Focus on Europe: Recent Episodes
Deutsche Welle
The Magazine delivers an inside take on Europe. Correspondents all over the EU keep you informed about the issues that Europeans are debating.
Since Brexit, a British-French dispute over access to the fishing grounds near Jersey has flared up. The waters around the Channel Island are particularly rich in fish.
In northern Sweden, the last large herds of reindeer are in danger. Their existence is not only threatened by climate change, but by wind turbines, too.
On the French Atlantic coast, fishermen are protesting against the construction of a wind farm. They claim it would destroy important fishing grounds.
The town of Sillamäe was a secret site of the Soviet nuclear industry. Now it is awakening from its slumber—and searching for a new purpose.
Germany's North Sea coast is home to the first retirement home for dairy cattle. Donations have made it possible for 38 cows to avoid ending up in the slaughterhouse.
Italy is at a crossroads. The country must decide whether EU subsidies should be invested in large farming companies, or in traditional small-scale farming that secures jobs.
Public awareness about clean energy is increasing on the Shetland Islands, even though most inhabitants work for the oil and gas industry.
The Dissident Club in Paris was created so refugees and exiles can have a place to exchange ideas with each other. But it’s not only a discussion forum, it’s also a place where new arrivals can find help for their problems.
Children with disabilities are the co-owners of a snack-making start-up in the Czech Republic. The aim of the crowdfunded project is to help families in need.
A winemaker on the Greek island of Thasos is reviving an old tradition. He submerges his grapes and wine in the sea to mature.
After the Merkel era, German politics is still dominated by men, and female politicians are structurally underrepresented.
Hungary's LGBTQ community is protesting against discrimination and hate. It fears the effects of a new law, banning information about homosexuality and transgenderism for minors.
Many people with a migration background can vote in Germany. But not all of them exercise their right. How do they view Germany's politics?
Only fifteen percent of German voters are under 30. How important are they in this election campaign? What is the best way to get them politically engaged?
Angela Merkel's biggest fan is a Greek restaurant owner in Bremerhaven. He has now even commissioned a wax replica of the Chancellor.
The destruction caused by Germany's catastrophic flood has made climate change a burning campaign issue. Some flood victims feel abandoned by politics.
Angela Merkel has always been careful with her public statements. That has often led to political gains. But in the age of social media, this strategy no longer works.
Starting in October 2021, Germany's neighbor to the north will lift all Coronavirus restrictions. Vaccination rates in the country are high, but there's uncertainty over whether the virus can circumvent mass inoculation.
Russia's parliamentary elections will be held in September 2021. Many believe one winner has already been decided: Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party.
People in the Ahr valley are trying to rebuild their homes in the wake of devastating floods. It's a daunting task, as the water wreacked havoc on towns along a 40-kilometer stretch of the Ahr River.
Europeans love Spanish produce. But the monocultures damage the soil. And while Germans in particular care about climate and environmental protection when it comes to elections, does their concern extend to the impact their consumption has in Spain?
Activists close to Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny are mobilizing ahead of Russia’s parliamentary election. Navalny, who was poisoned a year ago, has been detained in a prison camp since his trial.
Poland's PiS government is pushing US company Discovery to sell 51 percent of its stake in the independent TVN network. TVN's critical evening news program "Fakty" has the best ratings in the country.
A witness describes how refugees made it to the other side of the Berlin Wall. Its construction was started in the former GDR 60 years ago.
An Icelandic company is putting pressure on critical journalists. They reported on corruption and bribery allegations in fishing licences off the coast of Namibia.
In the Netherlands, flood protection is the law—for which some residents pay a high price. But the country's Delta Project has been successful. Unlike in Germany, areas at low sea levels there were largely undamaged.
In Portugal, octopus fishery is traditionally done with octopus pots. Many fishers find this too tedious and have begun using traps and plastic containers—which has led to overfishing and plastic waste in the sea.
Syrian men stand among the relief workers in the German flood disaster. By helping, they want to say thank you for taking them in during the refugee crisis in 2015.
Due to the pandemic, a lot of young people came back to southern Italy. Many of them would like to stay permanently, but for that to happen a lot will have to change.
The House of Soviets was emblematic of Kaliningrad's rich cultural history for more than 50 years. It took more than 20 years to build, and then remained empty for another 30. Now the massive building is coming down.
