Brussels Playbook Podcast

The EU’s diplomatic service is losing power, people and influence to Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur look at how the EEAS is fighting for its future — and whether the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, can turn it around.

Plus, Europe tries to reset trade ties with China without backing away from tougher defenses, and Greece puts a bounty on poisonous pufferfish.

And hear Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Trump, Ukraine and the future of NATO in his full interview with Dasha Burns on POLITICO’s The Conversation:

Ques...

After four and a half years of war, Ukraine’s physical destruction is easy to see. But the psychological damage caused by occupation, displacement and loss is much harder to measure — although just as urgent to repair.

David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and a former British foreign secretary, joins Sarah Wheaton after returning from southern Ukraine. He explains why mental health support must become a central part of the country’s recovery, and why the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure — from Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan and Congo — points to a growing “n...

Ukraine’s allies are gathering in Gdańsk to talk about rebuilding the country — even as Russia continues to destroy homes, power stations and critical infrastructure.

Zoya Sheftalovich reports from the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where governments, banks and businesses are trying to turn political promises into real investment. She and Sarah Wheaton look at the money on the table, Poland’s hopes of playing a major role in the reconstruction effort and the diplomatic row between Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stayed away from the conference as tensions escalated.

Plus: Why som...

Europe’s biggest military powers are meeting today.

The group of countries is called the E5 (not to be confused with the E3) and consists of France, Germany, the U.K., Italy and Poland. They’ll be preparing for the NATO summit next month and discussing support for Ukraine. Hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss what smaller meeting formats like this mean for the EU as a whole.

Also on the show, we discuss the new EU agreement on migrant return laws. Under the new rules, people ordered to leave EU territory could be transfe...

The leaders of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary are gathering for the first proper Visegrád Group summit in more than two years.

Meetings of these four countries have essentially been frozen since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine — in large part because of former PM Viktor Orbán. With the Hungarian leader’s ouster, the format is back, but can the group actually work together?

Plus, we’re checking on the U.K., where Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned yesterday and looks likely to be replaced by former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. But what does this...

When Ireland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, they will have a lot of hot-button issues to deal with.

Host Zoya Sheftalovich sat down last week with Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne at a POLITICO event to dig deeper into what he believes Dublin’s top priorities will be. We’ll hear from him on the show.

Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be heading to Poland this week as tensions heat up between Kyiv and Warsaw. We dig deeper into why a tragic event from decades...

Brussels Playbook Week Ender host Sarah Wheaton is on the ground at the European Council summit, where divisions over European Council President António Costa's outreach to the Kremlin divided leaders and dominated an evening that was supposed to be devoted to confronting the trade deficit with China. Chief EU Correspondent Zoya Sheftalovich, trade reporter Carlo Martuscelli, Berlin correspondent Nette Nöstlinger and Senior Defense Correspondent Jacopo Barigazzi break down the divisions and look ahead to how next year's elections affect today's talks.

Also this week, Anne McElvoy brings together two leading figures to reflect on the 10th...

EU leaders arrive in Brussels for a summit dominated by two major debates: How far Europe should go in confronting China and how the bloc should shape its next long-term budget. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton break down the tougher mood toward Beijing, the divisions among capitals and the battle over what Europe should spend its money on.

Then, they meet the four new heads of government taking their seats around the European Council table — and assess who could become the next ally, wildcard or obstacle on Ukraine, sanctions and Israel.

And finally, inside the Co...

Ursula von der Leyen is only a year and a half into her second term, but Brussels is already whispering about a third. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart examine what is fueling the speculation — from her sweeping overhaul of the European Commission to concerns that more power is being concentrated at the top.

Then, they explain why the U.S.-Iran peace deal has brought down oil and gas prices, but has not ended Europe’s energy worries.

And they take a first look at W, a new “made in Europe” social media platform hoping to chall...

The fight over the EU’s next seven-year budget is heating up.

European affairs ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss the cash pot. Last week, the Cypriot presidency came up with concrete figures … but the backlash was almost immediate. Zoya and Ian discuss the main sticking points.

Next, one of the most useful diplomatic gatherings in Brussels for years has been the exclusive dinners organized at the U.S. ambassador to the EU’s residence in Uccle. Now, these intimate meetings are disappearing and diplomats are feeling their absence.

Lastly, things aren’t...

French presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella wants Brussels to know that if he reaches the Élysée, he won’t follow Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s path from insurgent outsider to pragmatic EU power broker. POLITICO’s Marion Solletty joins Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur to discuss her wide-ranging interview with the far-right leader — including his plans to confront the EU, his pitch to French voters, and what his rise could mean for Europe.

