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EU Confidential

370 EpisodesProduced by POLITICO EuropeWebsite

EU Confidential is a weekly European news and politics podcast published every Thursday 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. I… read more

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From the UN General Assembly — world leaders gather in NY

September 22nd, 2023

27:52

EU Confidential is in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, where leaders from around the globe are gathering to hash out some of the most pressing issues. Those range from the climate catastrophe to reform of the UN …

State of the European Union — the big annual speech and MEPs debate

September 15th, 2023

37:39

In this bumper episode, we bring you the main takeaways from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the European Union …

It's back to school in Brussels — Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani

September 8th, 2023

24:31

It's “back to school” week here in Brussels, so we're looking ahead to what policies will dominate the news in the coming months. Also, our special …

Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg: EU needs to rethink its enlargement approach

September 1st, 2023

29:11

EU Confidential returns from its summer break, bringing you this episode from the European Forum Alpbach in Austria where the theme of a "bold …

Brussels summer survival guide

August 3rd, 2023

19:50

In this episode, we unpack what to expect in Brussels this August as EU decision making grinds to a halt. Also, we explore how extreme weather in …

Spanish election aftermath and the watering down of the EU's anti-SLAPPs law

July 27th, 2023

32:16

We analyze the outcome of the recent elections in Spain and what it means for the country and the EU going forward. Also, we discuss the EU's proposal targeting SLAPPs — strategic lawsuits against public participation, …

Why Ukraine overshadowed the EU's big summit with Latin America

July 20th, 2023

32:17

In this packed episode, we explain the outcomes of this week's summit with Latin America, we debate whether Americans can hold key roles in EU …

Ending an epidemic: innovations to eradicate HIV

July 18th, 2023

22:16

Governments around the world have committed to end HIV by 2030. The target is known as the 95-95-95 goals — 95 percent of people living with HIV diagnosed and knowing their status, 95 percent of those linked to HIV …

NATO summit wrap-up and the EU's battle over biodiversity

July 13th, 2023

29:26

This week, we bring you the latest from Vilnius as NATO leaders wrap up a crucial meeting of the defense alliance, plus all the news from Strasbourg as MEPs clash over an EU proposal to protect biodiversity.

Joining our …

A cure for HIV: When will Europe get there?

July 11th, 2023

20:19

There’s one key weapon that would be a gamechanger in the fight to end HIV transmission in Europe by 2030 – a cure. Forty years after scientists in …

From Madrid: How Spain's election could impact its EU presidency

July 6th, 2023

32:23

This week's EU Confidential comes to you from Madrid as Spain takes over the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Spain's stint in the rotating chair has been overshadowed by a national election, …

The last bastion of stigma: Criminalizing HIV transmission

July 4th, 2023

26:54

Activists have worked for years to eliminate HIV-associated stigma. But within multiple European countries, people are still prosecuted for …

EU leaders meet in the shadow of failed Wagner mutiny in Russia

June 29th, 2023

27:05

Our slightly-later edition of this week's EU Confidential comes to you from on-the-ground at the European Council — where the EU's 27 leaders are discussing topics ranging from security guarantees for Ukraine, to …

From cell to cell: Eliminating HIV in prisons

June 27th, 2023

26:26

In the first episode of our EU Confidential: In Focus mini-series on HIV in Europe, we take you inside a French prison successfully tackling the …

Europe’s new Marshall Plan: making a bet on Ukraine

June 22nd, 2023

24:19

This week’s EU Confidential episode comes to you from London, where the Ukraine Recovery Conference has just wrapped up.

Ukraine may still be fighting a war, but already a conversation has started about how to rebuild …

Artificial intelligence and the EU's attempt to regulate it — Commissioner Thierry Breton

June 15th, 2023

32:25

This week's episode dives deep into artificial intelligence — and how the EU is responding to this rapidly developing technology.

Host Suzanne Lynch …

Polish protests — Hungary's EU role — Sleeper train journey

June 8th, 2023

33:17

In this bumper edition, we explain what's behind recent large protests in Poland, why some in Brussels want to stymie Hungary in the EU …

From Moldova: The European Political Community is back

June 1st, 2023

25:40

This week's episode comes to you from the second meeting of the European Political Community in the Moldovan capital of Chișinău. 

With over 40 heads …

EU's 'Defence of Democracy' debate on combatting foreign influence

May 25th, 2023

28:21

This week, we debate the EU's latest attempt to combat foreign influence with its forthcoming "Defence of Democracy package," which some in Brussels …

EU commissioner resigns — Bulgaria's breaking point — European elections 2024

May 18th, 2023

32:12

This week, we dive into the political upheaval in Bulgaria and the resignation of the country's EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. And we begin our …

The end of Erdoğan? — Turkey's EU accession ambitions — Europe Day

May 11th, 2023

29:35

This 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 …

POLITICO reviews ‘The Diplomat’ — Meloni surprises Brussels — The key to Ukraine's victory

May 4th, 2023

33:16

As 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 …

Timothy Garton Ash on the future of Europe — Eva Kaili back in the spotlight

April 27th, 2023

31:50

"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 …

Ukraine grain strain — Von der Leyen 2.0 — EU diplomacy in review

April 20th, 2023

33:33

We're back from a break and straight into tackling the geopolitical tensions that underlie a sudden ban on Ukraine's grain exports by neighboring …

