ARTE Europe Weekly

Racist and Islamophobic riots broke out in England in August after fake news spread about a violent attack. The same happened in Spain just weeks later – with online disinformation fanning the flames of Islamophobia. In France, some French Muslims are considering leaving the country to escape what they see as growing anti-Muslim sentiment. Just how deeply-rooted is Islamophobia in Europe?

This summer, all eyes are on Paris. Can the French capital keep its promise of safer, cheaper and more sustainable Olympics? Across Europe, democracies have become skeptical about the benefits of hosting the Games, as local governments are faced with a general lack of fervor, complaints about costs, concern around sustainability, and security threats.

Global warming is causing more intense periods of drought, but what consequences will it have on European tourism? From Spain to Greece, this ARTE Europe weekly, we look at how some European countries are rising to the challenge.

Europe is facing a severe shortage of organs. Spain is the world leader in organ donations, but on the other side of the spectrum is Bulgaria and Cyprus, which have very few donors. The EU is looking into patching up these inequalities with a better-coordinated transplantation network so that people don’t die waiting for a transplant.

A new strain of mpox, a highly contagious disease that can be fatal, has spread across 15 countries in Africa, with one case also detected in Europe. The WHO is calling for international solidarity with affected countries and help in providing the vaccine. In this episode, we look at what mpox is and how it is spread, as well as how the international community is reacting.

Organisers are hoping this year’s games - which are taking place in Paris - will be a turning point for the Paralympics movement. From blind-football to goalball, the sporting event is steadily reaching larger audiences with ticket sales also on the rise. This ARTE Europe Weekly, we look at the history of the Paralympics and ask how inclusive are the games? (Available until 28/09/2024)

Millions of people across the world use Telegram every day, which has become an online haven for criminals due to its lack of moderation. French police are now investigating its founder and CEO Pavel Durov, for complicity with child sexual abuse, money laundering and drug trafficking. We look at why the app is so controversial, how it’s different from its competitors, and how secure it really is.

Antisemitism has risen sharply since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel and the war in Gaza. As European societies become polarised on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Jewish and Muslim people in Europe suffer the fall out. This week we look at the facts around antisemitism and find out how it can be tackled.

Germany has reintroduced temporary checks at all nine of its land borders in a move that has been met with criticism from neighbouring countries but praise from the far right. But does this mark the beginning of the end for the Schengen area?

Cars produce 15% of the European Union’s C02 emissions. One of the aims of the EU’s Green Deal is to ban the sale of petrol cars by 2035, instead switching to electric vehicles. But this goal is looking increasingly out of reach as sales of EVs are stagnating. In Norway, however, it’s another story: 94% of new cars sold are electric. We look at what’s slowing down electric vehicle use in the EU and what the industry can learn from its Nordic neighbour.

Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni's far right is set to make access to Italian nationality easier. The country follows the example of Germany which also relaxed the requirements for acquiring citizenship in June. But with almost one million people having obtained the nationality of a European Union member state by 2022 - is a brighter and more diverse future ahead for the EU?

More convicts than cells, Europe’s prisons are facing a crisis and it’s forcing big questions about the penal system and rehabilitation. This ARTE Europe weekly, we’re behind bars to find out the impact on inmates as well as solutions.

Thousands of Spanish people have been protesting the lack of affordable housing in Spanish cities. Europe’s housing crisis is getting worse: Across the continent it is getting harder to find a place to live at a reasonable price, pushing many into poverty. What solutions are out there?

In Georgia, a former Soviet republic, the pro-Russia party Georgian Dream won the parliamentary elections, amid accusations of vote rigging and Russian interference. Russia’s president Vladimir Putin is seeking to counter European influence both close to home and in emerging countries, particularly Africa. We look at how Russia and its allies are destabilising Europe.

After unprecedented downpour this week in Spain, over 200 were killed as the country grappled with its worst flooding in decades. In this episode of Arte Europe Weekly, we ask if Europe can turn the tide as it faces a future of flooding.

When it comes to defence, Europe is dependent on the US. But now Donald Trump will be returning to the White House in 2025, and he’s threatened to pull out of NATO in the past. Meanwhile, the military threat from Russia is growing. Can Europe learn to defend itself without America?

Pre-Christmas discount shopping season is here. Black Friday has turned into a month-long shopping spree, combining with Singles Day and Cyber Monday to become an entire Black November. Europe’s frenzy of overconsumption damages the environment and often rips off buyers, but is also an opportunity to save money. Why are we so sucked in by shopping deals? Is Black Friday just one big fraud day?

After 25 years of negotiations, the EU’s agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay could finally be sealed by the year’s end. But European farmers are mobilizing, accusing Brussels of sacrificing agriculture to boost industry. While agriculture is just one part of this sweeping free-trade deal, it’s at the heart of the controversy. But are the farmers’ fears justified?

Plastic is everywhere – so much so that it’s hard to imagine life without it. But plastic damages both the environment and our health and contributes to global warming. Talks in Busan to create a global treaty on ending plastic pollution failed after negotiators clashed on the issue of cutting production. We look at whether Europe is doing its part to stem the tide of plastic.

World famous for its artistic freedom, budget cuts in the German capital have upended its cultural scene. For weeks, artists have been taking to the streets of Berlin in a fight to protect the arts. Elsewhere in Europe, similar restrictions are in place. From Bulgaria, where nationalists are mobilising against unpopular performances. To Slovakia, where artistic directors who speak out are being cancelled. Now, a Europe-wide alliance of over 200 artists is demanding the EU Parliament take action.

Syrians are the largest group of asylum seekers in Europe, but since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, their future in Europe is uncertain. Several EU countries have decided to suspend asylum applications for Syrians, while far-right parties are calling for deportation. But can Syria already be considered a safe country to go back to, and what does that mean for the Syrians who have built lives in Europe?