EU Confidential
401 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago -EU Confidential is a weekly European news and politics podcast published every Friday by POLITICO Europe. Each 30-minute episode features POLITICO’s analysis of the top stories driving EU politics, as well as notable guests shaping European policy and deep-dive stories from around the Continent. It’s hosted by Sarah Wheaton, POLITICO’s chief policy correspondent, who is joined by reporters from around Europe. Discover our show notes for EU Confidential here: https://www.politico.eu/eu-confidential-podcast/
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Episodes
EU commissioner resigns — Bulgaria's breaking point — European elections 2024
May 18, 2023 14:00 - 32 minutes - 37.2 MBThis week, we dive into the political upheaval in Bulgaria and the resignation of the country's EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. And we begin our spotlight series on the European Parliament, as the dates for elections next year are finalized. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by Christian Oliver, POLITICO's head of news, and Antoaneta Roussi, our cybersecurity reporter and Bulgaria expert. They reveal how Bulgaria’s mafia state is reaching its breaking point and why these rapid political changes ...
The end of Erdoğan? — Turkey's EU accession ambitions — Europe Day
May 11, 2023 15:00 - 29 minutes - 34.2 MBThis week, the focus is on Turkey and what's at stake in elections happening May 14. We also hear from British writer and scholar Hugh Pope, who has written extensively on modern Turkey and tackles the long-standing issue of EU accession. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO's Head of News Christian Oliver and Turkish journalist Elçin Poyrazlar. They discuss tensions on the ground as election day approaches and the possible fall-out should incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lose. ...
POLITICO reviews ‘The Diplomat’ — Meloni surprises Brussels — The key to Ukraine's victory
May 04, 2023 15:41 - 33 minutes - 38.4 MBAs the EU defense industry gets the green light to ramp up ammunitions production, we hear from former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe Ben Hodges on why Crimea holds the key to a Ukrainian victory. We also ask why Giorgia Meloni's far-right government in Italy is struggling to spend EU recovery funds in time — yes, you read that right, and find out what European diplomats think of Netflix series “The Diplomat.” This week our host, Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO's Senior EU Repor...
Timothy Garton Ash on the future of Europe — Eva Kaili back in the spotlight
April 27, 2023 15:30 - 31 minutes - 36.8 MB"We have created the best Europe there has ever been" — so says Timothy Garton Ash, this week's special guest. Meanwhile, former vice president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, is fighting more criminal allegations, this time for a kickback scheme involving four of her former assistants and approximately €100,000. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO's politics reporter, Eddy Wax, who has been following the saga of Greek MEP Kaili since her arrest late last year in the Qatargate s...
Ukraine grain strain — Von der Leyen 2.0 — EU diplomacy in review
April 20, 2023 18:05 - 33 minutes - 38.7 MBWe're back from a break and straight into tackling the geopolitical tensions that underlie a sudden ban on Ukraine's grain exports by neighboring Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. We also discuss Ursula von der Leyen's recent visit to Germany where she has been assured of the support of her Christian Democrat party, should she try for a second term as Commission president. And we hear from the EU's first high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton, as she looks ...
Finland joins NATO — Ukraine foreign minister in Brussels — EU's China visit
April 06, 2023 17:25 - 28 minutes - 33.1 MBThis week, Finland joins NATO while Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, joins us here in the POLITICO studio to talk about his own country's NATO ambitions. We also follow EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron's China visit as they meet Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. Our host, Suzanne Lynch, is joined this week by POLITICO's EU-China Correspondent Stuart Lau, co-author of our recently relaunched China Watcher newsletter. We also hear from our Senior Fra...
France & Germany on strike – Commission Legal Chief, Daniel Calleja Crespo
March 30, 2023 14:55 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThe worst strikes and protests in decades bring both France and Germany to a standstill this week. Is this just the beginning of Europe’s cost of living crisis? Our special guest is Director General of the Commission Legal services, Daniel Calleja. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO’s Senior France Correspondent, Clea Caulcutt and Chief Europe Correspondent, Matt Karnitschnig to delve into the forces driving unrest in France following President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms. They ...