Finland joins NATO — Ukraine foreign minister in Brussels — EU's China visit

April 6th, 2023

28:35

This 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 …

France & Germany on strike – Commission Legal Chief, Daniel Calleja Crespo

March 30th, 2023

31:57

The 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 …

Economic jitters, French upheaval, arms for Ukraine — what’s occupying EU leaders

March 23rd, 2023

27:35

Coming 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 …

Das Auto debate — Activist Bill Browder on Russia's political prisoners

March 16th, 2023

32:40

We 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 …

Viktor Orbán's political director — Sponsored flight flap — VDL meets Biden

March 9th, 2023

30:15

This week, we debate a controversy over travel rules for top EU officials and unpack what the European Commission president is hoping to achieve …

New EU-UK chapter — VDL meets the king — Decoding Brussels-speak

March 2nd, 2023

29:14

This week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met King Charles III at Windsor Castle after a deal was sealed on a long-awaited …

Russia's war in Ukraine, one year on: How Europe has changed

February 23rd, 2023

33:04

As 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 …

VDL's texts — MEPs arrested — Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe

February 16th, 2023

30:43

This 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 …

Zelenskyy in Brussels: the worst-kept secret in town — EU leaders on migration

February 9th, 2023

24:35

Coming to you during Thursday's meeting of EU leaders, we discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's (not so) surprise visit to Brussels, as …

EU-Ukraine summit — Fighter jets? — Moldovan President Maia Sandu

February 2nd, 2023

28:02

All 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 …

Scholz's tanks for your assistance — EU finance chief Mairead McGuinness: Crypto is like 'a religion'

January 26th, 2023

27:21

Our 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 …

From Davos: Tanks to Ukraine — Irish PM Leo Varadkar — EU-US trade fight

January 19th, 2023

22:27

The EU Confidential crew takes you inside this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where the world's rich and powerful are gathered.

Director Oliver Stone talks nuclear power — EU economy chief Paolo Gentiloni

January 19th, 2023

22:15

It'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 …

EU-US subsidy spat — Senator Joe Manchin — Diane von Furstenberg on Equality

January 18th, 2023

25:02

It'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 …

Pessimistic CEOs — WEF after Klaus Schwab — Crypto trust deficit

January 17th, 2023

21:58

As 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 …

POLITICO's World Economic Forum guide — Richard Edelman on trust

January 16th, 2023

23:31

From 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 …

From Stockholm: Sweden shifts right on crime and migration — EU Council captaincy

January 12th, 2023

31:41

This week, the EU Confidential crew travels to Stockholm to examine Sweden's domestic political challenges such as migration, crime and climate — and …

2023 crystal ball — Qatargate update — Slovenian PM Robert Golob

January 5th, 2023

44:36

It'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 …

EU rocked by Qatar corruption scandal — 2022 highlights

December 15th, 2022

44:46

Our 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.

From Tirana: Western Balkan bid — Author Misha Glenny — City of spies

December 8th, 2022

24:57

This 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 …

Brewing EU-US trade war — Ukraine FM Dmytro Kuleba — Future of Europe

December 1st, 2022

25:42

This 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 …

Brussels' Twitter headache — Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko — EU 'Superstate'

November 24th, 2022

33:19

This 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 …

G20 summit digested — Viktor Orbán's authoritarian journey

November 17th, 2022

32:21

The annual gathering of G20 leaders in Bali, Indonesia was overshadowed by a deadly incident in Poland. A missile struck a village close to the …

COP27 and Europe's climate role — A new Cold War?

November 10th, 2022

35:21

On 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 …

Europe braces for US mid-term elections

November 3rd, 2022

29:30

As Americans head to the polls next week, we dive into transatlantic relations and the impact these elections could have on European policy and …

NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg — Commissioner Věra Jourová on EU media freedom

October 27th, 2022

31:29

This week, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discusses how the war in Ukraine has shaped the military alliance. We also dig into the EU's proposed …

Live from EU leaders meeting on energy, Ukraine and China

October 21st, 2022

20:19

This 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 …

Putin's escalation — Western Balkan migration concerns — Food security update

October 13th, 2022

36:27

In this episode, POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch breaks down the reaction to Russia's recent escalation in Ukraine with an update from NATO headquarters. We …

From Prague: The European Political Community is here

October 7th, 2022

22:30

This 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 …

Italian election — Pipeline problems — EU ambassador to US

September 29th, 2022

28:44

We discuss the implications of Italy's election last weekend and what its probable next prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, could mean for Europe. Our …

UN General Assembly — Russian escalation — EU reaction

September 22nd, 2022

35:51

Coming 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.

State of the European Union — MEPs debate

September 15th, 2022

34:15

Coming to you from Strasbourg, EU Confidential breaks down this week's big EU moment: the State of the Union address delivered by Commission …

Energy emergency — Canada's EU ambassador — New host Suzanne Lynch

September 8th, 2022

30:40

New 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 …

POLITICO's EU Confidential trailer

September 1st, 2022

2:07

Europe's #1 politics podcast returns on Thursday, September 8 with our new host, Chief Brussels Correspondent Suzanne Lynch. 


