Vladimir Putin's secretive backstory, Ukrainians gear up to fight and Germany's new chancellor keeps a low profile. Also: France’s far-right presidential candidates court mayoral nominations, respite from the Serbian brain-drain, the problems with Spanish macro-farming, EU ghost flights and how to stop them, plus a controversial mining project in Poland.
Life in Ukraine goes on almost as normal, Gotland islanders eye up NATO membership, Britain’s Prime Minister has some explaining to do and passions run high at Ferrara’s Week of Memories.
Also: the biggest coming out in the history of the Catholic Church, dark secrets from France's recent past and music from Budapest and Berlin.
Tensions over the EU's sustainability taxonomy, a defence pact causes concern in Slovakia, taxing times for Poland's middle classes and Italian police refuse to wear pink. Also: protection for journalists at demonstrations in Germany, Turkish-Armenian relations begin to thaw, France's liaison dangereuse with public intellectuals and life at the circus resumes in Hungary.
A New Year’s special showcasing the best of European traditions and culture including:
the scents of Europe’s past, Norwegian glad rags and Vienna's horse-drawn carriages. Also on the programme: Lefkara lace, a phoney bohemian snack, pasta from Italy and from the UK, there’s a close encounter with an ancient Briton!
On today’s programme: we throw caution - and the Inside Europe programme format - to the wind, as we catch up with some of our far-flung correspondents for a Christmas ring -round. Expect delicious food, spontaneous bursts of song and all round festive chaos! Plus Italian porticos and Berlin musicians. lots of them!