Economic jitters, French upheaval, arms for Ukraine — what’s occupying EU leaders
March 23, 2023 19:30 - 27 minutes - 31.9 MBComing to you from this week’s European Council summit in Brussels, competitiveness and the economy are high on the agenda, alongside a historic EU agreement for joint arms procurement. We also discuss French President Emanuel Macron’s plummeting popularity ratings at home, and Franco-German wrangling over nuclear energy and e-fuels. Taking us through all this and more is host Suzanne Lynch, along with POLITICO’s Jacopo Barigazzi, Clea Caulcutt and Barbara Moens. We then hear from the CEO ...
Das Auto debate — Activist Bill Browder on Russia's political prisoners
March 16, 2023 15:47 - 32 minutes - 37.7 MBWe debate Germany's last-minute effort to derail EU plans to end the sale of combustion engines by 2035. And our special guest is author and activist Bill Browder, discussing how the EU can take a stronger stance on punishing human rights violators. The EU wants to ban the sale of new combustion-engine vehicles by 2035, but the policy isn't going down well with German lawmakers keen to protect the country's behemoth car industry. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO's Joshua Posaner and...
Viktor Orbán's political director — Sponsored flight flap — VDL meets Biden
March 09, 2023 17:10 - 30 minutes - 35 MBThis week, we debate a controversy over travel rules for top EU officials and unpack what the European Commission president is hoping to achieve during her visit to North America. Our special guest is Balázs Orbán, political director to the Hungarian prime minister (no relation to his boss). Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO's Mari Eccles and Karl Mathiesen to discuss a big story dominating the Brussels bubble involving paid travel by a top EU bureaucrat to Qatar while negotiating a ...
New EU-UK chapter — VDL meets the king — Decoding Brussels-speak
March 02, 2023 15:55 - 29 minutes - 33.8 MBThis week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met King Charles III at Windsor Castle after a deal was sealed on a long-awaited solution to the post-Brexit trade row over Northern Ireland. Host Suzanne Lynch in Brussels is joined by Ailbhe Rea, co-host of our sister podcast Westminster Insider, and a special guest — the EU's final British Commissioner, Julian King — to discuss this latest chapter in the Brexit saga and where the EU-U.K. relationship goes from here. We also he...
Russia's war in Ukraine, one year on: How Europe has changed
February 23, 2023 15:14 - 33 minutes - 38.2 MBAs we approach the one year mark of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU Confidential crew chronicles the historic policy shifts in the EU and European capitals with the help of Bulgarian political scientist, Ivan Krastev. Host Suzanne Lynch discusses the seismic changes in Europe over the past year with Ivan Krastev, chairman of the Center for Liberal Strategies in Sofia and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. Then POLITICO's Veronika Melkozerova i...
VDL's texts — MEPs arrested — Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe
February 16, 2023 16:47 - 30 minutes - 35.5 MBThis week, we unpack some of the transparency issues plaguing the EU's top institutions, and our special guest is Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe on Europe's economic outlook. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO's European Parliament reporter Eddy Wax in Strasbourg, to discuss the ongoing Qatargate scandal — including the arrest in the past few days of two more MEPs in connection with the police probe. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton in Brussels also weighs in on the proposal to create an...
Zelenskyy in Brussels: the worst-kept secret in town — EU leaders on migration
February 09, 2023 17:20 - 24 minutes - 28.5 MBComing to you during Thursday's meeting of EU leaders, we discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's (not so) surprise visit to Brussels, as well as other topics on the agenda: migration and Europe's response to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act. On the sidelines of the European Council in Brussels, host Suzanne Lynch sits down with POLITICO's Clea Caulcutt, Barbara Moens and Jacopo Barigazzi to analyze the impact of Zelenskyy's visit to Brussels, which became the source of controvers...
