A podcast by Debating Europe, the citizen engagement unit of Friends of Europe

July 2025

Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground

Building social cohesion. Restoring democratic trust. Bridging divides.

As Europe faces rising polarisation – on politics, climate, technology, and trust in public institutions – decision-makers are under growing pressure to respond with solutions that are effective, inclusive, and forward-looking.

Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground is a podcast series that cuts through the noise to explore the drivers of division and the pathways to unity. Produced by Debating Europe, part of Friends of Europe, this series brings together a wide range of voices – policymakers, civil society leaders, business innovators – highlighting findings from our latest research project, Voices for Choices.

Each episode focuses on core issues like economic inequality, digital disruption, and climate anxiety, offering actionable insights and policy-relevant perspectives. The aim? To move beyond analysis and spotlight scalable solutions that strengthen democratic resilience and rebuild trust across European societies.

If you’re a policymaker, funder, or stakeholder committed to bridging divides and shaping Europe’s future, this is the podcast for you.

Listen now. Engage with the voices shaping tomorrow’s common ground.

Episodes

1. (Re)building fairness: What does a better tomorrow look like?

This first episode with Miriam Gonzalez, founder of Espana Mejor, and Giles Merritt, founder of Friends of Europe, explores how we can bridge divides and find common ground. Click here to listen now!

2. Defence in the time of distrust

In the second episode of our series, we’re discussing distrust, disinformation and a dissonant future in the EU, NATO and Ukraine with Eugene Slavnyi, news director at United24 Media Ukraine, and Jamie Shea, Senior Fellow for Peace, Security and Defence at Friends of Europe. Click here to listen now!

3. Enlargement and the EU’s defence

In this third episode, host Host Sabina Șancu is speaking with Valbona Zeneli, senior fellow for Peace, Security and Defence here at Friends of Europe, and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, about “enlargement fatigue”, external influences on the Western Balkan countries, and the steps these countries still need to take in order to create prosperity. Click here to listen now!

4.  Bottom-Up Pressure: Can Communities Shape the Green Future?

In this episode, we explore how to engage citizens in building a greener future. Former host Catarina Vila Nova talks with activist Chloé Mikolajczak about sustainable living, inspiring changemakers, and the gap between public demand and institutional action. Host Sabina Șancu speaks with Professor Graham Smith about climate assemblies as a model for citizen-led policymaking. Click here to listen now!

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.