Then, Zoya and Nick preview the G7 summit in Évian, where Emmanuel Macron’s challenge is to keep Donald Trump engaged as leaders discuss China, Ukrain...

Across Europe, political instability, fragmentation and polarization are increasingly becoming the norm. But how are governments tackling these tensions?

On this episode of the Brussels Playbook Week Ender, host Sarah Wheaton and her guests hone in on three countries: France, Greece and Denmark. Dialing in from Paris and Athens are our colleagues Clea Caulcutt and Nektaria Stamouli, and Jakob Moroza-Rasmussen, former secretary general of the centrist ALDE European political party, joins Sarah in the studio where he talks about his native Denmark.

From the EU farm funds scandal in Greece, to the upcoming 2027 presidential elec...

The U.S. embassy’s mega 250th birthday bash in Brussels is one of the most sought-after events for the city’s top brass ... but it’s also drawing ire.

Today on the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss why MEPs and environmental activists are growing increasingly frustrated with this American July 4th celebration. The event is set to be attended by 5,000 people and will shut down the public Cinquantenaire park for up to 36 hours.

Also on the show, we got our hands on the spending figures of lobby groups in the EU capital. Which...

South Korea’s president is in Brussels for the first EU-South Korea summit in three years — a visit that starts with K-pop diplomacy but quickly moves to chips, trade, defense and China.

Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart look at why Seoul has become such an important partner for Europe and why South Korea’s role in Europe’s rearmament push is also politically awkward.

The due also discuss Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tightening her grip on another strategic file: defense. We unpack how the EU’s new Security Strategy is being shaped inside the Berlay...

The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, heads to Dublin today with awkward questions for Ireland.

The country is facing increased scrutiny over the fact that a Russian-owned refinery on Irish soil continues exporting alumina to Russia — a raw material that can feed Moscow’s industrial and military supply chains. The timing is especially awkward since Dublin is preparing to take over the EU’s rotating Council presidency.

Also on the show, smart glasses are moving from sci-fi gadget to Brussels privacy headache. Are Europe’s rules ready for cameras people can wear on their faces?

The EU is struggling to land a new deal on consumer protections for airline passengers.

After a week of intense negotiations that ultimately failed, transport ministers are meeting today to discuss the current state of play. The main sticking points: rules on compensation for delayed flights and the ease of filing these compensation claims.

Also on the show, the far-right National Rally is leading the polls for France’s presidential election next year. But in relation to the EU, would this traditionally euroskeptic party end up following a pragmatic route like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, or a...

The European Commission has finally unveiled its long-awaited tech sovereignty package — a push to make Europe less dependent on foreign technology after years of relying on U.S. cloud services, chips, AI infrastructure and digital tools.

Sarah Wheaton is joined by former MEP Marietje Schaake, author of The Tech Coup and POLITICO’s Laurens Cerulus to ask what happens when the systems running Europe’s schools, ministries, banks, businesses and security are controlled elsewhere. They also discuss whether Brussels can build real alternatives or simply learn to manage its dependence better.

If you have questions or com...

With a slowing economy, soaring energy costs and mounting pressure on defense spending, PM Giorgia Meloni faces an uphill battle in next year’s Italian election.

Amid all this, Zoya and Ian discuss how a recent European Commission decision to exempt certain green investments from its public-spending rules is a small win for the Italian leader. They dig deeper into the thought process behind this move from the EU executive.

Also on the show, we break down some of the recent developments as Brussels tightens the screws on Moscow. One of the updates is that ministers f...

Today the Commission will publish its European Semester Spring Package, a checkup on EU countries’ economies. But the news isn’t too good.

The report warns that over a million jobs across Europe could be lost in the coming years as a result of high energy costs, competition from abroad and the green transition. On the pod, Zoya and Ian discuss these major labor market challenges.

Also happening today, the European Commission is unveiling its long-awaited tech sovereignty package. Most of Europe’s cloud services, AI infrastructure, payment systems and government software relies on companies outsid...

As the EU prepares to target Russia’s shadow fleet in the 21st sanctions package, we’re looking at the system that keeps these ships in business.

Every one of these Russian vessels carrying sanctioned goods requires port access, crews, financial services and more to stay operational. On today’s episode, Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton pinpoint insurance in particular. They explain how, even though European insurers pulled away from Russian-linked business after the invasion of Ukraine, some financial institutions are still supporting these ships.

Also on the pod, Michael McGrath, Commissioner for justice and rule of law, arrives in...

The EU is edging closer to one of its most controversial migration policies yet: sending failed asylum seekers to return hubs outside the bloc.

Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur discuss the latest negotiations over tougher deportation rules, why countries are already exploring potential deals from Albania to Central Asia, and why critics warn the plans could create offshore detention centers.

