Brussels Playbook Podcast

As drama unfolds across the English Channel, we look at where things stand with the EU's migration policy and examine EU-Australian relations. We also review a revealing new documentary on Emmanuel Macron's international diplomacy efforts and explain why interpreters in the European Parliament are upset with their post-COVID working conditions. Brussels Playbook co-author Suzanne Lynch hosts this episode, which begins with our French politics reporter Clea Caulcutt giving us the skinny on a new behind-the-scenes documentary on Macron’s diplomatic efforts to stop the war in Ukraine. Clea also explains the political calculus behind Macron's recent Cabinet reshuffle and what it means for Brussels. And POLITICO's Maïa de La Baume joins the discussion to explain the latest tangle between the EU and its all-important interpreters. Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, joins Suzanne on the podcast to discuss the EU's migration policy — what progress has been made since unveiling its plan in September 2020 and where the sticking points remain. She also highlights the challenges for EU countries from taking in over 3 million Ukrainians fleeing war in recent months. And we welcome a delegation of visitors from Australia to hear about the state of relations with the EU. Stuart Lau, our EU-China correspondent, sits down with Professor Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University and a thought leader on the Indo-Pacific, and Professor Duncan Lewis, an imminent military and security expert who has held senior roles in the Australian military and public service, including as former ambassador to the EU, Belgium and NATO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming to you from the NATO summit in Madrid, our POLITICO team analyzes a packed week in international diplomacy and what it means for Europe and its security. We also hear from the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway and Estonia. Sarah Wheaton hosts this week's episode, which kicks off with a discussion with our team at the NATO summit in Madrid — Lili Bayer, David M. Herszenhorn, Paul McLeary and Hans von der Burchard. They analyze what was behind the main decisions and point to some of the uncertainties that remain. They also discuss the missed opportunities at the G7 summit in Germany earlier in the week, and how German Chancellor Olaf Scholz performed as host of his first major international gathering. Our special guests in this episode include Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson on her country's path to joining NATO and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on changes to his region's security situation. We also talk to Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who shares her view on the summit's outcomes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming to you from the EU leaders' summit in the heart of Brussels, we discuss Ukraine's candidacy to join the club and the lack of progress for EU-hopefuls in the Western Balkans. We hear from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Florence Gaub, foresight adviser to the Council of the European Union. This week's episode, hosted by POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn, comes to you from the European Council where the EU's 27 heads of state and government decided to designate Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for EU membership. POLITICO's Lili Bayer, Giorgio Leali and Hans von der Burchard join David to unpack how the decision was made and where the discussion on EU accession goes from here. Giorgio also explains how French President Emmanuel Macron's gravitas around the Council table may have been diminished by his centrist alliance's disappointing showing in parliamentary elections last weekend. We also discuss how the French president's idea for a "European political community" is being received. Then, you'll hear from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. He spoke to POLITICO's Louise Guillot in Tirana last week — sharing his downbeat view on why Albania's prospects for starting EU membership talks have stalled. After the break, we feature NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He sat down with Lili Bayer on Wednesday for a POLITICO Live event, which you can watch here. And POLITICO's Matt Karnitschnig brings us a discussion with Florence Gaub, foresight adviser to the Council of the European Union. They discuss the war in Ukraine, how long it could last and what we can expect from NATO's historic meeting next week in Madrid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We explore more repercussions of the war in Ukraine, explain the latest dust-up between the U.K. and the EU and unpack the patois of political panel discussions. Our special guest is retired British diplomat and author John Ramsden, who talks poets, politics and economics. POLITICO's Andrew Gray is joined by Matthew Karnitschnig, who tells us about his recent trip to a remote strip of land along the border between Lithuania and Poland that's the focus of renewed attention due to Russia's war on Ukraine. POLITICO's Eddy Wax catches us up on the food crisis triggered by the war, while Suzanne Lynch explains the latest tussle between the U.K. and the EU over Northern Ireland. For some light relief on Andrew's last show as host, the podcast crew goes meta by holding a panel discussion on panel discussions — a big feature of Brussels and other political bubbles. Why are they so popular, what do people get out of them and what are the pitfalls? We play a game of "duo-panelo" to reveal the true meaning of classic panel phrases. Our special guest John Ramsden, a former British ambassador, tells us about his new book, "The Poets' Guide to Economics," which explores the impact of poets on economic debate down the centuries. The podcast will be back next Thursday as usual, kicking off a summer season of episodes featuring different members of the POLITICO newsroom in the host's chair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We break down the controversy over a plan to unlock billions of euros in EU funds for Poland and debate Angela Merkel's return to the public arena. Our special guest is Julianne Smith, the U.S. ambassador to NATO. POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Lili Bayer unpack Ursula von der Leyen's plan to give Poland a path to coronavirus recovery funds as the European Commission president faces criticism — some of it from senior members of her own team — that she's letting Warsaw off the hook on rule-of-law standards. And Matthew Karnitschnig joins the panel to debate Angela Merkel's decision to return to the stage — literally — after six months of silence since stepping down as German chancellor. In an extensive interview in front of an audience in a Berlin theater, Merkel addressed whether her own policies played a role in emboldening Russia to attack Ukraine. Lili interviews our special guest Julianne Smith, the U.S. ambassador to NATO. Smith discusses how the alliance may reinforce its eastern flank in light of the war in Ukraine, Turkey's objections to Sweden and Finland's membership bids, and how NATO will likely view both Russia and China in its forthcoming strategic blueprint. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We unpack EU leaders' deal to ban Russian oil imports — with some notable exceptions after Hungary played hardball. And author Tommaso Pavone tells the story of the lawyers who turned "ghostwriters" to make the EU a legal reality. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig, Lili Bayer and David M. Herszenhorn assess this week's EU summit, where leaders struck a late-night agreement to ban Russian oil — but only after making more concessions to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The crew also discusses what's next for the EU in terms of sanctions after the bruising battle over this package. You'll hear what Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told POLITICO about the summit — and about whether the EU’s sanctions are having an impact on Vladimir Putin. Our special guest is Tommaso Pavone, assistant professor of law and politics at the University of Arizona and visiting researcher at the ARENA Center for European Studies at the University of Oslo. His new book, "The Ghostwriters: Lawyers and the Politics Behind the Judicial Construction of Europe," tells the fascinating story of the "Euro-lawyers" across the Continent who sought out cases and pushed them up the European legal pyramid over decades to make the EU a legal reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special edition of EU Confidential from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland drills into the question of whether the EU is really ready for a forceful response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s the last of our special episodes from the prestigious ­— or, some would say, notorious — gathering of power players in this Alpine resort town. POLITICO’s Sarah Wheaton, Jamil Anderlini and Suzanne Lynch analyze German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s speech on the forum’s closing day. They also reflect on how the discussion in Davos will extend beyond this conference — and recap some less-than-classy moments at exclusive parties featuring acts like the Black Eyed Peas and The Chainsmokers. Paul Grod, president of the Ukrainian World Congress, speaks to Sarah about how the Ukrainian diaspora is keeping up the pressure on Europe. Then we catch up with Wellcome Trust Director Jeremy Farrar for a quick check-in on the coronavirus pandemic. