LIVE: PSG's Champions League triumph marred by violence across France | Europe Today #116

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]dose of European news and analysis live here on Euro News. Coming up, EU enlargement is in the spotlight. Council President Antonio Kusha heads to the Western Balkans today for a 5-day visit, culminating in a special summit in Montenegro this Friday. The small Balkan nation says it is ready to become the next country to join the European Union, but EU members need to make up their mind. Meanwhile, Malta's Labor Party has secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office, delivering a major victory for Prime Minister Robert Abella. The snap vote this weekend was called a year ahead of schedule amid concerns over the impact of the Middle East crisis on tourism and rising inflation. Plus, China has warned Brussels against imposing new trade restrictions following talks here aimed at addressing Beijing's industrial overcapacity. The EU says its trade relationship with China is no longer sustainable and that stronger measures are needed to protect European industries from a surge in Chinese imports. But first, Pakis German's historic Champions League victory was marred by violence this weekend. As celebrations spread across France, so did clashes between football fans and police, leading to nearly 800 arrests, more than 200 injured and one dead linked to the instance. The French president, Emanuel Mron, is furious.

[00:01:22]Unfortunately, we've seen, and I don't want us to get used to it, and nobody wants us to get used to it, scenes of unacceptable violence in Paris and other cities. This isn't about football. This isn't about sport. It's because we like it. So, thank you to our police officers. There will be no flexibility for those who have been caught. We don't want to see this anymore. Enough. We had it. It's over. Dominator.

[00:01:46]>> For more on what exactly happened and why these scenes have become a reoccurring challenge for authorities, we're joined here in the studio by Eur's Jerry Fisio Bambi, who's been following the story for us all weekend. Good morning and thanks for being here. And look, it's just not the first time we've seen this kind of violence. What are the root causes?

[00:02:03]>> Dave, first off, what a big Champions League final weekend we saw. Hats off to both sides, Arsenal and PSG. They gave us um a very good match. Maybe not a very good match. I mean, considering the nature of I mean, the the how things played out, but 120 minutes of football and uh uh congratulations to Arsenal for putting up a formidable performance.

[00:02:24]Congrats to um to to PSG uh for becoming the only side to win the uh Champions League title uh to retain the title and for the second time back to back.

[00:02:34]Unfortunately, um that's not what we're talking about now. The news has been overshadowed by uh the ugly and chaotic scenes that we saw in Paris. Arrests have been made. 800 arrests have been made. Um but interestingly, they're not hardcore football fans. So these were simply fans or riers or people who were just uh uh exploiting this situation or the occasion to to form in trouble. And it is not the first time we're seeing it in in France. you need to look at it within the wider context of of of hooliganism in in France and urban riots in in France. Um we've seen the yellow June uh the Julle Jun protest, the yellow vest protest, the pension reform protest. So over the last decades uh we've seen a lot of protest in France and it just seems that um the violence that we're witnessing is such that um um you know it's occurring within the society and in in in a way that uh reflects um wider disparity or wider issues uh regarding u policing trust in public institutions and uh inequality >> and how could it be put to an end. We saw earlier how the French president M was so upset to see how this dampened the celebrations all through the weekend.

[00:03:46]>> Well, uh I think the the French authorities have been doing their best.

[00:03:50]Let's bring it uh bringing facts here.

[00:03:52]Look uh with regards to law enforcement uh over the uh weekend and in anticipation of the final itself.

[00:03:58]Authorities deployed uh some 20,000 police officers across the country. In Paris, the capital alone there were 8,000 police officers. And uh this was because uh if you look at even last year when this violent uh happened, violence celebration happened last year when PSG won their first ever um Champions League title at the time the anticipation had been there but even at that this did not cail the the violence that took place.