Every week, POLITICO …

Monkeypox in Europe — Big Tech vs. Telecoms battle

August 4th, 2022

36:52

In 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 …

Russian propaganda — Macron in Africa — Cities for women

July 28th, 2022

25:08

We 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 …

Heat wave — Energy vs. climate — Crypto spotlight

July 21st, 2022

27:29

We 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 …

Summer travel chaos — Combustion engines' end — Wizz Air CEO

July 14th, 2022

40:56

Our POLITICO mobility team takes over this episode — unpacking the issues facing the travel industry this summer and what European policymakers can …

EU Home Affairs chief Ylva Johansson — Aussie re-set — Interpreters row

July 7th, 2022

34:09

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 …

NATO summit — Swedish, Norwegian and Estonian PMs — G7 flop

June 30th, 2022

34:20

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 …

Ukraine on EU membership path ⁠— Balkan backlash — Albanian PM

June 24th, 2022

30:26

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 …

Ukraine impact — Panel-speak, decoded — Poets' guide to economics

June 16th, 2022

33:27

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 …

Merkel's return — Poland pushback — US NATO ambassador

June 9th, 2022

30:50

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. …

Russian oil ban — Hungarian hold-up — EU 'ghostwriters'

June 2nd, 2022

34:27

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 …

Scholz on Ukraine — COVID update — Food waste solution

May 26th, 2022

34:34

This special edition of EU Confidential from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland drills into the question of whether the EU is really …

Death of globalization? — EU expansion — Women in Davos

May 25th, 2022

38:48

This bumper edition of Davos Confidential includes a debate on the death of globalization, the prospects of more countries joining the European Union …

Zelenskyy chides global elite — Trust troubles — Billionaire bonanza

May 23rd, 2022

37:29

This episode comes to you from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland — featuring participants from business, government and the …

Nordic NATO bids — Commission half-time report — Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly

May 19th, 2022

36:26

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 …

Future of Europe — Macron in Berlin — Voices from Ukraine

May 12th, 2022

31:40

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 Russian oil ban — Steinmeier snub saga — 21st-century disorder

May 5th, 2022

31:48

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 …

Macron 2.0 — Brussels vs. Budapest — Climate changes Spanish politics

April 28th, 2022

37:54

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 …

Special edition: Macron beats Le Pen in French presidential election

April 25th, 2022

24:50

In this special edition, we analyze the result of the French presidential election and its implications for France and for Europe.

The show features …

Macron and Le Pen debate — Germany's Ukraine weapons dilemma

April 21st, 2022

32:24

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 …

French election round 2 – Slovakian PM in Ukraine — EU's Russian energy habit

April 14th, 2022

32:28

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 …

Special edition: French presidential election first round unpacked

April 11th, 2022

24:58

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

French election preview — Orbán's victory — Transparency International Ukraine

April 7th, 2022

35:24

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 …

Brussels after Biden — Hungarian election — World Food Programme boss

March 31st, 2022

30:40

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 …

Biden's Brussels summits — Sanctions stalemate — Ukrainian writer Andriy Kurkov

March 24th, 2022

30:54

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 …

China's role in Ukraine — Wartime leaders — Refugee crisis

March 17th, 2022

32:54

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 …

Russia's repression — Ukraine jet confusion — Bulgarian PM Kiril Petkov

March 10th, 2022

34:43

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 …

Europe's historic shift on Russia — Inside the war in Ukraine — Turkey's role

March 3rd, 2022

45:53

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 …

Russia's war on Ukraine: European reaction and analysis

February 24th, 2022

35:55

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 …

Moscow's mixed messages — Ukraine's Unity Day — Think tanker Heather Conley

February 17th, 2022

34:05

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 …

Scholz and Macron's missions — Le Pen 2.0 — MEP David McAllister

February 10th, 2022

34:42

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 …

Partygate fallout — Estonian PM Kaja Kallas — Cecilia Malmström on EU trade

February 3rd, 2022

35:21

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 …

Latvia's war worries — Neutrals for NATO? — Polish MEP Patryk Jaki

January 27th, 2022

34:00

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 …

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola — Macron on EU — Merkel's next gig

January 20th, 2022

32:10

Roberta Metsola, the new president of the European Parliament, is our special guest. We also unpack French President Emmanuel Macron's appearance in …

Omicron tidal wave — Remembering David Sassoli — Russia standoff

January 13th, 2022

34:14

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 …

Previewing 2022 — Russian brinkmanship — DOT Europe's Siada El Ramly

January 6th, 2022

31:29

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 …

Key 2021 political moments — Hearing from listeners — Politics of Jesus

December 16th, 2021

43:56

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 …

Germany's new government — Denglish debate — POLITICO 28

December 9th, 2021

36:53

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 …

OMG it's Omicron — China's EU strategy — Amnesty's Agnès Callamard

December 2nd, 2021

36:56

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 …

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg — New German government — Luuk van Middelaar