EU-Ukraine summit — Fighter jets? — Moldovan President Maia Sandu
February 02, 2023 15:48 - 28 minutes - 32.4 MBAll eyes are on Ukraine as the EU's top officials visit Kyiv for a historic summit — the first to be held in an active war zone. And Moldovan President Maia Sandu is our special guest. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by POLITICO's Veronika Melkozerova in Kyiv and Matthew Karnitschnig in Berlin to discuss what we can expect from the visit by EU leaders to the Ukrainian capital — including whether sending Ukraine fighter jets is now part of the discussion and if Ukraine's prospects for joining t...
Scholz's tanks for your assistance — EU finance chief Mairead McGuinness: Crypto is like 'a religion'
January 26, 2023 14:54 - 27 minutes - 31.6 MBOur POLITICO team has the inside scoop on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's long-awaited decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and how it's landing internationally. Also, our special guest is Mairead McGuinness, the EU's financial services commissioner. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch is joined by Chief Europe Correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig and Hans von der Burchard, our senior politics reporter covering the German chancellery. They break down Scholz's decision to send tanks to Ukraine (al...
From Davos: Tanks to Ukraine — Irish PM Leo Varadkar — EU-US trade fight
January 19, 2023 18:30 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBThe EU Confidential crew takes you inside this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where the world's rich and powerful are gathered. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch, Ryan Heath, Erin Banco and Alex Ward unpack the big speeches on Wednesday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The team discusses the latest on international efforts to send tanks to Ukraine, and we hear from Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on this issue. Lookin...
Director Oliver Stone talks nuclear power — EU economy chief Paolo Gentiloni
January 19, 2023 04:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBIt's Thursday morning and today we bring you bumper editions from Davos with our final episode of the week landing later this evening. In this episode, POLITICO Europe's Editor-in-Chief Jamil Anderlini sits down with Academy Award-winning film director Oliver Stone to discuss his new documentary, "Nuclear." Jamil and Oliver are joined by Joshua Goldstein, author of the book which inspired the film, "A Bright Future." The live conversation took place at the Blockchain Hub, at the World Econo...
EU-US subsidy spat — Senator Joe Manchin — Diane von Furstenberg on Equality
January 18, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBIt's Wednesday, and we're back with another episode from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch, Alex Ward and Jakob Hanke Vela reveal the on-the-ground EU-U.S. subsidy spat playing out here in Davos. We analyze European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's speech at the WEF, where she announced the EU's policy response to compete with Washington's subsidy spree. And Alex speaks to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, who played an instrumental role in passing ...
Pessimistic CEOs — WEF after Klaus Schwab — Crypto trust deficit
January 17, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 20.3 MBAs the World Economic Forum gets underway, we dive into the stories everyone is talking about on the Magic Mountain. POLITICO's Jakob Hanke Vela sits down with PwC Global Chairman Bob Moritz to discuss the findings from their global CEO survey — most CEOs are more pessimistic than they've been in over a decade about the economic growth outlook in the next year. Then host Suzanne Lynch discusses the future of the World Economic Forum with POLITICO's Ryan Heath. He has spoken to dozens of pe...
POLITICO's World Economic Forum guide — Richard Edelman on trust
January 16, 2023 04:05 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBFrom Davos, Switzerland, the POLITICO crew unpacks the big global issues facing businesses, governments and international organizations as top leaders gather for this year's World Economic Forum. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by Ryan Heath, Erin Banco and Alex Ward to debate which issues are likely to dominate over the coming days — everything from recession concerns to climate and crypto. The veterans on our crew also reveal their top tips for surviving the dizzying week atop the magic moun...
From Stockholm: Sweden shifts right on crime and migration — EU Council captaincy
January 12, 2023 17:00 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThis week, the EU Confidential crew travels to Stockholm to examine Sweden's domestic political challenges such as migration, crime and climate — and we dive into the country's priorities as it takes on the presidency of the Council of the EU. Host Suzanne Lynch meets POLITICO's Stockholm Correspondent Charlie Duxbury in the Swedish Parliament to discuss the country's latest election. It resulted in a conservative coalition government that relies, controversially, on support from the far-ri...