Then: France's presidential race is drifting toward a scenario that many in Brussels dread, with far-right politician Jordan Bardella and far-left figure Jean-Luc Mélenchon gaining ground as the center splinters.

And finally: B...

Is the EU finally ready to get serious about China?

That’s the question increasingly dominating conversations in Brussels as fears grow that Europe is being squeezed by Beijing’s industrial machine.

Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by Sander Tordoir from the Centre for European Reform, Grzegorz Stec from MERICS and POLITICO’s Jordyn Dahl to discuss the European Commission's attempts to forge a common stance on China. With deindustrialization already visible across parts of the continent, social tensions are spiking and fueling support for radical political forces.

As China floods the bloc with c...

Europe’s far right is yet again under the microscope as a European Parliament watchdog moves to ban the Alternative for Germany’s EU party.

On the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton discuss how the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations party — home to Germany’s AfD — risks losing EU funding and even its status as a political party. In a 300-page letter, the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations cites evidence of anti-immigration, antisemitic and anti-LGBT rhetoric from its members. It argues this “casts doubt” on the ESN’s compliance with EU values.

Next, we discuss...

Brussels is beefing up its intelligence machinery.

Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson talk about the growing role of INTCEN — the EU’s little-known intelligence-analysis hub inside the European External Action Service — and the quiet power struggle brewing between Kaja Kallas’ diplomatic service and Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission over who gets to handle sensitive security information in Brussels.

Then: the Greens in the European Parliament are facing an identity crisis, as one of their biggest national parties considers defecting to the Socialists and Democrats — and why Bas Eickhout’s dramatic departure matters far beyond one relationsh...

Europe is still reeling from the recent drone incursions into Baltic airspace.

In a show of solidarity, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius are in Lithuania today following last week’s drone scare. Today on the Brussels Playbook Podcast, we unpack the latest developments, including discussions about Baltic companies teaming up with Ukrainian firms to tap into their expertise in bomb-shelter construction.

Also on the pod: Calls are growing for Europe to appoint its own negotiator in Ukraine-Russia peace talks, now that the U.S. has stepped back. Even Ukrainian Pres...

There’s an ominous backdrop to this year’s GLOBSEC forum in Prague as the war in Ukraine strays into the skies over NATO’s Eastern flank. The last few weeks have seen an increasing number of drone incursions in the Baltics — Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia — across EU airspace.

And there are questions over America’s commitment to European security ahead of an important NATO summit in Ankara in July, following changes in American troop deployments, and whether the tide is really changing in the war in Ukraine. 

Recording at POLITICO's Speakeasy at the GLOBSEC Forum, Anne McElvoy sits down with two E...

With drone alerts, emergency shelters and fighter jets over the Baltics, Europe’s security fears suddenly feel much less theoretical at the GLOBSEC forum in Prague.

On the ground in Czechia for the Brussels Playbook Podcast, Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the growing wave of drone incursions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. They also discuss why Baltic leaders are sounding the alarm and how the crisis in Latvia became serious enough to bring down the government.

Then: Germany is growing impatient with the EU’s enlargement drift. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing a new...

Brussels is discovering that cutting red tape may be harder without actual experts in the room. As the EU races ahead with its deregulation drive, concerns are growing over rushed lawmaking, weaker safeguards and the sidelining of technical specialists.

Then, EU leaders are exploring ways to make Russia sanctions harder to block — including extending renewal deadlines from six months to a year — as Brussels moves quickly after Viktor Orbán’s departure.

And finally: Giorgia Meloni’s party has found a new political battleground — peacocks. Yes, really.

For this episode of the Brussels Playbook Po...

After years of Hungary’s former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocking Ukraine’s path to join the EU, Budapest and Kyiv are talking again. That has Brussels wondering if Hungary might finally be softening its position on Ukrainian accession.

Today on the pod, Nick and Ian discuss why joining the bloc is so important to the war-torn nation and why — even if the mood is shifting in Budapest — it’s unlikely to change overnight.

Also on the show, EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela is heading to Nuuk for a conference called Future Greenland. It’s all part of...

The European Commission is preparing to take a much tougher line on China, we hear on this episode of the Brussels Playbook Podcast, with Zoya Sheftalovich joined by Nick Vinocur. Brussels is growing increasingly worried about cheap imports, industrial decline and dependence on Chinese critical raw materials.

Then: Despite 20 EU sanctions packages against Russia, a major investigation reveals how Russian networks still manage to get hold of European technology through shell companies and third countries including Turkey.

And finally, the European Parliament heads to Strasbourg — where MEPs are once again arguing over parliamentary immunity, prosecutorial ov...

