea with Amb. Batu Kutelia
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the geopolitical balance in Europe continues to shift, the Black Sea has emerged as a key frontline in defending democracy and stability on the con...
EU: From Soft to Hard Power? - Discussion with Goran Buldioski
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the liberal world order weakens and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine persists, Europe must shift from soft to hard power to protect its democracies...
Trumping Democracy with Samuel Issacharoff
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are we witnessing the weakening of political parties? If that is the case, what are the effects of this phenomenon on democracy? Is there a market for...
Freedom Games 2025 with Leszek and Ricardo
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to live , and stay free in an age of uncertainty? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre and Leszek Jażdż...
Can We Build Consensus on Climate Policy? with Susi Dennison
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is the Green Deal dead or is it just resting? Does it make sense for Europe to create ambitious climate goals without the United States and China? And...
Liberalism Sexy again at Freedom Games 2024 with Aleksandra Kot
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what it’s like to sit in on one of ELF’s panel discussions? This week, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) brings listeners a...
Liberalism Is Not Quite Dead Yet with Jan-Werner Müller
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the secret of the populist narrative? Why should we shy away from liberal nostalgia? And what are some of the sources of hope for the future? ...
European wind power with Daniel Lindvall
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can Europe build public acceptance for wind power and expand clean energy production? Why are some communities hesitant to welcome wind turbines, ...
Parliamentary Election in the Czech Republic with Martin Ehl
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are the polls telling us about the forthcoming October election in the Czech Republic? Will Andrej Babiš come back to power? What are some of th...
How Effective Is Justice System Across Europe? with Georgios Archontas
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can EU Member States ensure that justice systems are not only efficient, but also trusted by their citizens? In this episode of the Liberal Euro...
Trump’s Gambit with Piotr Buras
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What game is President Donald Trump playing with Vladimir Putin? Is peace in Ukraine attainable? And what is the role of the EU in the negotiations, i...
Migrant entrepreneurship with Roxana Nicula
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when migrants don’t just adapt to their new home, but transform it? What drives them to start businesses despite facing more obstacles ...
Kosovo on the Global Stage with Drilon S. Gashi
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does Kosovo's path to the EU look like? What should we know about Kosovo's struggle for independence? What geopolitical tensions should we be aw...
Civic memory and political literacy in Georgia with Zaza Bibilashvili
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the current political climate in Georgia? How can civic memory shape a nation’s democratic resilience? And why is political literacy more im...
Can Populists Take Over the European Project? with Teresa Coratella
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the challengers to the European mainstream? What are the issues that unite and divide the challengers of the European project? And what can we...
The future of science with Robert Whitaker
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What made the U.S. a beacon for global science — and why is that now at risk? How has the Trump-era anti-science rhetoric damaged institutions of hi...
Portuguese Politics Explained with Ricardo Silvestre
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why has the Portuguese politics become volatile and fragmented? What should we know about the Portuguese politicians and their conflicts of interest? ...
Chinese (and Russian) influence in South America with Marcos Falcone
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does growing Chinese (and Russian) influence mean for South America’s political and economic future? How are governments in the region respondi...
Insights on the Iranian Regime and Society with Walter Posch
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are the main Iranian actors and their options in the conflict with Israel? Are negotiations possible? What is the legitimacy of the regime and th...
Nuclear energy in Europe with Manuel Ordóñez
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What role should nuclear energy play in Europe's transition to a cleaner, more secure energy future? As the continent works to meet its climate goals ...
War Against Human Rights with Oleksandra Matviichuk
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the role of human rights advocacy in a full-scale Russian war in Ukraine? What part do Europeans play in this struggle? And how to fight the g...
Future-proofing the EU Budget with Lukas Sustala
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do we build a European budget that’s fit for the future? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Soc...
Germany at the Crossroads with Klaus Bachmann
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could the AFD party come to power in Germany? What would it mean for the German democracy and Europe? Why is the current historical narrative of the B...
Turkey, EU and Russia triangle with Elif Menderes
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does Turkey navigate its strategic balancing act between Russia and the EU? Turkey stands at a geopolitical crossroads between Moscow’s influenc...