2023 crystal ball — Qatargate update — Slovenian PM Robert Golob
January 05, 2023 18:02 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MBIt's a bumper edition to start the new year as we look ahead to the big stories likely to dominate the EU's agenda in 2023. POLITICO's top policy reporters Barbara Moens, Mark Scott, Charlie Cooper and Karl Mathiesen join host Suzanne Lynch to break down the EU's biggest challenges this year when it comes to climate, technology, energy and trade. Then our Editor at Large Nick Vinocur explores the broader geopolitical outlook as Russia's war in Ukraine continues. At home, he predicts a heate...
EU rocked by Qatar corruption scandal — 2022 highlights
December 15, 2022 12:36 - 44 minutes - 41.3 MBOur final episode of 2022 is a bumper edition featuring the latest news and analysis of the Qatar corruption scandal centering around the European Parliament — and we look back on the incredible news year that was 2022. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch is joined by Sarah Wheaton, Barbara Moens and Ali Walker to unpack the who, what, when, and where of the corruption scandal linked to Qatar. There have been arrests in Belgium and Italy over the past days — notably nabbing European Parliament Vice Pr...
From Tirana: Western Balkan bid — Author Misha Glenny — City of spies
December 08, 2022 16:15 - 24 minutes - 28.9 MBThis week's episode comes to you from the Albanian capital of Tirana where EU leaders met with Western Balkan hopefuls. And we dive into the fascinating world of spies operating in Brussels. Host Suzanne Lynch brings us up to speed on the EU's latest efforts to woo Western Balkan countries that want to become members of the bloc at a first-of-its-kind summit in the region. EU officials are increasingly concerned about the influence of Russia and China in the countries on the bloc's doorstep...
Brewing EU-US trade war — Ukraine FM Dmytro Kuleba — Future of Europe
December 01, 2022 16:56 - 25 minutes - 23.9 MBThis week, we debate simmering industrial tensions in the EU over a new U.S. law. We also get an update on the situation in Ukraine, including from Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and discuss Europe's future ahead of a big event in Brussels this Friday to consider citizen's suggestions for how to improve the EU. Host Suzanne Lynch is joined by Senior Trade Correspondent Barbara Moens and Editor at Large Nick Vinocur to debate rising EU concerns about a new U.S. law, the Inflation Reduction ...
Brussels' Twitter headache — Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko — EU 'Superstate'
November 24, 2022 17:47 - 33 minutes - 38.5 MBThis week, we debate how Europe is grappling with Twitter since Elon Musk took the helm. We hear from Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and discuss a new book about the EU's "Superstate" status. Sarah Wheaton, author of POLITICO's EU Influence newsletter, hosts this episode. She's joined by Technology and Competition Editor Aoife White and Editor at Large Nick Vinocur to chew over the Brussels bubble's reliance on Twitter — as questions swirl about the social media platform's future. They also di...
G20 summit digested — Viktor Orbán's authoritarian journey
November 17, 2022 18:52 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBThe annual gathering of G20 leaders in Bali, Indonesia was overshadowed by a deadly incident in Poland. A missile struck a village close to the border with Ukraine, killing two people. The origin of the missile was initially unclear, but it prompted crisis meetings among leaders and fears of military escalation. In this week's show, we analyze reactions in Europe and around the world. POLITICO's Jan Cienski joins host Suzanne Lynch in the studio with the latest information on what happened ...
COP27 and Europe's climate role — A new Cold War?
November 10, 2022 19:09 - 35 minutes - 40.8 MBOn this week's episode, host Suzanne Lynch in Brussels speaks with Karl Mathiesen, POLITICO's senior climate correspondent, at the COP27 climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. And we discuss whether we are entering a new Cold War with historian and author Professor Mary Sarotte. Karl explains the goals of the ongoing U.N. climate diplomacy jamboree and the impact geopolitics is having on achieving global climate targets. We also hear exclusively from Alok Sharma, the U.K.'s COP26 pre...