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad joins us for a conversation about her advocacy for victims of sexual violence in war and what the EU can do to support such efforts. Finally, POLITICO's Ryan Health speaks to James Rogers, founder of Apeel, which makes edible coatings for foods, about food sustainability as we look ahead to a growing food crisis and the challenges of expanding his company's innovative solutions into Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bumper edition of Davos Confidential includes a debate on the death of globalization, the prospects of more countries joining the European Union and an insider's take on the role of women at the World Economic Forum. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton, Jamil Anderlini, Ryan Heath and Suzanne Lynch debate an issue they and others have been grappling with all week: is globalization dead? Historian and professor Adam Tooze also shares his thoughts on the subject. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, speaks to Suzanne about the EU's role on the global stage, Russian sanctions and the prospects of Ukraine joining the bloc. Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița also wants her country of Moldova to join the EU and shares her thoughts on the issue. Meanwhile, Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin says he's open to changing the EU treaties to potentially pave the way for other countries to join without facing some of the existing hurdles. Journalist Anya Schiffrin, a professor at Colombia University in New York and a long-time attendee of the WEF, shares her views on the role of women in Davos and how that's changed over the years. And Swiss Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr has some eye-opening observations about this year's WEF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hear exclusively from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the chance of clinching a sixth package of EU sanctions, and from experts on Russia and the latest trends in the financial world. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton is joined by Editor in Chief Jamil Anderlini, Playbook author Suzanne Lynch and Ryan Heath, editorial director of global growth. The team discusses the Tuesday's big speeches by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and von der Leyen, who spoke to Suzanne about after the chances of EU leaders agreeing on the latest package of proposed Russian sanctions during next week's summit in Brussels. With Russia's war in Ukraine top of mind, former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb shares his views on the wider impact of the conflict and the prospect of Finland joining NATO. Jamil also sat down with Bill Browder to discuss his new book, "Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath." There's also an interview with Karen Karniol-Tambour, co-chief investment officer for sustainability at Bridgewater Associates, about the challenges of tackling rising inflation and slowing economic growth. And billionaire David Rubenstein, Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman, tells Jamil that the big topic of the moment is whether the United States is heading into a recession and shares his views on cryptocurrencies. For more of our coverage of the World Economic Forum, check out our daily Davos Playbook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode comes to you from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland — featuring participants from business, government and the non-profit sectors. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton is joined by Jamil Anderlini, Suzanne Lynch and Ryan Heath to explain what the WEF seeks to accomplish at a time of tremendous political and economic instability. They discuss Monday's much-anticipated speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and question why so few G20 leaders have shown up at this year's unusual spring-edition of the forum (the WEF is historically held in January when ski jackets and crampons are a must). Jamil brings us a conversation with Mykhailo Fedorov, vice prime minister of Ukraine and minister of digital transformation, about how technology is aiding his country's battle against Russia. And Julien Vaulpré, founding partner of PR firm Taddeo and ex-advisor to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, shares his impressions of what the WEF is really all about. We then hear from Richard Edelman, CEO of global communications firm Edelman, about his company's new Trust Barometer, which measures trust levels in government, businesses and the media throughout the world. Our final guest is Oxfam International Executive Director Gabriela Bucher. She unpacks a brand new analysis on the growth of billionaires during the pandemic and the alarming trends in growing economic inequality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We unpack Sweden and Finland's historic bids to join NATO, provide a POLITICO half-time report on the European Commission's performance so far, and hear from Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly on relations with the EU and more. POLITICO's Andrew Gray is joined by Correspondent Charlie Duxbury in Stockholm, Senior NATO Reporter Lili Bayer and Chief Europe Correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig, who calls in from Warsaw. The team breaks down the strategic thinking behind Finland and Sweden's big shifts on NATO, the implications for the alliance, possible reactions from Russia and Turkey's tough talk on the membership applications. Lili brings us insight from Finland's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Pekka Haavisto. We also take you inside a POLITICO newsroom-wide effort to assess how the European Commission has performed at the mid-point in its five-year term. Who's been a star player? Who's been relegated to the bench? Senior Policy Reporter Joshua Posaner has some of the answers and you can read the full report here. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly is our special guest. On a visit to Brussels this week, she spoke with POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn about Canada's efforts to help alleviate global food and energy problems caused by Russia's war in Ukraine and relations with the European Union. Joly also sheds light on the challenges she and others face in balancing political responsibility and personal life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We debate some big ideas for the future of Europe and examine the state of Franco-German ties after recently-reelected French President Emmanuel Macron's trip to Berlin. We also hear from Ukrainian officials and the EU's ambassador in Kyiv. [2:54] POLITICO's Andrew Gray tries to sum up the results of the Conference on the Future of Europe, a year-long series of debates and discussions that culminated in a grand ceremony in Strasbourg earlier this week. Andrew is joined by POLITICO's Maïa de La Baume, who shares her impressions from attending one of the gatherings of EU citizens that fed into the conference. [8:09] French President Emmanuel Macron used the ceremony to propose the creation of a "European political community," which could include countries outside the EU like Ukraine and the U.K. POLITICO's Hans von der Burchard tell us how this and other ideas are going down in Berlin, after Macron's visit earlier this week with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Chief Europe Correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig weighs in on the proposals for Europe's future and the politics around Ukraine's EU membership bid. [19:43] Then POLITICO's Lili Bayer brings us voices from officials in Ukraine after her recent trip to Kyiv, including EU Ambassador to Ukraine Matti Maasikas, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Integration of Ukraine to the EU. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We unpack the EU plan to ban Russian oil and wonder why Germany is so hung up on Ukraine's refusal to let German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visit Kyiv. Our special guest is Cambridge Professor Helen Thompson, who explores the relationship between energy and politics. [2:10] POLITICO's Politics Editor Andrew Gray is joined by Senior Trade Correspondent Barbara Moens to discuss the European Commission's proposal for a sixth round of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine. Barbara breaks down the faultlines within the EU over the headline measure, a ban on Russian oil imports, and looks ahead to what might be coming next on the sanctions front. [10:57] Chief Europe Correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig weighs in on the sanctions from Vienna. He also attempts to explain why German Chancellor Olaf Scholz can't seem to get over the snubbing of Steinmeier, who was declared unwelcome in Kyiv three weeks ago. And Matt gives us insight into his latest piece, "12 Germans who got played by Putin." [17:12] Our special guest is Helen Thompson, professor of political economy at the University of Cambridge and author of a new book, "Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century." In conversation with Matt, she discusses the historical reasons for Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas — and explains why energy will continue to drive political turbulence for years to come, even if the EU can wean itself off supplies from Moscow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take the long view on the success of Emmanuel Macron and the rise of Marine Le Pen, unpack an EU move that could cut funds to Hungary for failing to uphold the rule of law and dive into the impact of climate change on Spanish politics. [1:43] POLITICO's Nicholas Vinocur, a longtime follower of French politics, joins Andrew Gray to give his take on Macron's victory in France's presidential election and the gains made by far-right leader Le Pen — and what both may mean for Europe. (Nick mentions this story from our reporters on EU hopes and fears around Macron. And you can read more French election coverage here.) [9:12] POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig and Lili Bayer join the panel to reflect on the defeat of another populist right-wing European leader: Slovenia's Trump-loving Prime Minster Janez Janša. They also discuss the European Commission's unprecedented move to trigger a process that could cut EU funds to Hungary over rule-of-law breaches. [17:50] Our Senior Climate Correspondent Karl Mathiesen takes us on a journey to Andalusia. In conversation with our Executive Producer Cristina Gonzalez, Karl explains how the far-right Vox party is using climate change to woo local farmers, changing the dynamics of Spanish politics in the process. Read Karl's full story, and explore POLITICO's new "Climate, Changed" series here. This episode featured music by Peter Walker with Jack Rose, live dublab "sprout session," and Sunsearcher, "Flamenco Rhythm." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special edition, we analyze the result of the French presidential election and its implications for France and for Europe. The show features highlights from an election-night discussion with members of our French election crew, broadcast live on Twitter and hosted by POLITICO's Andrew Gray. Politics Reporter Clea Calcutt gives us the big picture, Elisa Braün reports from Emmanuel Macron's victory rally in front of the Eiffel Tower and Giorgio Leali brings us reaction from the Le Pen camp. Chief Europe Correspondent Matt Karnitschnig joins us from Berlin to look at the repercussions for the EU and for transatlantic relations. You can find all our French election coverage here, and if you prefer your French politics en français, you can get our daily Playbook Paris here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We review the big clash between French presidential contenders Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen. And we unpack Germany's struggle over whether to send heavy weapons to Ukraine with military expert and think tanker Gustav Gressel. POLITICO's Andrew Gray is joined by Clea Caulcutt in Paris to analyze Wednesday night's live TV debate between Macron, the centrist incumbent, and far-right challenger Le Pen ahead of the final round of the French presidential election this Sunday. POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig also joins the conversation to give the broader European perspective on the race. Matt then brings us this week's feature interview with Gustav Gressel, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. They discuss Germany's continued reluctance to supply Ukraine with heavy weaponry and its impact on Berlin's standing within the EU and among other Western allies. Programming note: We'll host a live conversation on the French election on Sunday at 10 p.m. CET on Twitter. Andrew, Matt and Clea will be joined by other members of our French team to analyze the results, hear reaction from the campaign HQs and examine what the outcome means for France and for Europe. And we'll also bring you a special election edition of EU Confidential, which will land early Monday morning in your podcast feed. So please do subscribe or follow, wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We analyze the latest from the French presidential campaign and hear Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger's first-hand account of his visit to Ukraine. We also delve into the problems Europe faces in weaning itself off Russian energy. POLITICO’s Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig and Maïa de La Baume unpack the strategies of Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen as the gloves come off in round two of the French election. We also discuss Ukraine's rebuff of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier amid more German angst over arms deliveries. And we ask what Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer thought he could achieve by visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Our reporter Lili Bayer talks to Slovakian PM Heger about his visit to Ukraine with top EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He describes his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a harrowing visit to the town of Bucha, the scene of atrocities against Ukrainian civilians widely condemned as Russian war crimes. We also hear from Henning Gloystein, energy director at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group. He sets out the obstacles facing the EU as it tries to move away from Russian oil and gas — and warns of the risks of energy rationing in the winter if the bloc doesn’t play its cards right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special edition, we unpack the results of the first round of the French presidential election, which saw Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen qualify for a run-off vote on April 24. The show features highlights from an election-night discussion with members of POLITICO's French election crew, broadcast live on Twitter. French Politics Reporter Clea Calcutt explains how the result represents a transformation of the French political landscape and also analyzes the role that Russia's war in Ukraine played in the campaign. POLITICO's Elisa Braün, Maïa de La Baume, Giorgio Leali and Louise Guillot report directly from the election-night events of Macron, Le Pen, far-right upstart Éric Zemmour and left-winger Jean-Luc Mélenchon. And we look ahead to the all-important second round: What could make the difference between victory and defeat for Macron and Le Pen? And how will voters who backed other candidates in the first round influence the result? You can find all our French election coverage here and sign up for our free French Election Playbook here. And if you prefer your French politics en français, you can get our daily Playbook Paris here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We preview this Sunday's presidential vote in France, discuss the latest Western responses to Russia's war in Ukraine and reflect on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's reelection. Our special guest is Transparency International Ukraine's Kateryna Ryzhenko. POLITICO's Elisa Braun in Paris joins Andrew Gray to set up the first round of the French presidential election. She explains the mood in the Macron camp, as the president tries to clinch reelection in the face of headwinds including a lackluster campaign, a strong showing by far-right leader Marine Le Pen and uproar over his government's use of consulting firms to develop policies. POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig in Berlin looks at whether the