Days of heavy rainfall in Germany have left western parts of the country devastated by floods. More than 150 people have lost their lives so far, and many are still missing. Residents are concerned for their future.
In the second summer of the pandemic, Swedes are enjoying the unspoiled nature on their doorstep. Stockholmers are fond of their archipelago with some 30,000 islands in the Baltic Sea, and few foreigners in sight.
The largest brown bear population in Western Europe lives in the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain. Their Spanish neighbors have witnessed the bears eating cherries off trees, stealing honey or startling villagers.
Jana Shostak screams for the Belarusian regime critics in Lukashenko’s prisons. Outside the EU Commission building in Warsaw, the exiled Belarusian artist calls for the imprisoned oppositionists not to be forgotten.
For two years now, a wolf in Lower Saxony has been officially permitted to be killed. But he keeps escaping hunters – to the chagrin of the authorities and the delight of animal rights advocates.
After lengthy roadwork in Rome, the white-gloved officers - or pizzardone - are back directing traffic on the city’s Piazza Venezia. And they're doing it in true Italian style.
A gigantic flying boat, or Ekranoplan, from the Soviet era could bring tourists flocking to the Caspian Sea. Even if the ‘Sea Monster’ can no longer fly, it is still very, very impressive.
In the coronavirus pandemic, urban Serbs have been moving to the countryside and rediscovering rural life. This is revitalizing many village communities.
The French state is selling numerous historic buildings because they are too expensive to maintain. Public coffers have been emptied by the coronavirus pandemic, so Paris is trying to auction off many costly properties.
Brexit reignites a Northern Irish conflict between Protestants and Catholics. Violence can escalate during annual parades, and there are concerns over a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The South American Greater Rheas has been spreading in northeastern Germany for 20 years. What began as a small population has now grown to 600 Rheas. The brazen birds are voracious eaters, and they wreak havoc for farmers.
On the Greek island of Lesbos, young refugees and migrants play football together for FC Cosmos. The sport helps them overcome their traumas and successfully integrate into Greek society. Some even dream of going pro.
At the height of the pandemic, the Way of St. James was closed, and Santiago de Compostela was practically deserted. Now regional borders and hostels along the route have reopened, in time for what is called a Holy Year on the Camino de Santiago.
Four writers and editors of the online student magazine 'Doxa' are currently under house arrest for criticizing the Russian government. But for the young journalists, accepting censorship is out of the question.
In Italy, thousands of Nigerian women are being forced into prostitution. The Nigerian mafia is suspected to be behind it. Insiders warn of the dangers of this 'new mafia' with connections to Italian organized crime gangs.
In the Donbas region, a small town wants to avoid being bombarded by gunfire by renaming itself "New York"—which was actually its name until the end of World War II.
One Russian town has been without clean drinking water for 30 years. When you turn on the taps, a stream of brown liquid comes out.
Private mountain rescuers in Bosnia-Herzegovina are in trouble with the authorities. They have no legal basis for their work.
Women in Turkey are demanding more protection from male violence. They are urging Ankara to rejoin the Istanbul Convention.
After lengthy roadworks, white-gloved officers are back directing traffic in Rome's Piazzia Venezia – in true Italian style.
In coronavirus times, Serbs are moving to the countryside and rediscover the rural life. This is bringing new life to many village communities.
Female students complain that sexual harassment is the norm at British universities. They are sharing their experiences on social media and denouncing the widespread "rape culture" with the hashtag #EveryonesInvited.
Smell and taste training is all the rage among corona patients who are traumatized after having lost the ability to smell. These two senses are among our strongest, because they preserve many of our memories.
Schools in Turkey have been almost completely closed for over a year. The government is imposing a strict lockdown so that tourists will be able to flock back in the summer. Students and parents are feeling left behind.
Underwear is buried all over Switzerland. The degree of its decomposition should give information about the quality of the country's soil. Thousands of Swiss residents are taking part.
A wolf in Lower Saxony has been approved for killing. But he keeps escaping hunters—to the chagrin of officials and the delight of animal rights advocates.
After ten years of fleeing and exile, disillusionment is spreading among Syrian families in Istanbul. Their hopes for an end of the Assad regime have disappeared.
In Romania, patients are dying in fires at Covid-19 intensive care units. The country's medical infrastructure is overwhelmed.
Yörük Isik from Istanbul has an unusual hobby: he photographs ships on the Bosphorus Strait. Since the strait connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, ship spotting helps him predict important geopolitical events.