Europe braces for US mid-term elections
November 03, 2022 16:21 - 29 minutes - 34.1 MBAs Americans head to the polls next week, we dive into transatlantic relations and the impact these elections could have on European policy and relations with Washington. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch in Brussels and Ryan Heath in Washington break down the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections. They pick out the important races to watch and discuss how a shift in the balance of power in Congress could change the course of policies impacting Europe, particularly support for Ukraine. And senior trade c...
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg — Commissioner Věra Jourová on EU media freedom
October 27, 2022 16:01 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBThis week, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discusses how the war in Ukraine has shaped the military alliance. We also dig into the EU's proposed law to protect media freedom and debate the controversy surrounding Germany's relationship with China. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sits down with POLITICO's Lili Bayer at NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss how the war in Ukraine has shaped the alliance and European defense. Also in this episode, host Suzanne Lynch speaks to Europea...
Live from EU leaders meeting on energy, Ukraine and China
October 21, 2022 05:49 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBThis week's episode comes to you from the heart of the European Quarter in Brussels, where the 27 EU leaders are meeting once again for a European Council. Host Suzanne Lynch and our POLITICO team, Hans von der Burchard and Clea Caulcutt, unpack what's at stake during these discussions, including the latest efforts to quell rising energy costs and address supply challenges as a result of the war in Ukraine. We'll also dive into the latest on what Europe is doing to support Ukraine militari...
Putin's escalation — Western Balkan migration concerns — Food security update
October 13, 2022 15:15 - 36 minutes - 42 MBIn this episode, POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch breaks down the reaction to Russia's recent escalation in Ukraine with an update from NATO headquarters. We also dive into growing concerns about irregular migration into the European Union and get an update on the global food crisis. Vladimir Putin's recent nuclear threats and bombardment of civilian targets in Ukraine are forcing Western leaders to prepare for a grueling new phase of the war. POLITICO's Lili Bayer brings us NATO's reaction from a ...
From Prague: The European Political Community is here
October 07, 2022 01:06 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBThis week's EU Confidential comes to you from Prague Castle, where leaders of the EU's 27 countries held a historic meeting with well over a dozen other nearby countries, including the United Kingdom, Turkey and Ukraine, among others. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch and our team on the ground, Clea Caulcutt and Hans von der Burchard, bring you highlights from this inaugural meeting of the European Political Community. They debate the future aims of this multi-national grouping and what it means fo...
Italian election — Pipeline problems — EU ambassador to US
September 29, 2022 15:14 - 28 minutes - 33.2 MBWe discuss the implications of Italy's election last weekend and what its probable next prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, could mean for Europe. Our special guest is Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU's ambassador to the United States. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch and our team covering Italy's election on Sunday, Jacopo Barigazzi in Brussels and Hannah Roberts in Rome, break down all you need to know about Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party and presumed next prime minister. ...
UN General Assembly — Russian escalation — EU reaction
September 22, 2022 16:02 - 35 minutes - 41.4 MBComing to you from New York City, this bumper edition of EU Confidential brings you the highlights of the U.N. General Assembly and gets reaction from European leaders on Russia's recent threat of military escalation. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch sits down with our team in New York covering the world's annual diplomatic jamboree. Nahal Toosi, our senior foreign affairs correspondent, breaks down U.S. President Joe Biden's speech and discusses the chances of a breakthrough on Iran this week. U....
State of the European Union — MEPs debate
September 15, 2022 15:56 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBComing to you from Strasbourg, EU Confidential breaks down this week's big EU moment: the State of the Union address delivered by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. And we convene a panel of MEPs to debate which policies hit the mark, and where the speech fell short. POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch, chief Brussels correspondent and your new host, is joined by technology reporter Clothilde Goujard in Strasbourg and energy reporter Victor Jack in Brussels to bring you the highlights from the...