Welcome to the very first edition of the Brussels Playbook Week Ender. Anne McElvoy travels to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, an annual event that brings together defenders of democracy in the Danish capital. As U.S. President Donald Trump visits China and the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran remain unresolved, how is Europe grappling with crises on multiple fronts?

Anne sits down with two influential powerbrokers from the other side of the Atlantic. Chrystia Freeland is an economic adviser to Ukraine President Zelenskyy and until last year was Canada's deputy prime minister: They discuss Ukraine's war effort...

One of the Commission’s oldest and most powerful departments may be heading for a dramatic overhaul — or even extinction. 

DG REGIO oversees the hundreds of billions of euros that go towards the social development of local regions and cities. But its potential restructuring by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is a clear sign that the EU's aims are shifting. Zoya and Ian explain the thinking behind this redesign and the wide-ranging impacts.

Also, after just a year as German chancellor, Friedrich Merz’s popularity is plunging to new lows. His most recent comeback tour around the coun...

Ukraine wants Europe more involved in peace efforts with Russia — but who exactly would represent Europe in those talks? After Vladimir Putin floated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible negotiator, Brussels reacted with disbelief.

Host Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the growing debate around Europe’s role in future peace negotiations, including Nick’s interview with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zoya’s conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on why Ottawa is moving closer to Europe on Ukraine, defense and security.

Then: Europe’s latest attempt to get ahead of th...

When foreign ministers meet in Brussels today, Israel and Russia will likely dominate the agenda.

Today on the pod, Zoya and Nick discuss why the bloc might finally be able to move forward on sanctioning several Israeli individuals involved with settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Plus, the EU is looking to move forward on a new round of sanctions towards Russia, hoping to pressure Moscow back to the negotiating table.

Also on the show, the Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Zoya in an exclusive interview that the EU needs to build...

We’re talking identity this week on EU Confidential — in more ways than one.

First, host Sarah Wheaton sits down with Theresa Kuhn, professor of European studies at the University of Amsterdam, who has led a major research project tracking how European identity has evolved across the continent over the past five decades.

At a moment when Europe feels tense, vulnerable and under pressure, Kuhn’s research suggests people in many countries may actually feel more European than they used to. But what kind of European identity is growing? Who gets included in that idea of Eur...

Péter Magyar promised a full reset between Hungary and Brussels after Viktor Orbán’s defeat — but the EU may be ready to unlock only part of Hungary’s frozen billions. Zoya Sheftalovich, dialing in from Madrid, and Sarah Wheaton unpack the first possible tensions emerging between Brussels and post-Orbán Hungary.

Then: a right-wing MEP is planning a trip to Russia — and inviting fellow lawmakers along. We discuss the controversy surrounding the proposed Moscow visit and the broader sensitivities regarding Russian influence in Brussels.

And finally, from Madrid, Zoya brings us what Spanish politicians...

The European Commission is unveiling its new anti-poverty strategy today. The only problem is ... it doesn’t include any new cash.

On the pod, Zoya and Ryan discuss how the EU executive is justifying the lack of new funding in this plan. They also look at how likely the bloc is to reach its target of eradicating poverty by 2050 (spoiler alert: not very likely).

That’s not the only strategy on the agenda today. The Commission will also present its guidelines on addressing homelessness. To better understand the housing crisis, Zoya speaks with the President of the Comm...

Political parties are misspending their cash, while the public is left in the dark about what’s going on.

The European Parliament’s department of finance found political parties and foundations had misspent €1.5 million during the 2024 EU election campaign. Zoya and Ian discuss which parties are the biggest offenders. They also explain how the Parliament — with the help of complex bureaucratic processes — helps these parties avoid broader scrutiny.

Also on the pod, EU finance ministers are meeting today to discuss getting financial support for Ukraine from countries outside the bloc. While we’re on the topic of geopoliti...

Europe yet again finds itself on the receiving end of Donald Trump’s ire. 

On Friday, the U.S. president threatened to raise tariffs on European cars to 25 percent, as frustration grows in Washington over the slow pace of an EU-U.S. trade deal. Trump had also called for withdrawing U.S. troops from Germany earlier in the week as a response to German leader Friedrich Merz’s sharp criticism of the Iran war. On the pod, Zoya and Nick discuss how Brussels and Berlin have scrambled to respond.

Also on the show, some officials and law...

The European Central Bank will meet today and make a decision that depends heavily on events happening thousands of kilometers away. 

That’s because the war in Iran has pushed up energy prices and inflation. ECB President Christine Lagarde and her fellow rate-setters will be in a tricky spot when deciding whether to raise borrowing costs. Zoya and Ian explain the dilemma.

The conflict in the Middle East has also brought about a jet fuel shortage that has airlines warning about disruptions and governments telling people to fly less. On the show, we discuss how it’s not just a...