[00:04:26]So when we when we talk about the the federations, UEFA itself uh has been working to to to to with the with the countries with the supporters the uh the local authorities and they have since 2020 2012 and 2013 season they've required clubs to to have a leasing officer to to coordinate uh you know some of these things the coordination between uh the fans supporters and and the local authorities and police. Um I think it's worked in some places. But the question for France is really about is this about football huliganism or is this about urban riots and something that reflects a much deeper problem. And I think going forward uh they need you need to look at can we have faster prosecutions? Can they have can authorities also uh deploy uh new measures like or maybe stricter penalties, you know, stricter punishments uh that will make uh deterrence for many who would want to go into this and think twice.

[00:05:23]>> Indeed, it's certainly not a problem that will go away overnight. Jerry, thank you so much for your analysis there. And also actually in France, the former French prime minister Gabrielle Latal has kicked off his presidential election campaign with a huge rally in Paris. He's vowing to move be beyond the Macron era and reform a system that he says is no longer delivering for the French people. For more on that story, you can visit yournews.com. But now moving on, after a successful visit to Brussels, the Hungarian Prime Minister Petra Mayard managed to unfreeze the billions of unfrozen funds for his country. But and is a big butt, he will have to complete a long list of reforms before the bank transfer is actually made. For more we can head to Budapest where your newses is standing by for us this morning. So tell us Hungary still faces huge hurdles to unlock these billions. Will they manage?

[00:06:15]>> Good morning Europe today. Yes, as you mentioned we are talking about 16.4 billion euros what is the biggest financial pact in the modern Hungarian history. Uh I talked with several decision makers and they really agreed with each other that they try to rebuild the budget and the country from step by step as they mentioned from brick to brick and the most important mission what they try to manage is to agree about these funds and actually they managed it. This is what they know so far and they don't have a proper action plan for the rest of the year. The only one thing what they know that they promised to uh Brussels to end up for the corruption. Uh most of the opposition parties mostly the pedest government party demanded to make it public uh what Peter Modar promised land what he sacrificed but he replied that the only thing what he promised is that he will end up the pit's corruption.

[00:07:15]There are of course some critical points for example there is not enough money in the budget in the terrible shape budget uh for the pension and tax reforms and of course the one of the most hot topic is migration because for 10 years the government was campaigning against migration and people are a little bit public so it's a really sensitive topic >> and just very briefly we've seen also Peter Mayar turning up the pressure on the president calling on him to resign tell us more >> so actually uh Now he is in the Alexander's palace in the presidential palace tried to convince the president to step down because yesterday he announced that he not going to step down and of course here in Hungary the president has symbolic power but still it can destroy the plans of the party because they have just three months for all the reforms and he can block it or at least he can make it slower uh because he has a political veto and it's really difficult to remove him because the parliament can impeach him. But the last uh what thing what says is actually the constitutional court and the uh the judges of the constitutional court still are the people of the fitness party.

[00:08:27]>> Okay, Jan Zaggi, thank you so much for that live update there from Budapest.

[00:08:31]And now for the view from a former European commissioner that was actually in charge of rule of law and values.

[00:08:35]We're joined by Vera Yrova, the Czech politician who was vice president of the European Commission until 2024. Great to have you with us here in the studio.

[00:08:44]>> Good morning. Thank you for having me.

[00:08:45]>> And of course, you're very familiar with the issues in Hungary. You followed them for many years as vice president there.

[00:08:51]Hungary now has a new government. Victor Orban seems to have disappeared. Your view on this new era. Well, I was happy I have to say after the elections, not only that uh Victor Orban is leaving after so many years and uh after what he has done to to Hungarians uh but uh I was happy that the democratic system worked. Changing of the guards happened >> and Peter Mayer the new prime minister he was here in Brussels. There was a deal struck. He was here on Friday. They managed to unlock the funds, but he has a long list of reforms to do. Will he manage? It seems like mission impossible there. If you listen to our correspondent, >> he has a long list uh of uh things to do in a very short time because uh most of the money uh should be used committed and and invested by uh August this year.

[00:09:42]So this is a very short short deadline.

[00:09:45]Yes. A long list of things uh which should not be surprising. Yeah. because the European taxpayers were urging us in the commission to do more to protect uh the money going to Hungary, not to pay the the gifts for Victor Orban's uh families and friends.