November 25th, 2021

34:58

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, France's Europe minister Clément Beaune and Dutch political theorist and author Luuk van Middelaar all …

COP26 climate drama — Top US foreign policy adviser Derek Chollet

November 18th, 2021

31:35

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. …

4th wave — Whistleblower Frances Haugen — EU border blackmail

November 11th, 2021

37:36

In this episode, we discuss Europe's coronavirus resurgence and the escalating migration crisis at the Polish border. Plus, we hear exclusively from …

COP26 catch-up — Tech boss John Collison — EU gets (even) funnier

November 4th, 2021

33:43

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 …

COP26 and G20 preview — Glasgow gears up — Lessons for liberalism

October 28th, 2021

39:34

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 …

Hungary's would-be PM — Rule-of-law ripples — German coalition talks

October 21st, 2021

30:56

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 …

EU energy prices — Curtains for Kurz — Poland courts controversy

October 14th, 2021

35:51

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 …

Macron's US stance — Western Balkans summit — Dark EU lobbying

October 7th, 2021

28:01

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 …

Who is Olaf Scholz? — German election aftermath — EU-US trade and tech push

September 30th, 2021

39:14

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 …

Special edition: German election results

September 27th, 2021

23:29

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 …

German election explained — French fury at Australian sub snub

September 23rd, 2021

49:48

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 …

State of the European Union — German election latest

September 16th, 2021

37:49

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 …

German election's EU impact — Playbookers' premiere — Age of 'unpeace'

September 9th, 2021

31:19

The German election campaign's impact on EU policymakers is up for debate this week. And European Council on Foreign Relations director Mark Leonard …

Afghanistan fallout — Europe's military dilemma — Politics of loneliness

September 2nd, 2021

29:40

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 …

EU migration wrangle — Economist Joseph Stiglitz — EMA chief Emer Cooke

August 26th, 2021

34:05

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 …

Europe reacts to Afghanistan's collapse

August 19th, 2021

32:23

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 …

Summer special: Recommended reading, listening and viewing

July 29th, 2021

39:20

We have all the recommendations you need for reading, listening and viewing to make the most of your summer holiday — courtesy of the POLITICO …

German floods — Spyware scandal — Svetlana Tikhanovskaya

July 22nd, 2021

36:13

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 …

Political football — EU's big climate combo — Recovery cash

July 15th, 2021

36:11

The political repercussions of Euro 2020, a massive package of European climate laws, and the first economic recovery plans approved for EU cash all …

Slovenian EU presidency — Champagne spat — Digital expert Marietje Schaake

July 8th, 2021

31:18

Slovenia's awkward start to its EU presidency and a look at why Russia has France fizzing over Champagne feature this week. And our special guest is …

Stunning summit — EU's engine room — Ex-Swedish PM Carl Bildt

July 1st, 2021

37:43

We unpack last week's extraordinary summit of EU leaders, take stock of the coronavirus situation in Europe and bring you inside the EU's "engine room." Our special guest is former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt.

Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ law — Sausage wars — Commission VP Maroš Šefčovič

June 24th, 2021

34:07

Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, France's regional elections and U.K.-EU relations are all up for debate. And we hear from European Commission VP Maroš Šefčovič's on the U.K.-EU "sausage wars" and more.

POLITICO's …

Biden's European summit spree — ECB President Christine Lagarde — Birthday bonanza

June 17th, 2021

37:03

We take stock of Joe Biden's visit to Europe and what it means for EU allies. And our special guest is European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, discussing the uphill battle for gender equality in finance.

Biden in Europe — Back to Strasbourg — Transatlantic talk

June 10th, 2021

38:42

Joe Biden's trip to Europe, an interview with Germany's transatlantic coordinator, the European Parliament's strange return to Strasbourg, and a brewing Brussels brouhaha over the French language all feature in this …

Spy affair — Laschet litmus — Former Irish President Mary Robinson

June 3rd, 2021

32:16

Claims that Denmark helped the U.S. spy on European leaders, demands for the EU to step up on defense and bellwether state elections in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt all feature in this episode. Mary Robinson is our special …

Belarusian 'hijack' — Brussels food fight — Art of diplomacy

May 27th, 2021

33:04

The Belarus airliner drama and EU leaders' response, as well as a big bunfight over farm subsidies, are up for debate this week. And longtime EU diplomat Robert Cooper talks about his new book "The Ambassadors."

Ep 201, presented by Equinor: Israeli-Palestinian conflict — Laschet's foreign foray — Javier Solana

May 20th, 2021

28:01

European attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the foreign policy of Germany's conservative candidate for chancellor, and a chat with …

Ep 200, presented by Shell: Vaccine patent waivers — Macron gets mad — Facebook's Nick Clegg

May 13th, 2021

38:51

European leaders' cool reaction to a U.S. proposal to waive patents for coronavirus vaccines is up for debate this week. We also discuss big issues …

Ep 199, presented by SQM: Media freedom — European travel — Social summit

May 6th, 2021

33:08

Is media freedom in Europe under threat? Is the Continent ready to open up as the coronavirus abates? And how much of a social union should the EU …

Ep 198, presented by Equinor: Recovery recipes — Presidential problems — Scottish election

April 29th, 2021

39:51

Recovery fund masterplans, a power struggle among EU presidents and a deep dive into next week's Scottish Parliament election all feature in this episode.