Who Will Win the Polish Presidential Election? with Adam Jasser
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does the forthcoming presidential election in Poland mean for Europe? What are the main issues and divisions between the candidates that occur in...
Radical populism with Juan Pina
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are voters turning to radical populists, even when their promises threaten the very foundations of democracy? In this episode, Juan Pina, Secretar...
Mass Student Protests in Serbia with Ivan Vejvoda
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are students protesting in Serbia? What are the social and political reasons for the upheaval? What is the state of the Serbian democracy? Is the ...
Taiwan in the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy with Laia Comerma
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite shared democratic values and growing trade ties, the EU continues to treat Taiwan as a “second-tier partner”, prioritizing economic engage...
The state of the resistence in Georgia, with Nino Kalandadze
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), welcomes back Amb. Nino Kalandadze, founder and executive...
Presidential Elections in Romania with Georgiana Gheorghe
05 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why were the presidential elections in Romania annulled? Who was behind the TikTok campaign of Călin Georgescu? And what is the state of democracy in...
Defending Europe Without the United States with Guntram B. Wolff
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What should we know about Europe’s defense industry? What capabilities does Europe need to develop to deter the Russian aggression? What are the con...
Beyond the Battlefield: The Power of Ukraine’s Civil Society with Dr. Svitlana Kovalchuk
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to keep a democracy alive in the midst of war? What happens when a nation’s fate rests not only on soldiers and politicians but on...
The Transatlantic Rift with Matthew Kaminski
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is Donald Trump's presidency the beginning of a new era in the global world order? What is there to know about economic disruption and globalization i...
Future of EU and Austria with MEP Anna Stürgkh
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Liberal Europe Podcast host Ricardo Silvestre talks to Austrian liberal MEP Anna Stürgkh who shares her journey from Austria to the European Parliame...
Trump's Impact on Europe and Elections in Poland with Andrzej Bobinski
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does Donald Trump understand about politics that others don’t? What is the impact of Trump's presidency on Europe (and the Polish political sce...
Transatlantic Shifts and the Future of EU Security - with Leszek Jażdżewski and Ricardo Silvestre
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberte!) and Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) discuss the ev...
How could the EU be a strong security player? - Conversation with Dr Gerlinde Niehus
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over-fragmentation of the European defense market is a major issue that weakens the EU’s military capabilities and efficiency. The EU countries have...
Persons with disabilities in Politics – Interview with British MP Baroness Sal Brinton and Alva Finn
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many people with disabilities are disenfranchised completely from voting in Europe, but physical barriers are not the only ones preventing them from t...
European Liberal Youth in 2025 with LYMEC President Ines Holzegger
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Crisis after crisis, the youth need politicians who will not ignore their problems but propose solutions so they can feel they have a future. In such ...
What brings 2025 to Europe? Interview with ELF President Jan-Christoph Oetjen
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What brings 2025 to Europe? And how should we prepare for that? Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) talks to ELF President MEP Jan-Christoph ...
What's behind the Draghi Report with MEP Jeannette Baljeu
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), talks to MEP and ELF Board Member, Jeannette Baljeu. They...
The Draghi Report and the EU's industrial autonomy trilemma - with Gerard Pogorel
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While sovereignty and sustainability are vital, competitiveness is essential to achieving both. Without competitiveness, taxpayer money could be waste...
EU Response to Trump with Philippe Legrain
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can the European Union woo Donald Trump? Why immigration is beneficial and morally right? And what is the EU's potential for change and reform? L...
Gender Equality, Security, and European Unity - a Conversation with MEP Lucia Yar
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), talks to the MEP Lucia Yar, Vice President of the E...
Election Rigging of the Parliamentary Elections in Georgia with Alexander Zibzibadze
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Georgia? What should we know about the authoritarian evolution of the Georgian Dream ruling part...
Strategic and Geopolitical Vision of the EU with Nicu Popescu
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What lessons should be drawn from the EU's response to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the Russian war in Ukraine? How can the European Union ...
The role of civil society in Georgia - with Nino Kalandadze
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the role of civil society training and engagement in a country where institutions are captured by anti-democratic and anti-liberal governments...