[00:10:04]>> And there's a three-month deadline here.

[00:10:05]What happens if they don't reach the deadline?

[00:10:07]>> Well, I think that uh it is feasible to do the some reforms in case the legislative process uh is fast. Of course uh it would be difficult to fulfill something which needs uh more preparations but as I said Hungarians the the current government is not surprised.

[00:10:27]>> These are not new requests from Brussels.

[00:10:30]>> What would be the hardest?

[00:10:31]>> Uh I think there are there are things relating to to judiciary independence uh and uh division of of powers between different layers of of justice system.

[00:10:43]they should uh do uh changes in media wealth >> and should more have been done before by the previous commission that you were in?

[00:10:51]>> Uh we tried to uh make to convince uh Orban's government to join the European public prosecutor's office.

[00:11:03]This was the main thing I wanted them to do because to protect the EU money it >> but they never listened to you.

[00:11:10]>> They didn't trust you. They didn't like you >> you know they didn't believe that this will go without any reaction if they didn't join but they after that uh the reaction on it was the mechanism to freeze the money when the money is not protected enough.

[00:11:27]>> Another thing Hungary of course under Orbin was blocking was Ukraine's membership. This week we're seeing Antonio Kosh in the Western Balkans trying to put momentum on their potential membership. What is your view here? Who should be the next member to join the European Union? I I spoke in recent weeks to many western balkcon people and they are fed up to be uh what 20 years in the waiting room. There must be some move and uh over time I see that more and more we need them to join than they need Europe. This is obvious that we need to have courage to grow politically, geographically. We are under big pressure from outside.

[00:12:06]>> If you were a commissioner right now, that's my question. What would keep you up at night?

[00:12:10]>> But what keep me up at night? The state of of democracy and rule of law uh in in Europe in general. That's why by the way I'm here because I am launching today with my with my team the new project democracy 27 uh which is a citizens initiative and which would complement what the commission is doing.

[00:12:30]>> Would it be China, Russia, Trump >> in international foreign policy? Uh uh honestly it's uh it's the United States.

[00:12:39]>> Okay.

[00:12:40]>> Which scares me.

[00:12:41]>> Very thank you so much for coming into us here on Europe today. Now moving on.

[00:12:45]The United Nations will be meeting this Monday for a talks called by France to discuss the latest Israeli offensive in Lebanon that saw the capture of Bowford Castle in the south of the country. It comes as Lebanese authorities say the death toll in the country since early March is now over 3,371.

[00:13:03]For more, we can head now to Dubai and bring in our regional correspondent, Jane Witherspoon. Jane, tell us more about this escalation in Lebanon.

[00:13:15]Yes, as you mentioned, over the weekend, uh, Israel has taken control of Bowford Castle in southern Lebanon. It's a move that has been condemned by France.

[00:13:25]They're calling for that UN Security Council meeting that you mentioned. Uh the Israeli flag is now flying high above that medieval fortress. This is the deepest incursion in the country in almost quarter of a century. Uh meanwhile uh the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has said the capture of the castle marks a dramatic turning point in Israel's campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

[00:13:52]>> And meanwhile, we're hearing President Trump Jane saying he wants to make a deal with Iran, but at the same time, the US military has struck a commercial ship. fill us in on all these details.

[00:14:05]>> That's correct. Yes, the US military struck that commercial ship trying to enter Iran earlier uh in the morning. Uh US Central Command have said the Gambia flagged cargo ship ignored around more than 20 warnings. In fact, uh it was eventually stopped when the US forces fired a missile into its engine room.

[00:14:25]And this of course comes as hostility has resumed across the region over recent days. And of course the world is waiting with baited breath to see if that ceasefire deal can be negotiated.