Seeking approval for their share of the EU's €750 billion …

Ep 197: Germany's candidates — Super League shambles — data breach battles

April 22nd, 2021

34:59

The candidates vying to be Germany's next chancellor, Europe's Super League football flop and battles over people's personal data all feature in this week's episode.

A resurgent Green party in Germany chose Annalena …

Ep 196: Ukraine tension — Merkel succession battle — Marine litter

April 15th, 2021

28:41

POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig has been following this week's dramatic battle to become the conservative nominee to replace German Chancellor Angela …

Ep 195: Sofagate — Central and Eastern Europe's COVID struggles — Ivan Krastev

April 8th, 2021

36:28

The big preoccupation for the Brussels bubble this week was a trip to Ankara by European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President …

Special Edition: Stephen Brown — An audio appreciation

April 4th, 2021

31:29

This special edition of the EU Confidential podcast reflects on the life and career of Stephen Brown, the POLITICO Europe editor in chief who died of …

Ep 194: EU faces Beijing backlash — European astronauts in conversation

April 1st, 2021

30:00

POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Stuart Lau get you up to speed on recent rows between China and the European Union — …

Ep 193, presented by the European Training Foundation: Vax attacks — German scandals — Syria conflict

March 25th, 2021

29:52

POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Jakob Hanke Vela break down the Commission plan to give the EU more powers to stop …

Ep 192: AstraZeneca limbo — Vaccine export bans — COVID disinformation

March 18th, 2021

35:47

As the European Commission proposes a digital certificate to allow for safe travel around the EU in the corona era, we debate how much that matters if enough Europeans aren't vaccinated. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym …

Ep 191: German election journey — EESC in spotlight

March 11th, 2021

42:48

Our Trans-Germany Express stops first in Stuttgart to speak with POLITICO's Laurenz Gehrke about Sunday's regional elections. Then we head to Düsseldorf, where Matthew Karnitschnig picks out national candidates and …

Ep 190: EU solidarity jabbed — Vaccine passports — China relations

March 4th, 2021

37:25

POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton joins podcast regulars Andrew Gray and Rym Momtaz to discuss the implications of an increasing number of EU countries …

Ep 189: Message to Moscow — Frontier fracas — Euro English

February 25th, 2021

30:27

EU foreign ministers this week gave the go-ahead for sanctions on Russian officials in response to the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn, Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew …

Ep 188: Mario Draghi's return — Italian influence — Is the EU funny?

February 18th, 2021

33:53

We discuss Italy's new prime minister, Mario Draghi, and explore how he will operate at home and on the European stage. Plus, we debate whether the EU is funny, with a talented comedic cast.

POLITICO's Jacopo Barigazzi …

Ep 187, presented by Equinor: Borrell Russia rumpus — Macron's rivals — Lithuania's foreign minister

February 11th, 2021

30:05

We debate EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's controversial trip to Moscow and hear from the foreign minister of a country that knows first-hand …

Ep 186, presented by Equinor: Vaccine export fiasco — Von der Leyen's line — Belgian virologist

February 4th, 2021

33:57

POLITICO trade reporter Jakob Hanke Vela talks us through how the Commission's export control scheme became more controversial as it evolved, …

Ep 185, presented by BP: Europe's vaccine blame game — Brussels bubble struggles

January 28th, 2021

34:05

POLITICO's Chief Policy Correspondent Sarah Wheaton joins Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig to talk through an in-depth story she …

Ep 184: Europe reacts to Biden's inauguration — Merkel succession

January 21st, 2021

28:52

Joe Biden's inauguration may have been happening in America, but the eyes of Europe and the world were watching. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and David M. Herszenhorn discuss European reaction to the …

Ep 183: CDU contenders — Platforms and politicians — 'Good' countries

January 14th, 2021

35:24

POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Matthew Karnitschnig set up the biggest political event in Europe this week — the election of the next leader of the …

Ep 182: Vaccine vexation — EU-UK deal — Previewing 2021

January 7th, 2021

41:11

We look back on the big news of the holiday period and forward to the stories we expect to shape 2021 in another bumper podcast panel edition of EU …

Ep 181, presented by Google: Reflecting on 2020

December 17th, 2020

41:04

It's a bumper end-of-year review edition! But don't worry if 2020 is the year you're already trying to forget — we want to reflect on key moments and themes, rather than relive the trauma.

POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym …

Ep 180, presented by Shell: EU deals on climate & budget — Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya

December 11th, 2020

38:01

In their final meeting of 2020, EU leaders made key decisions on the bloc's long-term budget and recovery fund, emissions targets, and foreign affairs. We delayed this week's episode to bring you a must-listen analysis …

Ep 179, presented by Equinor: Von der Leyen's first year reviewed — Manfred Weber interview

December 3rd, 2020

38:05

One year on from Ursula von der Leyen taking office as Commission president, we take stock of how she has performed. And Manfred Weber, leader of the …

Ep 178: Europe's new US BFFs — Biden calling — Big tech lobbying

November 26th, 2020

38:19

They like America's traditional allies! They talk about multilateralism! Some of them even speak French! U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's foreign …

Ep 177 In Focus: Energy, presented by Shell: Budget blocked — Strategic autonomy — COP26

November 19th, 2020

34:26

Hungary and Poland's block on the EU's budget and recovery package and a Franco-German clash over European strategy autonomy are up for debate in …

Ep 176, presented by Equinor: Vaccine hopes — Budget breakthrough — US election reaction

November 12th, 2020

33:13

The prospect of a coronavirus vaccine, European reaction to Joe Biden's victory in the US presidential race and a breakthrough on the EU's €1.8 trillion budget — it's all up for debate in this episode, featuring …

Campaign Confidential #13, presented by Huawei: Key election lessons — Georgia on our minds

November 10th, 2020

25:44

In the final episode of our pop-up series on the US elections, we share the key takeaways, looking at what we heard over the past 3 months and how it explains where we ended up. We also look ahead to looming Senate …

Ep 175: Biden, Trump and what the US elections mean for Europe

November 5th, 2020

42:38

In this special extended episode, we debate and dissect the U.S. presidential vote, looking at its implications for America, transatlantic ties and …

Campaign Confidential #12, presented by Huawei: How to watch election night like a pro

November 2nd, 2020

20:19

In this episode of our pop-up series on the US elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we give you all the details you need to follow the big night like a …

Ep 174: Team Macron turmoil — Minimum wage push — OECD contenders

October 29th, 2020

36:17

Trouble in French President Emmanuel Macron's inner circle, the European Commission's move to boost minimum wages, and the battle to lead the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development all feature in this …

Campaign Confidential #11: Top debate drama and campaign crunch time

October 27th, 2020

17:10

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we dive into the top debate moments of this campaign season — and explain how they've impacted the election.

POLITICO White House reporter …

Ep 173, presented by the European Commission: Pandemic politics — Farming feuds — Hospitality hopes

October 22nd, 2020

32:59

Political activity in a pandemic, transatlantic turbulence, the EU's farming future and what the hospitality industry wants from politicians to …

Campaign Confidential #10: Trump's suburban troubles

October 20th, 2020

21:46

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we explain what is happening in America's suburbs — a crucial …

Ep 172: Coronavirus scramble — Estonia's president — Panel's picks

October 15th, 2020

35:50

The coronavirus is top of mind as we dig into the state of the pandemic in the EU, and ask whether leaders' handling of its resurgence threatens the bond of trust between governments and citizens. Estonian President …

Campaign Confidential #9: America's election litigation bonanza

October 13th, 2020

24:37

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we dive into the myriad of lawsuits and legal issues surrounding …

Ep 171, presented by Shell: Commissioner Reynders on rule of law — Brexit crunch time — Coronavirus surge

October 8th, 2020

26:02

Rule of law in the EU, mounting coronavirus concerns and Brexit brinksmanship are all up for debate on the latest episode of EU Confidential. Justice …

Campaign Confidential #8: What's at stake for Europe

October 6th, 2020

25:00

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, guest hosted by David M. Herszenhorn, we look at what's at stake for Europe and the impact on transatlantic relations.

Former German ambassador to the U.S. …

Ep 170: EU leaders talk Turkey and Russia — Chancellor hopeful Norbert Röttgen

October 1st, 2020

36:30

As EU leaders meet in Brussels, we hold our own mini-summit to debate issues on the table in the European Council building — including tension in the …

Campaign Confidential #7: How the fight for racial justice is impacting the elections

September 29th, 2020

22:44

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we talk about America's battle for racial justice and how it's …

Ep 169: Commissioner Johansson on EU migration pact — France's Europe Minister Clément Beaune

September 24th, 2020

35:27

The EU's new plan to handle migration is in the spotlight — Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson lays out the package and our podcast panel breaks it down. You'll also hear from Clément Beaune, France's minister of …

Campaign Confidential #6: How conspiracy theories are shaping the 2020 elections

September 22nd, 2020

22:22

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we talk about how conspiracy theories have moved from the fringes …

Ep 168: Von der Leyen's State of the European Union — US Ambassador Ronald Gidwitz

September 17th, 2020

35:29

We analyze Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's first State of the European Union speech. And Ronald Gidwitz, the U.S. ambassador to Belgium …

Campaign Confidential #5: Money, money, money

September 15th, 2020

23:30

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we talk money — diving into why American elections are so expensive, and how 2020 is stacking up.

You'll hear from Elena Schneider, a …

Ep 167: Commission reshuffle — Strasbourg skip — Brexit's back — Twitter's Nick Pickles

September 10th, 2020

34:29

A European Commission reshuffle, the European Parliament's decision to skip Strasbourg and new uproar over Brexit all feature in this episode — …

Campaign Confidential #4: Why is America more polarized than ever?