West is moving closer to energy sanctions on Moscow after condemning Russian forces for war crimes over the killings of Ukrainian civilians in the town of Bucha. And POLITICO's Lili Bayer unpacks how Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his right-wing populist Fidesz party managed to clinch such a decisive victory in last Sunday's election. Lili also explains the EU's subsequent move to trigger a procedure that could cut funds to Hungary over concerns about the rule of law in the country. Kateryna Ryzhenko, deputy secretary-general of the Ukraine branch of anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, tells us what she's asking EU policymakers to do to help her country — now and after the war. Programming note: Andrew Gray will host a live taping of EU Confidential on Twitter on Sunday at 10 p.m. CET with our team in France to break down the results of the first round of the French presidential election. We will also bring you a special edition of the podcast early Monday morning, so be sure to follow or subscribe to EU Confidential on your podcast app so you never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We recap Joe Biden's visit to Brussels for a series of summits focused on the war in Ukraine and get you up to speed on Hungary's election this weekend. World Food Programme boss David Beasley joins us to talk about the global food crisis. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig and Lili Bayer take stock of last week's meetings of G7, NATO and European Union leaders, all attended by the U.S. president. The team debates whether it's realistic for Europe to achieve military autonomy any time soon and asks how much substance there was behind the symbolism at the summits. Reporting from Budapest, Lili explains the stakes in Sunday's parliamentary election in Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is running for another term. We hear from leading opposition candidate Péter Márki-Zay, Orbán's chief of staff Gergely Gulyás, and MEPs Klára Dobrev and Anna Donáth about the impact the war in Ukraine is having on the campaign. Opposition candidates also explain why they're not competing on a level playing field when it comes to challenging Orbán's ruling Fidesz party. Then we hear from the executive director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley. He spoke to POLITICO's Eddy Wax about the growing world food crisis — which is being exacerbated by the war in Ukraine — and lays out the consequences that the European Union could face if its leaders don't cough up more cash to deal with rising food costs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dive into the issues at the center of three Brussels summits dominated by Russia's war in Ukraine, as Joe Biden meets with leaders of NATO, the EU and the G7. Our special guest is Ukrainian novelist and thinker Andriy Kurkov. POLITICO's Andrew Gray is joined by colleagues Matthew Karnitschnig in Berlin and Barbara Moens in Brussels to discuss some of the big questions facing leaders at the summits — such as whether to go further with sanctions on Moscow, including an import ban on Russian energy, and whether the EU should aim to become more autonomous. Our special guest is Ukrainian author Andriy Kurkov. He spoke to POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn from western Ukraine after being forced to leave his home in Kyiv. Kurkov says Vladimir Putin is waging a war against Ukrainian culture as well as against the country itself and sets out what he thinks the West should offer in terms of support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we examine China's role in the Ukraine crisis and unpack the latest EU efforts to bring the war to an end. We also hear how organizations like the UN Refugee Agency are supporting Ukrainian refugees. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton brings us up to speed on the latest news from Europe, including another round of EU sanctions and a visit to Kyiv by the prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Sarah is joined by POLITICO's EU-China correspondent Stuart Lau who explains the role that China and its leader Xi Jinping are playing in this war — whether China will provide economic or military support to Russia or try to balance its own interests and side with Western demands. And POLITICO's David Herszenhorn joins from Brussels to analyze how EU and European leaders are managing their wartime roles. Our special guest is Sophie Magennis, head of the policy and legal support unit at UNHCR’s (the UN Refugee Agency) representation for EU affairs in Brussels. Magennis explains the work her orgnization is doing in Ukraine and neighboring European countries. She also discusses the EU's policy response to the needs of over three million refugees who have fled the war in recent weeks. Here's more information from UNHCR on how you can help for those in Belgium and around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we learn how the war in Ukraine is being reported inside Russia and unpack the confusion over whether Poland will supply fighter jets to the Ukrainian government. You'll also hear from Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Latvian PM Krišjānis Kariņš. Reflecting on another tumultuous week, POLITICO's Andrew Gray is joined by Moscow correspondent Eva Hartog, who recounts how Russia has changed dramatically in the space of a few weeks with repressive measures such as a fierce crackdown on independent media. She also describes the messaging coming out of the Kremlin and how it's landing with the Russian population. Andrew is also joined by Chief Europe Correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig, who analyzes the dilemma facing the EU over calls to ban Russian energy imports and unpacks the on-again-off-again saga over whether Poland will send fighter jets to Ukraine. Our special guest is Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. He tells POLITICO's Lili Bayer that Bulgaria should be counted as a full supporter of NATO and EU action against Moscow despite its ties to Russia, but admits some proposed measures would be particularly hard for his country. We also hear from Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš on what he believes is Vladimir Putin's real goal in Ukraine and beyond. Our conversation with him was recorded before the invasion began but this excerpt has stuck with us and remains quite prescient. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this extended episode, we recap and reflect on the week that changed everything, for Europe and the world, after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. We also hear from scholar Dimitar Bechev on Turkey's potential role in this crisis. We begin with a review of the unprecedented flurry of dramatic measures taken by Europe in the past few days in response to Putin's war. Then POLITICO's Andrew Gray is joined by colleagues David M. Herszenhorn, Matthew Karnitschnig and Lili Bayer to reflect on a momentous week and examine potential repercussions yet to come. David also gives us a personal account of his journey out of Ukraine as the war intensified and tells the story of a Ukrainian businessman risking his life to save both family members and strangers. Our special guest is Dimitar Bechev, a lecturer at the Oxford School of Global & Area Studies and expert on Russia and Turkey. He discusses Turkey's potential role as a peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine, and unpacks the themes of his new book, "Turkey Under Erdogan: How a Country Turned from Democracy and the West." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode focuses entirely on Russia's war on Ukraine. We have reporting from inside Ukraine, news of the European response and analysis of the global repercussions. POLITICO's Andrew Gray hears from colleagues David M. Herszenhorn in Ukraine, Matthew Karnitschnig in Berlin and Lili Bayer in Brussels in a conversation broadcast live on Twitter hours after Vladimir Putin launched his massive military attack. POLITICO editor Zoya Sheftalovich joins the podcast to share stories she's hearing from friends and family in Ukraine. Zoya also describes what it was like to handle the news that Putin had declared war on the country in which she spent her childhood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hear from our reporters in Moscow and Kyiv about the continued tensions over Ukraine. Our special guest is Heather Conley, the new president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, on transatlantic ties and relations with Russia. POLITICO's Andrew Gray in Brussels and Matthew Karnitschnig in Berlin are joined by Eva Hartog in Moscow, who explains how Vladimir Putin's domestic messaging on Ukraine is wildly different from what we hear in the West. (You can read Eva's latest reporting on the frustrations of anti-war Russians here.) And POLITICO's Hans von der Burchard calls in from Kyiv, where Unity Day, which was supposed to rally Ukrainians around the flag in the face of Russian aggression, was more like any other day. Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, explains to POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn why she thinks it's time for a new relationship between the U.S. and Europe. She also gives her take on why dialogue may not be enough for the West to reconcile with Putin, and emphasizes the significance of recent joint efforts by Russia and China to limit the scope of NATO — signaling a "major restructuring of the international system." Conley also shared two reading recommendations for our listeners. The first book sheds light on the important historical relationship between George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower. The other reveals more about Vladimir Putin's network and the people who have helped him succeed. And our podcast panel has some recommendations of their own. Eva endorses a book of essays by an expert on the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. Matt goes for a German TV series set in Berlin's Russian underworld. And Andrew recommends the Oscar-nominated Kenneth Branagh movie that's a homage to Northern Ireland's capital city. In this episode, we also recommended the following articles for further reading: "In diplomacy, Europe’s most powerful ambassador means business" by Matt Karnitschnig "Top court clears EU to cut funds over rule-of-law concerns" by Lili Bayer "Europe remembers its forgotten war" by David M. Herszenhorn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Macron in Moscow, Scholz in Washington: How did the French and German leaders do in their diplomatic missions in the midst of the Ukraine crisis? We also get the European Parliament's perspective on the crisis from David McAllister, chair of the foreign affairs committee. POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Matthew Karnitschnig unpack Chancellor Olaf Scholz's trip to Washington and debate whether he did enough to convince allies that Germany will be in lockstep with them if Russia launches a new attack on Ukraine. And POLITICO's Clea Caulcutt cuts through the noise around French President Emmanuel Macron's marathon talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Clea also shares her latest reporting on the presidential election in France, having attended a campaign rally of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who's aiming for a second shot at defeating Macron in a run-off vote. David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, is our special guest. The German Christian Democrat shares his impressions from a recent trip to Ukraine by a delegation of MEPs. He also sets out how he thinks the EU, and its Parliament, should respond to the crisis. McAllister kicks off our weekly round of recommendations for listeners with some sporting inspiration. Clea recommends a book chronicling Macron's presidency. Matt suggests a gritty gangster drama on Netflix. And Andrew recommends comfort viewing with a crafty BBC series that's been described as the best thing on British television and is also something of a tear-jerker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, a tale of two (very different) crises: the Partygate scandal threatening Boris Johnson and the continuing tension over Ukraine. We hear from Estonian PM Kaja Kallas on the latter. And our other guest, former European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, talks geopolitics and trade. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Annabelle Dickson and Matthew Karnitschnig unpack a brutal week for Boris Johnson after a report about lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street leaves him battling for political survival. The panel also discusses the contrasting approaches of Britain and Germany on Ukraine and previews Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Washington. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas speaks to POLITICO's Ryan Heath and David M. Herszenhorn about the Ukraine crisis and gives her perspective on Vladimir Putin's real intentions. Former EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström shares her views on the future of big trade deals and has some sharp words of criticism when it comes to how the EU deals with China and Russia. She also recommends this hefty piece of historical fiction by a Polish Nobel Prize winner. And the podcast crew has some recommendations of their own, this week with a sporting theme to mark the start of the Winter Olympics. Annabelle declares an interest and kicks off with a children's book with an uplifting theme, written by her husband (and fellow journalist). Matt suggests an "eye-opening" book about the history of the Olympics. And Andrew recommends another book delving into Olympic corruption, written by well-known investigative journalist Andrew Jennings, who died last month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take the temperature in the Baltics amid fears of a Russian attack on Ukraine and unpack how the U.K. is handling the crisis. We also talk to conservative Polish MEP Patryk Jaki about his government's clashes with Brussels. POLITICO's Charlie Duxbury joins the podcast panel from Latvia to report on how people in the Baltic nation are dealing with the prospects of a new war in their neighborhood. He's joined by podcast regulars Andrew Gray and Matthew Karnitschnig to explore whether the tension over Ukraine is moving traditionally neutral Sweden and Finland closer to NATO membership. Our U.K. political correspondent Annabelle Dickson unpacks Boris Johnson's strategy when it comes to Ukraine and how party scandals surrounding the PM may be playing into things. Our special guest is Patryk Jaki, a conservative member of the European Parliament from Poland. Jaki spoke to POLITICO's Jan Cienski about how he got his start in politics, as well as rule-of-law concerns and Poland's approach to climate change. Asked for viewing and reading recommendations for our listeners, Jaki picked this Karate Kid sequel on Netflix, as well as this spiritual biography of an American conservative political icon. The podcast crew also has a few tips of their own. Matt marks a somber date in history with a film recommendation. Charlie picks a Danish crime thriller that's not for the faint-hearted. Andrew promises this Tartan Noir crime novel will keep you guessing in more ways than one. And Annabelle is wrapping up this BBC podcast on the rise of extremism in modern America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roberta Metsola, the new president of the European Parliament, is our special guest. We also unpack French President Emmanuel Macron's appearance in the European Parliament and share suggestions for Angela Merkel's next job. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig analyze Macron's big speech and the subsequent debate with MEPs in Strasbourg, which turned into a domestic French political brawl. For a fun alternative take on Macron's speech, you can read this POLITICO piece on what the French president wouldn't say and why. The podcast crew also discusses the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis and Macron's vision for European security. And after Angela Merkel turned down an offer to lead a U.N. advisory board on global public goods, we have other ideas for gigs that the former German chancellor might enjoy. Our special guest is the newly-elected President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. The Maltese MEP spoke to POLITICO's Maïa de La Baume just after the vote on Tuesday. Metsola talks about why she got into politics, how she addresses criticism of her anti-abortion views and what she hopes to achieve over the coming years. She also shares some book recommendations including this behind-the-scenes account of the Obama presidency, written by one of his long-time aides, and this audiobook on life and leadership from a renowned American statesman and four-star general. The podcast crew also has some recommendations for your leisure time. Rym is pumped to recommend this athletic documentary series out of Texas. Matt is ready to rumble with a documentary about one of the world's greatest sporting showdowns, which was also the subject of some reporting by Andrew in a previous journalistic life. For his part, Andrew recommends this Aussie-based BBC drama series about a traveler who can't remember who he is. Finally, as mentioned in the podcast, do be sure to check out our package on the European Parliament's mid-season report card. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The coronavirus wave engulfing Europe and the West's standoff with Russia over Ukraine both feature in this episode. We also reflect on the legacy of European Parliament President David Sassoli, who died earlier this week. Russian and Western officials held a series of meetings this week to address fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chief Brussels Correspondent David M. Herszenhorn, who's been in Geneva and at NATO headquarters this week to cover the talks, updates POLITICO's Andrew Gray on what we've learned and where things go from here. We also reflect on the life and political legacy of David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament, who died earlier this week at the age of 65. POLITICO's European Parliament reporter Maïa de La Baume tells us how the Italian social democrat is being remembered as a person and as a politician. She also shares her own memories of covering Sassoli over the years. Our special guest is Walter Ricciardi, professor of public health at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome and scientific adviser to Italy's health minister. He tells POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton what he thinks European politicians should do to get us back to some semblance of normalcy. He also describes what it's like serving as a public figure at the intersection of science and politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We look at the big stories we expect to shape 2022 and suggest a few New Year’s resolutions for European politicians — and DOT Europe Director General Siada El Ramly talks EU tech policy. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig, Sarah Wheaton and David M. Herszenhorn discuss the stories they believe will drive the European political agenda this year — including political fallout from the pandemic, presidential elections in France and escalating tensions with Russia at the Ukrainian border. Our special guest is DOT Europe's Siada El Ramly who discusses her organization's lobbying efforts on the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to tighten oversight of online content, with POLITICO tech reporter Clothilde Goujard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast crew, Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Cristina Gonzalez, present audio clips that sum up some of the big stories of the year — in a conversation recorded at a (virtual) gathering of EU Confidential listeners, who also feature in the episode. And with Christmas approaching, we look at the role of Jesus in modern politics. POLITICO's Jacopo Barigazzi walks us through his reporting on where Christian values fit in the political landscape and why some politicians are so keen to claim them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Angela Merkel bows out after 16 years, we focus this episode on Germany's new government and its chancellor, Olaf Scholz. We also debate the growing use of "Denglish" — a hybrid of German and English — among politicians. POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Matthew Karnitschnig explore expectations for the new government, particularly on foreign policy. And we feature some highlights from a live Twitter Spaces discussion among POLITICO reporters: Florian Eder and Hans von der Burchard look at how the coalition will tackle big EU issues and reveal some key behind-the-scenes operators in the chancellery. Then we broaden the lens to all of Europe and get the inside scoop from Senior Reporter Joshua Posaner on POLITICO's new list of the 28 most powerful people shaping Europe. You can read the full list here and watch the P28 event, which included interviews with Frans Timmermans, executive vice president for the European Green Deal at the European Commission, and with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization. Our special guest is German language critic Peter Littger, whose latest book on the Denglish phenomenon is "Hello in the round!" He discusses the pervasive use of this hybrid of German and English among politicians and the impact it has on society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week: the Omicron variant and its impact on Europe's coronavirus response, our editor-in-chief on China's approach to Europe and Amnesty International's boss on EU emergency migration measures. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Sarah Wheaton break down Europe's response to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the debate over making vaccines mandatory and the prospects for winter as cases continue to rise. Making his podcast debut is our new Editor-in-Chief, Jamil Anderlini, who spent most of his career in Asia before making the leap to Brussels. He shares fascinating insights into China's view of Europe, the changes to the country he has seen under Xi Jinping and potential future flashpoints between Beijing and the West. Agnès Callamard, the secretary-general of Amnesty International, is our special guest. She spoke with POLITICO's Hans von der Burchard during a trip to Brussels this week, just as the European Commission was unveiling new measures related to the arrival of refugees and migrants on the EU's border with Belarus. Programming note: The EU Confidential crew is hosting virtual holiday drinks on Monday, December 13 at 7 p.m. CET. It's a chance to meet the people behind the podcast, ask your questions and be a part of a live taping of our end-of-year show! If you'd like to join via Zoom, email us at [email protected] for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, France's Europe minister Clément Beaune and Dutch political theorist and author Luuk van Middelaar all feature in this episode. Plus, we dive into Germany's new government. POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig has the details on the coalition agreement struck this week between Germany's Social Democrats, Greens and liberals. Matt also brings us an exclusive interview with Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg about his plans for Europe’s first compulsory coronavirus vaccine law. Also this week, Rym Momtaz and Brussels Playbook co-author Jakob Hanke Vela spoke with Clément Beaune, France's secretary of state for European affairs. In the podcast, Beaune addresses how France will try to balance a presidential election in April with its presidency of the Council of the EU, which begins in January. He also responds to the latest fishing row between the U.K. and the EU. You can watch the full POLITICO Live interview here. We hear too from Luuk van Middelaar, the Dutch political theorist and former EU official who is also the author of an acclaimed series of books on the European Union. In conversation with POLITICO's Andrew Gray, van Middelaar walks us through the ups and downs of the EU's pandemic response, as described in his new book: "Pandemonium." He also addresses the growing tensions within the EU over the rule of law and democratic norms. And finally, back in January, we introduced you to Dutch documentary filmmaker Nadine van Loon, who was working on a film called "Notes from Brussels" — chronicling the struggles of people, particularly women, trying to thrive both personally and professionally in the so-called "EU bubble." After she appeared on the podcast, Nadine secured crowdfunding to finish the film, which will be showing at the Cinema Galeries in Brussels next month. You can find more details here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we get the American perspective on European strategic autonomy and other issues facing the EU from Derek Chollet, the top adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We also unpack the dramatic denouement of the COP26 climate conference. POLITICO's Senior Climate Correspondent Karl Mathiesen takes us inside the final day of the climate negotiations and the dramatic showdown over coal. In conversation with POLITICO's Chief Policy Correspondent Sarah Wheaton, Karl brings us exclusive audio from the conference and explains how a last-minute push by the world's biggest carbon emitters to "phase down" rather than "phase out" coal power put the entire agreement in jeopardy. Then we hear from Derek Chollet, a foreign policy expert and top adviser to the U.S. secretary of state. POLITICO’s Chief Brussels Correspondent David Herszenhorn caught up with Chollet in Brussels this week. They start with a conversation on the main focus of his trip to Europe, a flare-up of tensions is Bosnia, and then tackle the migration crisis at the border of Belarus and Poland, EU enlargement and America’s thinking on European strategy autonomy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we discuss Europe's coronavirus resurgence and the escalating migration crisis at the Polish border. Plus, we hear exclusively from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen on the EU's efforts to rein in Big Tech. As coronavirus cases soar across Europe and vaccine hesitancy lingers, POLITICO's Health Care Editor Doug Busvine and Health Care Reporter Ashleigh Furlong explain how Europe got to this point and what options officials are considering to stem the tide — especially as winter approaches. Temperatures are also dropping at the border between Poland and Belarus, where tensions intensified this week. Thousands of migrants are trapped on the frontier between the two countries, and at least nine people have died. POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig speaks to Gerald Knaus, migration expert and co-founder of the European Stability Initiative, about the EU's options for diffusing the situation and finding a more permanent solution. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is our special guest. She spoke to POLITICO's Chief Technology Correspondent Mark Scott during her trip to Brussels, where she also testified in the European Parliament this week. Haugen addresses the risks of being a whistleblower and why she believes the European Union is primed to take on Big Tech companies to better police harmful online content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The COP26 climate talks, a top European tech entrepreneur and a return to the question of whether the EU is funny all feature in this week's episode. POLITICO's Karl Mathiesen joins Andrew Gray and the podcast panel from the press tent at COP26 in Glasgow with the latest insights into what is, and isn't, being accomplished. Also in Glasgow, POLITICO's Esther Webber gives us the lowdown on how Boris Johnson and his government are faring as the host and whether he's playing nice with Scottish leaders. And POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig in Berlin tells us how green the next German government could be. Then we move on to another big event taking place in Europe this week: Web Summit in Portugal. Ahead of the global tech gathering, POLITICO's Pieter Haeck sat down with one of Europe's most successful start-up founders, John Collison. The Irish native co-founded Stripe, an online payments platform, along with his brother, Patrick, a decade ago — and the company is now valued at $95 billion. He spoke to Pieter about the EU's start-up scene, how it differs from the United States and what he thinks policymakers can do to foster a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in Europe. Finally, we return to a super-serious issue we tackled on the podcast earlier in the year: Is the EU funny? POLITICO's Paul Dallison tells us about the birth of a new EU institution — a monthly Brussels comedy night called The Schuman Show — that came about partly as a result of that episode of EU Confidential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We preview two big weekend events: the G20 summit and the start of COP26 climate talks. We also discuss liberalism and its current struggles with British author and journalist Ian Dunt. POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn joins Andrew Gray to lay out what G20 leaders in Rome hope to achieve on everything from COVID-19 to climate change. He also delves into who will and — maybe more interestingly — won't be attending. Many of those leaders will make their way to Scotland to continue their conversations on climate. POLITICO's Senior Climate Correspondent Karl Mathiesen tells us what we should and shouldn't expect at the COP26 in Glasgow. (You can keep updated with every twist and turn of the conference by subscribing to our POLITICO Energy and Climate newsletter, which is usually only for our Pro subscribers but will be available for free during the two-week conference.) Our reporter in Scotland, Andrew McDonald, gives us a taste of the troubles plaguing Glasgow — over everything from trash to trains — as it prepares to host tens of thousands of people in the coming weeks. He also explores how both the Scottish and U.K. governments plan to handle the conference — and their prickly relationship with each other. Then we turn to special guest Ian Dunt, who talks about the past, present and future of liberalism, along with other issues raised by his latest book: "How To Be A Liberal: The Story of Freedom and the Fight for its Survival." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk to Péter Márki-Zay, the man chosen by Hungarian opposition parties to take on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Also in this episode, we have an update on the EU's rule-of-law battle and get you up to speed on talks to form a new German government. As EU leaders gathered in Brussels to discuss everything from energy to trade, they couldn't escape another topic dominating the headlines: the recent Polish court ruling that challenged the legal bedrock of their union. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz joins Andrew Gray to explain how the ruling is being used by mainstream candidates vying to be the next French president to bash the bloc and assert France's national sovereignty. And POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig brings us the latest on efforts to form a new German government by the center-left Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats. Then we meet Péter Márki-Zay, selected by an alliance of opposition parties in Hungary to be their candidate for prime minister in a parliamentary election next spring. POLITICO's Lili Bayer caught up with Márki-Zay at a campaign rally in Budapest. You can always send feedback or ideas directly to the podcast team at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the agenda this week: The EU's plans to tackle soaring energy prices, Sebastian Kurz's resignation as Austrian chancellor and a Polish challenge to the primacy of EU law. POLITICO's Zosia Wanat joins Andrew Gray to explain a bombshell decision by a top Polish court, which rejected the primacy of EU law over the national constitution in key areas. Zosia explains why it's a big, big deal and explores the repercussions for Warsaw and the EU. Rule-of-law reporter Lili Bayer talks through the EU's possible responses. Zosia also reports on an effort by Poland and Hungary to get the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to strike down a new measure that allows the EU to cut off funds to countries considered to be breaching the rule of law. In Vienna, POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig speaks with independent Austrian analyst Thomas Hofer about Sebastian Kurz's resignation as chancellor amidst stunning corruption allegations. We dive into the details of the scandal, as well as its implications for Austria and Europe's conservatives. And finally, energy prices are top of mind for Europeans struggling to pay record-high bills. POLITICO's Aitor Hernández-Morales explains the causes of the price surge and unpacks the European Commission's plan to help the bloc address the crisis. You can send feedback or ideas directly to the podcast team at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week: The EU's place in the world — and the Western Balkans' place in the EU. And we dive deep into the murky world EU lobbying. POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn and Lili Bayer join Andrew Gray from Slovenia, where EU leaders met for a dinner discussion about the bloc's role on the international stage and held a summit with their Western Balkan counterparts. David talks us through what French President Emmanuel Macron told him about whether France and the United States can patch things up after a big blow-up over a scuppered submarine deal. Lili and David also discuss the divisions within the EU over letting Western Balkan countries into the club and the region's frustrations with the bloc. And Lili outlines a recent in-depth story she and POLITICO's Zosia Wanat published about concerns that the EU's enlargement commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi of Hungary, has been favoring Serbia’s EU bid and playing down democracy concerns, according to officials and internal documents. Then we turn things over to our Chief Technology Correspondent Mark Scott, who brings us up to speed on his series of investigations into European politics news sites that promoted the interests of governments, companies and wealthy individuals without disclosing connections to them. The first story looks at Brussels news outlet EU Reporter and its blend of reporting and political advocacy, where it's often been impossible for readers to tell which is which. The second examines EU Reporter’s relationship with Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant. And the most recent article examines the wider web of individuals within the Brussels Bubble who blur the