[00:14:39]>> Okay, Jane Witherspoon, thank you so much for that live update there from Dubai and we can move on now. Romania's president Nikosard Dan has released proof that the drone which hit a residential building in Galach last weekend or last week was a Russian drone. He says Moscow is quote solely responsible. For the view from the European Space Agency on their role here in defense and security, your newses Lauren Walker sat down with the head of the European Space Agency, Joseph Ashbacher.

[00:15:05]>> We are not a military organization. We are space agency. And as a space agency, we develop technology that can be utilized by other users including the defense community. So our job and my job is to first of all define uh together or on on the basis of requirements from the uh security defense communities or other users to define the space infrastructure that is needed in order to help them uh collecting information, communicating, navigating and really being sure that they have the tools that space can provide for their defense purposes.

[00:15:39]>> And you can catch the rest of that interview on Euro News. But now I'd like to bring in the Romanian diplomat and politician Mir Chana, former deputy secretary general of NATO until 2024 and now one of the country's most prominent voices on security and defense. So good morning sir. Thank you so much for being with us here on Europe today. First, everyone's wondering what the situation now is like in Galach and do people feel safe?

[00:16:04]you know, the the the shock of the of the Russian incursion and explosion on a on a block of apartments in Galatia is still here with us. Um, just for for our viewers to see, Galat is a is a big city, industrial city on the Denube. On the other side of the river, there is Ukraine and Russia is constantly attacking uh infrastructure on the Ukrainian side. And a few times and this was the most severe incident they crossed the border the airspace of Romania NATO country and that's why in Galat in the Danube delta there is a little bit of of concern that has been accumulated in time in the four years and something >> and Romania's air force couldn't intercept this drone. Why is that?

[00:16:50]>> You know a Romanian pilot an F-16 pilot shot down a drone in Estonia just a few days back. they they didn't have enough enough time and space to shoot. And the question is what do you shoot? Uh you know a drone uh do you need an F-16? Do you need a F-35? Do you need a you know missile which is so expensive? So I think the lesson from this and I think we should have learned it all over the eastern flank of NATO sooner is that you need adequate anti- drone sensors anti- drone equipment faster procurement systems because these things change so fast the innovation cycle for drone war is changing so fast that I think our systems are robust but sometimes there is a basic that is balance between the kind of assets we have and the kind of needs we actually have for such instruments.

[00:17:40]because if this happened once it's going to happen again and Romania is clearly not prepared for these kind of frequent drone incursions.

[00:17:47]>> We we have a specific geographical situ as I mentioned is basically very close.

[00:17:52]So I think we have to find adequate solutions you know acoustic sensors this something that technology exists you know anti- drone systems this technology exists the question that we have to procure so much uh for everything from high intensity war you know high level gear let's say lower end technology like this one is needed and I think we have to really prioritize better and and internalize the lessons learned from Iran and from Ukraine because the two fusion of lessons learned and I think to do much better not only Romania but I think we see such incidents all along eastern planks especially the countries neighboring Ukraine like Romania is >> and what would be the next step and this the with the support of NATO here of course if this happens again and escalates >> you know u I I think we have to do a much better effort to to try to find the right kind of air and missile defense for for for NATO uh in general so if for mid altitude and high altitude let's say there are some things in place, Patriot missiles, you know, the F-16s, the F-35s, NATO operations for this basically low altitude things, we are still lacking uh the kind of adequate means they do exist uh on the market.

[00:19:05]You can acquire them. The only thing is that you have to put your right priorities in the right place. Try to make sure that you keep up with innovation cycle. This uh electronic jamming zone can change basically every other few months. I think we have to do a much much faster cycle of procurement and adaptation to this new world.

[00:19:24]>> Okay, thank you so much for that for joining us here this morning and that does bring this edition of Europe today to an end for more news and analysis. As always, you can visit urinnews.com or you can drop us a line or an email at Europe atyournews.com. Thanks so much for watching. Take care and see you soon.

[00:19:59]Two MEPs, one ring, two points of view, one Europe.

[00:20:04]They'll fight for their ideas. We'll make sure they do it right with one room.

[00:20:10]>> Straight talk. No noise, no filters, just politics.