Energy emergency — Canada's EU ambassador — New host Suzanne Lynch
September 08, 2022 17:42 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MBNew host Suzanne Lynch digs into the EU's plans to address its energy crisis. And Canadian Ambassador to the EU Ailish Campbell explains how Europe is turning to her country for solutions to its energy woes and lifts the lid on sexism in European diplomacy. POLITICO's Chief Brussels Correspondent Suzanne Lynch makes her podcast debut as the new host of EU Confidential. She's joined by Brussels Playbook author Jakob Hanke Vela, who explains the EU's emergency plans being debated this week to...
POLITICO's EU Confidential trailer
September 01, 2022 06:34 - 2 minutes - 2.27 MBEurope's #1 politics podcast returns on Thursday, September 8 with our new host, Chief Brussels Correspondent Suzanne Lynch. Every week, POLITICO journalists in Brussels and across the Continent give their unvarnished takes on the week’s big stories and interview the key players shaping EU policy. Follow EU Confidential on any major podcast platform, sign up to receive our email alerts when new episodes are published every Thursday, and be sure to check out our show notes on POLITICO’s we...
Monkeypox in Europe — Big Tech vs. Telecoms battle
August 04, 2022 16:02 - 36 minutes - 34.1 MBIn this bumper edition before the summer break, we explain the monkeypox outbreak in Europe and the EU's response. We also preview the biggest lobbying battle brewing in Brussels between Big Tech platforms and telecom operators. POLITICO's Samuel Stolton, who covers competition and tech policy, hosts this week's episode, which kicks off with a discussion about the spread of monkeypox in Europe. Health care reporter Helen Collis explains which countries are seeing a rise in infections, and t...
Russian propaganda — Macron in Africa — Cities for women
July 28, 2022 16:24 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBWe debate what the EU and its leaders can do to counter Russian propaganda, particularly in Africa, about the global food crisis. And we tell the story of Umeå, Sweden, which has become a trailblazer in incorporating gender equality into urban design. Aitor Hernández-Morales, author of POLITICO's Living Cities newsletter, is joined by agriculture reporter Eddy Wax to explain the recent U.N.-brokered deal struck in Turkey between Ukraine and Russia to allow for exports of millions of tons of...
Heat wave — Energy vs. climate — Crypto spotlight
July 21, 2022 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBWe dive into the politics of this week's hot topic — Europe's response to a devastating heat wave and how that impacts current energy troubles. We also look into a debate over crypto currencies and how they should be regulated across the EU. POLITICO's Bjarke Smith-Meyer hosts this week's episode, which kicks off with a heated discussion on this week's devastating heat wave across Europe. Karl Mathiesen, our senior climate correspondent, explains why natural disasters like this can be expec...
Summer travel chaos — Combustion engines' end — Wizz Air CEO
July 14, 2022 16:17 - 40 minutes - 37.8 MBOur POLITICO mobility team takes over this episode — unpacking the issues facing the travel industry this summer and what European policymakers can do to address them. Joshua Posaner, POLITICO's senior policy reporter based in Berlin, talks to Chief Europe Correspondent Matt Karnitschnig about the EU's aim to phase out the combustion engine by 2035 and whether Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner can do anything to stop it. And Matt recommends this timely beach read for our listener...
EU Home Affairs chief Ylva Johansson — Aussie re-set — Interpreters row
July 07, 2022 16:58 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBAs 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...
NATO summit — Swedish, Norwegian and Estonian PMs — G7 flop
June 30, 2022 20:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBComing 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 th...
Ukraine on EU membership path — Balkan backlash — Albanian PM
June 24, 2022 00:36 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBComing 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 d...
Ukraine impact — Panel-speak, decoded — Poets' guide to economics
June 16, 2022 17:26 - 33 minutes - 31 MBWe 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 wa...
Merkel's return — Poland pushback — US NATO ambassador
June 09, 2022 14:47 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBWe 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-la...
Russian oil ban — Hungarian hold-up — EU 'ghostwriters'
June 02, 2022 17:06 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBWe 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 cr...
Scholz on Ukraine — COVID update — Food waste solution
May 26, 2022 15:07 - 34 minutes - 32 MBThis 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. The...