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 fro...
Feb 24, 2022•38 min•Ep. 267
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...
Feb 17, 2022•37 min•Ep. 266
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 o...
Feb 10, 2022•38 min•Ep. 265
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 surviva...
Feb 03, 2022•38 min•Ep. 264
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 tensio...
Jan 27, 2022•37 min•Ep. 263
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 ...
Jan 20, 2022•35 min•Ep. 262
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...
Jan 13, 2022•37 min•Ep. 261
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. O...
Jan 06, 2022•34 min•Ep. 260
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...
Dec 16, 2021•44 min•Ep. 259
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 c...
Dec 09, 2021•37 min•Ep. 258
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 ...
Dec 02, 2021•37 min•Ep. 257
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 compulso...
Nov 25, 2021•35 min•Ep. 256
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 exclu...
Nov 18, 2021•32 min•Ep. 255
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 win...
Nov 11, 2021•38 min•Ep. 254
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 lead...
Nov 04, 2021•34 min•Ep. 253
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 conversatio...
Oct 28, 2021•40 min•Ep. 252
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...
Oct 21, 2021•31 min•Ep. 251
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...
Oct 14, 2021•36 min•Ep. 250
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 af...
Oct 07, 2021•28 min•Ep. 249
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 policym...
Sep 30, 2021•39 min•Ep. 248
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 ...
Sep 27, 2021•25 min•Ep. 247
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 dow...
Sep 23, 2021•50 min•Ep. 246
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 teami...
Sep 16, 2021•38 min•Ep. 245
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 Ar...
Sep 09, 2021•31 min•Ep. 244
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 mil...
Sep 02, 2021•31 min•Ep. 243
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 t...
Aug 26, 2021•35 min•Ep. 242
As the Taliban consolidate their hold over Afghanistan, we have reaction from around Europe to the U.S. decision to pull out and debate the policy implications for NATO and the transatlantic alliance. POLITICO's Chief Europe Correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig is joined by Lili Bayer in Brussels, Annabelle Dickson in the U.K. and Saim Saeed, our regional expert, to discuss how Afghanistan's unraveling has been handled by European allies. Matt then speaks to Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group...
Aug 19, 2021•32 min•Ep. 241
We have all the recommendations you need for reading, listening and viewing to make the most of your summer holiday — courtesy of the POLITICO podcast crew, special guests and our listeners. This extended episode of EU Confidential features entertaining, as well as enlightening, recommendations from POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig. Our executive producer Cristina Gonzalez brings us listener recommendations, and we also hear from some of our special guests over the pas...
Jul 29, 2021•40 min•Ep. 240
The devastating floods in Western Europe are our top story this week: We hear from our reporter in the German flood zone and debate the political consequences of the catastrophe. We also discuss a big spyware scandal and Western accusations of Chinese cyberattacks. And we hear from Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. POLITICO's Laurenz Gehrke calls in from Hagen, Germany to describe the devastation he's witnessed in towns and villages across the flood zone and recount what he's ...
Jul 22, 2021•38 min•Ep. 239
The political repercussions of Euro 2020, a massive package of European climate laws, and the first economic recovery plans approved for EU cash all feature this week. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz joins Andrew Gray to fill us in on French President Emmanuel Macron's efforts to give people a big "nudge" to get vaccinated. We get into the politics of Euro 2020 with POLITICO's resident sports expert Ali Walker, along with Annabelle Dickson in London and Hannah Roberts in Rome. The team looks at the afterm...
Jul 15, 2021•36 min•Ep. 238
