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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?

Has it become easier to obtain citizenship in Europe?

Italy is set to ease its stringent citizenship laws for foreigners. But where does the rest of Europe stand?

ARTE Europe Weekly

In July 2024, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban decided to help Russian and Belarusian citizens to get visas. The official reason given was that there is an urgent need for skilled workers. The EU is outraged and has expressed fear for its safety since with this simplified process, Hungary is opening Europe's doors to spies who may then continue to travel further into the EU.

The EU is worried about security, but the fact that Hungary is making it easier for Russian and Belrusian citizens to get visas could also be an opportunity for the Russian opposition.

How Hungary is helping Russians and Belarusians get visas

It's one of the oldest cases of non-compliance with EU law. In 2007, Ireland was convicted of failing to comply with the Birds Directive. To this day, the case remains open and the Commussion is still waiting for Ireland to comply. Bird populations have fallen by 63% in Ireland, which is higher than the global average. So way have they been taking so long and how will it impact biodiversity?

Ireland is still struggling to comply with the 2007 Birds Directive.

Ireland's birds still at risk

Whilst Germans love a beer or two, they also care about their health. This is especially true for those under 40. According to the national institute for statistics, alcohol-free beer production has almost doubled in ten years in Germany, meaning it is the top producer of it in Europe.

Alcohol-free beer is more popular than ever. In Germany more than double is consumed today than ten years ago.

Germany's alcohol-free beer boom

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.

Why is electric car use stalling in Europe?

High prices and infrastructure problems are hampering EV sales across the EU.

Found in pans, clothing and fire-fighting foams, PFASs or "eternal pollutants" are everywhere. In the Netherlands, they are getting increasingly concerning, however. Samples taken from food and water have revealed that the PFAS rates in cities like Amsterdam are too high. This report comes from Schipol Airport in the Dutch capital, where this issue is of particular concern.

At Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, the ground is contaminated by "eternal pollutants". Local residents and NGOs have their say.

Managing underground PFASs in the Netherlands

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?

Germany imposes strict border controls: Can Schengen Survive?

Praise and criticism as Germany imposes strict controls on all its land borders. But what does this mean for Europe’s migration policies?

Founded in 2019 in Vienna, the human rights and humanitarian aid organisation SOS Balkanroute, which is funded by donations, looks after people fleeing
their country and supports local humanitarian aid networks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since Hungary and then Croatia closed their borders, more people are trying to enter the EU via Bosnia. But it's a riskier route. We join SOS Balkanroute on the border between Bosnia and Croatia. It's an area where defenseless people are exposed to smuggler networks and brutal pushbacks.

The humanitarian organisation SOS Balkanroute is working to ensure that migrants are better treated.

The Balkan Route: a lawless zone?

Denmark, a leader in digital tech, is rethinking its approach in schools. With screens seen as a distraction and social media harmful, the Ministry of Education has urged a return to the basics. At the ‘Marienschule’ in Tondern, they've taken the leap. Tablets have been ditched for books and pencils.

Denmark is dialing digital down, with one school swapping screens for paper to boost focus and learning.

The Danish School Going back to Books and Pens

Since the end of 2016, Italy has authorised the cultivation of light cannabis. In other words, hemp for industrial use with less than 0.2% THC content. However, the right-wing and extreme-right Italian government wants to change the law and de facto equate “light” cannabis to cannabis with a narcotic effect.

Since the end of 2016, Italy has authorised the cultivation of light cannabis. In other words, hemp for industrial use with less than 0.2% THC content.

Politics and society
ARTE Journal

All videos

ARTE Europe Weekly

How Hungary is helping Russians and Belarusians get visas

Ireland's birds still at risk

Germany's alcohol-free beer boom

ARTE Europe Weekly

Managing underground PFASs in the Netherlands

ARTE Europe Weekly

The Balkan Route: a lawless zone?

The Danish School Going back to Books and Pens

Is Italy's cannabis production under threat?

Politics and societyARTE Journal

All videos

ARTE Europe Weekly

How Hungary is helping Russians and Belarusians get visas

Ireland's birds still at risk

Germany's alcohol-free beer boom

ARTE Europe Weekly

Managing underground PFASs in the Netherlands

ARTE Europe Weekly

The Balkan Route: a lawless zone?

The Danish School Going back to Books and Pens

Is Italy's cannabis production under threat?

Politics and society
ARTE Journal