2024 U.S. Presidential Election with Garvan Walshe
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are the reasons for Donald Trump's victory? What mistakes did the Democrats make? What will be the consequences of the U.S. presidential election...
Post-shame politics and the 2024 US Elections - with Daniela Melo (Part2)
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why would Latinos vote for Trump in the US? Why do some Muslims support Le Pen in France? What role does identity play when it comes to backing populi...
Post-shame politics and the 2024 US Elections - with Daniela Melo (Part1)
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a shift in paradigm about what a politician should look like, how they should talk, and what works with the electorate. But post-truth and p...
Making Liberalism Sexy (Again) with Sven Gerst
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes an ideology sexy? What does the liberal utopia look like? What does it mean to be a 'good liberal' politician, bureaucrat, or a think tank?...
Georgian Elections: What is at stake? - Interview with Ambassador Gigi Gigiadze
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The upcoming elections in Georgia are going to be crucial for the country’s future: the results could either solidify the recent political shift tow...
Freedom Games 2024 Episode with Ricardo Silvestre and Leszek Jażdżewski
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) and Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) come together...
Will Robert Fico Be the Next Orbán? with Michal Vašečka
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What should we know about organized crime and corrupt rule of oligarchs in Slovakia? Should we be afraid of Slovak nationalism? And why do Slovaks dis...
The Irish, the Church and the End of a Special Relationship with Derek Scally
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What influence the Catholic Church has on the Irish national identity? What was growing up in Catholic Ireland like? And how has the self-image of the...
Electoral success in the UK, with Rowan Fitton
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about with Rowan Fitton, the co-editor of the official magazine of LYMEC, the youth organisation of the ALDE Party and the Ren...
Freedom and the Trap of Identity Politics with Yascha Mounk
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do identity politics matter? How not to fall into the identity trap? And what strategy should liberals employ to be successful? Leszek Jazdzewski...
Liberalism as a way of life, With Alexandre Lefebvre
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk with Alexandre (Alex) Lefebvre about his latest book, Liberalism as a way of life, from Princeton University Press. Alex is a ...
New Global Geopolitical Divisions with Guy Sorman
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What impact has populism on our democracies? What are the common misconceptions of China in the West? Are the views of Russia and geopolitics in gener...
EU Chemicals and Industrial Autonomy with Emma Argutyan
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss the chapter titled "European Union Chemicals and the Challenge of EU Industrial Autonomy" from the ELF publication Sustain...
Russia expanding influence beyond Europe with Martin Vladimirov
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about Russia expanding its influence beyond Europe, with Martin Vladimirov, the Director of the Energy and Climate Program at ...
New Era for the UK with Jason Stockwood
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the importance of the Labor party's landslide victory in recent UK election? What is the new social and economic policy for the United Kingdom...
Sports and politics with Ilakha Hakhramanova
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should Russian and Belorussian players participate in the Olympic Games? In this episode we go back into our conversations with authors from Libertas,...
European Culture: Between the Past and the Future with Isabelle Schwarz
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the relation between culture and populism? What should we know about EU cultural policy? And what is the role of philanthropy in shaping moder...
EU elections with Didrik de Schaetzen
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about the European elections with the Secretary General of ALDE Party Didrik de Schaetzen, with a focus on the results of libe...
EU Elections Results and What Do They Mean for the EU Green and Global Agenda with Pat Cox
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How to interpret the recent EU election results? What does it all mean for the EU green and global agenda? Are we experiencing a swing to the right? A...
Fighting Russia's dark power - Conversation with Valeria Korablyova
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fighting Russia’s dark power with the bright power of enacted values - Conversation with Valeria Korablyova, sociologist and political theorist work...
Crime, Prisons, and Compassion with Disa Jironet
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can societies function without systems of punishment? What is the alternative to prisons? How does the system treat criminals? And is there any room f...
Kosovo, Center-Periphery Tensions, and the Balkans with Besa Luci
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What was it like to grow up in Kosovo in the 1990s? What are the current relations between Kosovo and the European Union? Will civic partnership be in...