lines between journalism and pushing the agendas of commercial clients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dive into the aftermath of the German election and take a closer look at Olaf Scholz, the favorite to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor. We also unpack a new push by the EU and the U.S. to agree a common rulebook on tech and trade. Following Sunday's German election, POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Matthew Karnitschnig get you up to speed on the talks in Berlin about forming the next government. And Brussels Playbook co-author Suzanne Lynch discusses how the outcome is going down with EU policymakers, and what questions they still have about Germany post-Merkel. Olaf Scholz is in pole position to lead the next government after his Social Democrats came first in the election. But just who is he? Our Executive Producer Cristina Gonzalez caught up with Der Spiegel journalist Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin to shed light on the politician and the person. Also, Chief Technology Correspondent Mark Scott, author of POLITICO's weekly Digital Bridge newsletter, has the latest on Wednesday's inaugural meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council in Pittsburgh. Mark explains why the council is such a big deal and breaks down where the two sides stand on the key issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special show from Berlin, the POLITICO team analyzes Germany's cliffhanger election, gauges the mood in the different camps, and explores how coalition talks may play out. POLITICO's Andrew Gray brings you up to speed on the latest projected results, which show the Social Democrats have a narrow lead over the conservative CDU/CSU alliance. But it's still wide open whether the SPD's Olaf Scholz or the CDU/CSU's Armin Laschet will succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor. It will all come down to who can form a coalition, likely with the Greens and Free Democrats. Our reporters in Berlin, including Joshua Posaner, Hans von der Burchard, Laurenz Gehrke and Annette Nöstlinger, take us inside the parties' election-night events and give us a flavor of the mood there. And POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig, Florian Eder and Emily Schultheis analyze the results, exploring what they say about the direction of German politics and the implications for the European Union. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We explore the defining moments of the German election campaign and debate the security-and-submarine deal between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom that enraged France. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig and Emily Schultheis are in Berlin for the big one, Sunday's German general election, which will bring down the curtain on the Angela Merkel era. They're joined by our in-house polling expert Cornelius Hirsch to the tell story of a surprising campaign that's gone down to the wire: The center-left Social Democrats, with their chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz, have a narrow lead over the conservative camp and their standard-bearer Armin Laschet but it's too close to call. Then we turn to AUKUS, the three-way pact that scuppered a multibillion-dollar French submarine deal with Australia, provoking fury in Paris and triggering transatlantic turbulence. POLITICO's Zoya Sheftalovich joins us from Sydney to explain why Australia went from agreeing to buy French diesel-fueled submarines to holding secret talks to replace that deal with a nuclear-powered fleet. Rym Momtaz and David M. Herszenhorn talk through the diplomatic fallout from the move. Finally, set a reminder to join us for a live Twitter audio chat on the German election results this Sunday at 10 p.m. CET. We'll be analyzing the outcome and getting a flavor of the mood among the parties. That discussion will be the basis for a special episode of EU Confidential, which will drop into your feed early Monday morning. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ursula von der Leyen's State of the European Union address and the closing stages of the race to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor are our two big topics this week. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig bring us up to speed on the German election, which is now just over a week away. It's turning into a two-man race between Olaf Scholz, the candidate for the Social Democrats (SPD) who is now in the lead, and conservative Armin Laschet. But will talk of the SPD teaming up with more radical left-wing forces give Germans pause when considering their vote for the center-left party? We also take an early look at next spring's French presidential election, with a number of candidates already throwing their hats into the ring. Then we turn to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The annual set-piece moment gives Commission chiefs the chance to tout their successes and set out priorities for the next year. How did von der Leyen's speech stack up? POLITICO's team has the full analysis, starting with a dispatch from Strasbourg from Maïa de La Baume and Suzanne Lynch. Then David M. Herszenhorn addresses von der Leyen's remarks on Afghanistan and her push for greater European defense capabilities. Sarah Wheaton clarifies where the Commission president rightfully has bragging rights when it comes to the pandemic response and where she fell short. Paola Tamma takes stock of Europe's economic recovery efforts. And Karl Mathiesen and Clothilde Goujard take on two of von der Leyen's biggest legislative priorities: climate and digitization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The German election campaign's impact on EU policymakers is up for debate this week. And European Council on Foreign Relations director Mark Leonard talks about his new book, "The Age of Unpeace." Suzanne Lynch and Jakob Hanke Vela, the new authors of our flagship Brussels Playbook newsletter, introduce themselves to our podcast audience. They join POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Rym Momtaz to discuss how the Brussels bubble is looking at the German election. And they ask why chancellor candidates Armin Laschet and Olaf Scholz took time off from the campaign trail to visit French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris this week. Be sure to subscribe to our Germany Election Playbook for daily news and analysis from the campaign. Our special guest is Mark Leonard, founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. He discusses his new book, "The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict" with our executive producer Cristina Gonzalez. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We debate whether Afghanistan's collapse moves the needle in Europe's long-running dilemma over building up its own military power. Plus, we have a discussion on a new form of loneliness among younger generations in Europe. There's a back-to-school vibe in Brussels, and POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and David M. Herszenhorn break down the main topic still dominating the agenda: the turmoil in Afghanistan and the implications for Europe, particularly in terms of its military power and place in the world. Then we hear from Diana Kinnert, an activist and politician from Germany's center-right Christian Democrats, who speaks to POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton about her book on loneliness. Kinnert, who's 30, contends there's a new type of loneliness plaguing her generation — which can have long-term impacts on public health, business and politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the withdrawal of western forces from Afghanistan, the EU is confronting renewed questions about its asylum policy. We also look at the state of the global economy, as well as Europe's coronavirus battle. POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig is joined by Jacopo Barigazzi and Zosia Wanat to discuss the EU's renewed migration debate. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, along with Belarus intentionally sending migrants across its borders with EU countries, is forcing European officials to confront the bloc's failure to come up with a coherent migration policy. Matt then speaks with U.S. economist Joseph Stiglitz on the sidelines of the European Forum Alpbach about the state of the global economy and how Europe's recovery efforts stack up. Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency, is also a special guest in this episode. She recently spoke with POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton about Europe's coronavirus battle, vaccines and her own background. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices