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Malta is an important stopover for migratory birds who spend their winters in Africa and return to northern Europe in the springtime. But the layover can become a death trap for these winged travellers. Malta is the only EU country to allow hunting in the spring under certain conditions. Nick Galea is working hard to change the law with support of his NGO, BirdLife Malta.  

Environment

Nick’s goal is to protect migratory birds in Malta, the only EU country to allow springtime hunting.

Nick the Maltese bird conservationist

Artificial intelligence has the potential to change our world for the better, but it comes at a price. Just like humans, AI algorithms discriminate against certain groups and can be prejudiced. Through his NGO ‘Algorithm Audit’, Dutch AI consultant Jurriaan Parie analyzes code used in AI applications and to ensure algorithms become less discriminatory and more transparent.

Technology

Does AI discriminate? Dutch data analyst Jurriaan Parie advocates for fairer and more transparent algorithms.

Jurriaan the Dutch AI consultant

Léa is a French student spending a year in Madrid thanks to the Erasmus exchange programme, funded by the EU. While she is convinced her time abroad will do wonders for her CV, she is also aware it is a privilege. She criticises the grant, as it is not enough to pay for food and accommodation, and hopes things will change to provide equal opportunities for all.  

Education

Léa, an Erasmus student in Spain, criticises the EU exchange programme for its social discrimination.

Léa the Erasmus student in Madrid

There's a nitrogen pollution crisis in the Netherlands. National and European legislation has forced the government to take radical measures to tackle this, including the closure of a large number of farms, provoking the anger of agricultural workers. The crisis contributed to the fall of Mark Rutte's centre-right government last summer, and has played into the hands of right-wing and far-right parties – just ahead of the European elections.

There's a nitrogen pollution crisis in the Netherlands, and the measures to combat it have left farmers angry.

Nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands

Belarusian photographer Alexander Vasukovich was sentenced to three years' house arrest in Minsk for images he took during the anti-Lukashenko regime protests that swept the country in August 2020. He was found guilty of participating in the unrest, and of helping to organise it. We met him at his home in Belarus – and then in Warsaw, after he managed to escape his home country.

We met photographer Alexander Vasukovich at his home in Minsk – and then in Warsaw, after he managed to flee.

Belarus: the escape of photographer Alexander Vasukovich

In Spain, as elsewhere in Europe, the agricultural model and the future of farmers are at the heart of debate on the eve of the European elections. The sector is undergoing radical change. On the one hand, traditional farmers are struggling to make ends meet, and on the other, investment funds are rushing to buy up land and farming businesses. This influx of capital has helped to modernise Spanish farming structures, but is causing concern among the unions and traditional farmers.

In Spain, the agricultural model is undergoing radical change, thanks to the interest of investment funds.

Spain: investment funds flock to the fields

Louise looks after 200 dairy cows on a day-to-day basis. But all of the grazing they do leads to increased levels of nitrate in the groundwater. In order to meet its climate goals, the EU now wants to reduce the size of cow herds to limit the amount of nitrate going into groundwater – meaning Louise may soon have to slaughter a large number of cows. The loss of her animals is not only heartbreaking, it also puts her future as a dairy farmer at stake.

Agriculture

Milking cows has always been Louise’s dream job, but now her future is at stake.

Louise the dairy cow farmer in Ireland

This year, 80,000 French pupils are expected to sign up for the country's Universal National Service, a scheme introduced five years ago for young people aged 15 to 17. For two weeks they will learn about security and defence issues, supervised by former military personnel, but the focus will above all be on the values of the French Republic. But in a Europe marred by the war in Ukraine, do the concepts of civic pride and social cohesion extend beyond France's borders for them?

How do young French people feel about Universal National Service? And does their civic pride extend to Europe?

French citizen, European identity

For almost 30 years, Lampedusa doctor Pietro Bartolo has provided first aid to migrants on their arrival on the Italian island, while listening to their stories of exile. Elected to the European Parliament in 2019, Dr. Bartolo brings his expertise on the issue of migration to the role, and has made no secret of his disappointment at the lack of ambition in the reform of the European Migration Pact.

Lampedusa doctor Pietro Bartolo has seen the migrant crisis up close. Now he advocates for migrants as an MEP.

The doctor of Lampedusa

With only a couple of weeks to go until the European elections, Lithuania has been occupied with another election. On 12 May, the country went to the polls to elect its president – and to answer one crucial question in a constitutional referendum. Should dual nationality be introduced in this small Baltic country? It's a question coloured by the country's Soviet past, and its fear of Russian aggression.

Should Lithuania allow dual nationality? It's a question coloured by its Soviet past, and its present fears.

Politics and society
ARTE Journal

All videos

Nick the Maltese bird conservationist

Jurriaan the Dutch AI consultant

Léa the Erasmus student in Madrid

Nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands

Belarus: the escape of photographer Alexander Vasukovich

Spain: investment funds flock to the fields

Louise the dairy cow farmer in Ireland

French citizen, European identity

The doctor of Lampedusa

Lithuania: a referendum on dual citizenship

Politics and societyARTE Journal

All videos

Nick the Maltese bird conservationist

Jurriaan the Dutch AI consultant

Léa the Erasmus student in Madrid

Nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands

Belarus: the escape of photographer Alexander Vasukovich

Spain: investment funds flock to the fields

Louise the dairy cow farmer in Ireland

French citizen, European identity

The doctor of Lampedusa

Lithuania: a referendum on dual citizenship

Politics and society
ARTE Journal