Standing on our own feet - European defence with Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the European Defence Union realistic? How could cooperation make the European Union stronger in the world order? We talk about European defence cap...
Strategic Decoupling: Phasing out Russian economic influence in Germany - with Marius Koeppen
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How big is Russia's economic footprint in Europe today? How successful was phasing out Russian economic influence in Germany? We talk about these que...
The Future of Italy and the European Union with Nathalie Tocci
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is Italy positioning itself in the struggle for leadership in Europe? Will the surge of far-right movements determine the EU agenda? And will the ...
LYMEC Libertas With Adam Volf
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about the official magazine of LYMEC, the youth organisation of the ALDE Party and the Renew Europe parliamentary group, Li...
Proactive communication against pro-Kremlin narratives with Pavel Havlíček
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can we fight against Russian disinformation campaigns within the EU? Pavel Havlíček, Fellow at the Association for International Affairs, talks ...
Current Geopolitical Landscape with Anne Applebaum [Part 2]
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do we stop demagogues and populists? What would Russia and China do if the United States lost its hegemony? And how to unite the world in the figh...
Current Geopolitical Landscape with Anne Applebaum [Part 1]
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the United States turning its back on democracy? Are the policies of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel toward Russia responsible for the crisis we are...
Kremlin playbook for networks capture with Ruslan Stefanov
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about the Kremlin playbook for networks capture with Ruslan Stefanov, Program Director and Chief Economist at the Center for t...
Political Situation in Germany Before the European Elections with Ralf Fücks
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does the political situation in Germany look like before the European elections? What is Germany's attitude to the Russian war in Ukraine? And ho...
LYMEC Manifesto and the European Elections with Laia Comerma
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about the LYMEC Manifesto and how to prepare for the European Elections with Laia Comerma, policy officer at LYMEC, the yout...
Current Socio-Political Situation in France and U.S. Elections with Célia Belin
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why are French farmers protesting? What is the current socio-political situation in France? And what can we make of the forthcoming EU elections and t...
Renewable Fuels in the European Union with Alain Mathuren
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emerging technologies such as renewable fuels could be crucial for achieving green transition. Today we talk about the future of renewable fuels in th...
Presidential Elections and the Situation in Russia with Denis Bilunov
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is going on in Russia on the eve of the presidential election? Was Alexei Navalny assassinated? And what impact does the Russian war in Ukraine h...
Elections and the future of liberalism in Serbia with Natan Albahari
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about the last election in Serbia, and how Serbian liberals are preparing for a democratic future, with Natan Albahari the I...
Monitoring and Safeguarding Democracy with David Koranyi
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can Hungary be considered a democratic country? What challenges does the potential Donald Trump's victory in the United States pose to democracy? And ...
Let's Talk Elections with Ricardo Silvestre and Leszek Jazdzewski
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do the recent election results in Poland, the Netherlands, and Spain matter? What do they mean for Europe? And what is to be expected of the forth...
Ep192 Rule of law, EU enlargement, and democracy with Heather Grabbe
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Heather Grabbe, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel, a Visitin...
Ep191 Political think tanks in 2023 and what's next with Alva Finn
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Alva Finn, the Executive Director of the European...
Ep190 Spin dictatorship and the nature of Russian political regime with Sergei Guriev
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Sergei Guriev, a renown political and economic analys...
Ep189 The future of Ukraine with Tamar Jacoby
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Tamar Jacoby, from the Progressive Policy Institu...
Ep188 How to fight and defeat populist candidates in elections with Arun Chaudhary
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Arun Chaudhary, Creative Director at the Social-Chang...
Ep187 Liberal parties success stories with Sten Laansoo (RP)
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Sten Laansoo, the International Officer of the Re...
Ep186 Reforming and Enlarging the EU for the 21st Century with Daniela Schwarzer
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Daniela Schwarzer, an expert in European and internat...
Ep185 Liberal parties success stories with Carlos G. Pinto (IL)
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Carlos Guimarães Pinto, former President of the...
Ep184 What elections in Poland mean for Europe?
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) talks about the results of the recent Polish elections, voter ...