September 8th, 2020

24:00

On this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we explore the polarization of American politics and ask one simple …

Ep 166: Macron's Lebanon gamble — Navalny poisoning — Misha Glenny's Iron Men

September 3rd, 2020

35:17

A firsthand account of French President Emmanuel Macron's latest diplomatic push in Lebanon; the poisoning of opposition activist Alexei Navalny; and …

Campaign Confidential #3: A perfect storm — Foreign influence — Absentee ballots

September 1st, 2020

20:43

Our third episode dedicated to the U.S. election, hosted by Ryan Heath, breaks down the 'perfect storm' of issues — a pandemic, voting troubles and foreign interference — that have experts on edge.

The last presidential …

Ep 165: Golfgate and Hogan's resignation — Trump-era transatlantic relations

August 27th, 2020

27:43

EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan's resignation, the "golfgate" controversy surrounding his decision and what this means for the European Commission …

Campaign Confidential #2: Republican National Convention — Pennsylvania voters — American democracy

August 25th, 2020

21:46

We take you to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in this episode of our pop-up podcast series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, and break down what is motivating Trump voters in 2020 — including in key …

Ep 164: Belarus crisis — Germany's environment minister — Iran sanctions

August 20th, 2020

35:08

The EU's approach to the Belarus crisis and a new transatlantic battle over sanctions on Iran are up for debate in this week's episode, while …

Campaign Confidential #1: Democratic National Convention — Mail drama — Democrats abroad

August 18th, 2020

17:44

Our pop-up podcast series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, kicks off at the (mostly-virtual) Democratic National Convention, and dives into the current debate over voting by mail and the challenges of voting …

Trailer: Campaign Confidential

August 13th, 2020

1:41

A foretaste of our brand new podcast on the U.S. elections, hosted by POLITICO's Ryan Heath

Starting on Tuesday August 18, Ryan and guests will …

POLITICO EU Confidential Trailer

August 12th, 2020

1:20

From Brussels, Berlin, Paris and London — Europe’s premier political podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 163: New coronavirus concerns — MEP Evelyn Regner on gender balance — US elections

July 30th, 2020

29:38

Fears of a coronavirus second wave, a campaign for gender equality at the top of the EU, and the U.S. presidential election all feature in this week's episode.

After weeks of intense debate over the economic response to …

Ep 162: EU budget and recovery summit — Deal, drama & details

July 23rd, 2020

28:37

The POLITICO  team breaks down the details — and the drama — behind the deal struck by EU leaders on a €1.82 trillion financial package during a historic five-day summit in Brussels.

Using audio clips from key players …

Ep 161: Summit state of play — Polish election aftermath — 'Tribalization' of Europe

July 16th, 2020

32:21

The EU's budget and recovery plan, the Polish election outcome and the "tribalization" of Europe are all up for debate in this week's episode.

Ep 160: Europe's chief prosecutor — French reshuffle — Merkel in Brussels

July 9th, 2020

26:40

Emmanuel Macron's reshuffle, Angela Merkel's Brussels trip and Europe's approach to China all feature in this week's episode, as well as an interview with the EU's first chief prosecutor.

POLITICO's France Correspondent …

Ep 159: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić — Macron soliloquies — Green wave

July 2nd, 2020

25:47

A Green wave in France, the speaking styles of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić all feature in this week's podcast. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz in Paris explains what Green wins in …

Ep 158: French & Polish elections — Germany's EU mission — Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean

June 25th, 2020

33:48

The podcast crew marks your political calendar with previews of elections in France and Poland as well as Germany's presidency of the EU Council. Rym …

Ep 157: Peter Mandelson's WTO bid — Recovery review — Kosovo maneuvers

June 18th, 2020

32:35

Peter Mandelson, former EU trade commissioner and British Cabinet minister, throws his hat into the ring to be the next boss of the World Trade …

Ep 156: VP Věra Jourová on disinformation — US troop pullout — China strategy

June 11th, 2020

35:12

European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová joins us to discuss the EU executive's plan to crack down on disinformation related to the coronavirus. The document specifically accuses China and Russia,  as well as …

Ep 155: Protests spread — G7 drama — French MEP Manon Aubry

June 4th, 2020

33:27

The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police officers sparked protests in the United States, as well as in Europe. POLITICO's …

Ep 154: Commission's €750B recovery plan — Battles ahead — Making 'Parlement' funny

May 28th, 2020

33:48

The European Commission this week unveiled a sweeping €750 billion proposal to get the EU's economies back on track. POLITICO's budget guru Lili Bayer, along with Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig and Rym Momtaz break …

Coronavirus edition #11: Reviewing Europe's response — Challenges ahead — Behind-the-scenes peek

May 25th, 2020

30:12

As countries ease lockdowns and try to move toward normality, we take stock of Europe's response to the coronavirus so far. We pick out key themes and moments, offer a behind-the-scenes peek at our coverage and look at …

Ep 153: Merkel & Macron's Recovery Fund — Economist Lucas Guttenberg

May 21st, 2020

31:30

It was big and bold and came out of the blue — Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron took Europe by surprise with a plan for a €500 billion EU recovery …

Coronavirus edition #10: MEP Pascal Canfin on green recovery — Back-to-school questions

May 18th, 2020

24:58

How green will Europe's economic revival be? Pascal Canfin, the chair of the European Parliament's environment committee, outlines what MEPs want to see from the EU's recovery plan. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron …

Ep 152: Timothy Garton Ash — Second wave — War on leaks

May 14th, 2020

34:00

Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European studies in the University of Oxford, doesn't mince words about the challenges — and opportunities — facing the European Union as it tries to navigate its way out of the …

Coronavirus edition #9: Talking Tedros: WHO chief in spotlight — Sweden's light-touch lockdown

May 11th, 2020

27:20

We turn the spotlight on World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the man at the center of a global public health crisis and a …

Ep 151, presented by the Croatian presidency: Coronavirus quandaries — New British Chamber CEO

May 7th, 2020

29:15

What standards should we expect from politicians, professors and public health experts as they guide us through this crisis? And where does science …

Coronavirus edition #8: Pledge drive ⁠— Getting philosophical ⁠— Brussels post-lockdown plans

May 4th, 2020

22:29

Pledges of billions of euros to fight the coronavirus rolled into a conference hosted by the European Commission on Monday — but how much of that …

Ep 150: Chinese propaganda — Economist Thomas Piketty — Brussels love bus

April 30th, 2020

30:00

French economist Thomas Piketty has some big ideas about how Europe should respond to the coronavirus crisis. He shared them in a livestreamed …

Coronavirus edition #7: Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on economic recovery — Critical seasonal workers

April 27th, 2020

17:12

Elisa Ferreira, the European commissioner for cohesion and reforms, is directly involved in crafting the EU's economic response to the coronavirus. …

Ep 149: Europe's recovery — Virtual Council — Anything but corona

April 23rd, 2020

28:58

EU leaders met virtually to try to forge a path toward economic recovery — and they found a way not to disagree, by deciding in advance not to try to agree. With the European Commission now tasked with producing a plan, …

Coronavirus edition #6: Belgium death toll explained — Antibodies vs. immunity — AI & COVID-19

April 20th, 2020

21:49

Why is Belgium’s coronavirus death toll so high? And will antibody tests be the panacea to ending lockdowns in Europe? POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton and …

Ep 148: Coronavirus Twitter chat — The Brussels Effect — Virtual Parliament

April 16th, 2020

37:53

How have the EU and the U.K. handled the coronavirus crisis so far? Our podcast team took your questions on that subject in a live Twitter chat. …

Coronavirus edition #5: How Europe failed coronavirus test — Auto industry impact — MEP Bas Eickhout

April 13th, 2020

25:18

Our senior health reporter Sarah Wheaton reviews the key moments of this crisis so far and answers the big questions on how Europe ended up here. You can read the deep dive Sarah co-authored with chief Brussels …

Ep 147: Who's running Britain? — Exit strategy U-turn — Virtual Brussels tour

April 9th, 2020

31:49

Who's running Britain? Does anyone have a plan to get us out of lockdowns? And what's behind the battle over corona bonds? We try to answer all these questions and more in this week's episode. POLITICO's Annabelle …

Coronavirus edition #4: Pandemic preparations — Behind the masks ⁠— Coronavirus apps

April 6th, 2020

26:35

David Alexander, a professor of risk and disaster reduction, explains how governments should prepare for a pandemic and why leaders seem to be in a …

Ep 146: Jobs Commissioner Schmit — Lockdown limits — Corona bond bungle

April 2nd, 2020

33:25

Nicolas Schmit, the European commissioner for jobs and social rights, is our special guest ⁠— discussing the Commission's plan to help people stay in …

Coronavirus edition #3: Testing questions ⁠— Corona bond debate ⁠— Dr. Herman Goossens

March 30th, 2020

28:27

Herman Goossens, a professor of microbiology and coordinator of an EU group studying how to combat the coronavirus, is our special guest. What would …

Ep 145: Italian lessons — Democratic distancing — ONE Campaign's Gayle Smith

March 27th, 2020

29:51

POLITICO's Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli in Rome shares her thoughts on what the rest of Europe can learn from Italy's response to the coronavirus. Our pan-European panel debates the challenges for democracy in the age of …

Coronavirus edition #2: European Commissioner Ylva Johansson — Vaccine confusion — 8 more weeks?

March 23rd, 2020

28:11

We hear from someone directly involved in the EU's response to the coronavirus crisis: Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson. The Swedish …

Ep 144 In Focus: Energy, presented by Shell: Europe on hold — COVID-19 leadership — Energy battles

March 19th, 2020

35:45

As COVID-19 paralyzes Europe, our podcast panel describes daily life right now in Paris, Berlin, London and Brussels. We also look at how Emmanuel …

Coronavirus edition #1: Shutdowns & lockdowns — Europe's response — What airlines want

March 16th, 2020

24:19

POLITICO brings you a special edition of the EU Confidential podcast focusing on the coronavirus crisis. This is the first in a series of extra …

Ep 143: Italy in coronavirus lockdown — Elections in France — UK's Tom Tugendhat

March 12th, 2020

31:19

Life under lockdown in Italy: This episode of EU Confidential leads off with a conversation with Silvia Sciorilli-Borrelli in Rome about how Italy's attempt to quell the spread of the coronavirus is impacting people's …

Ep 142, presented by Goldman Sachs: EU in crisis mode — Super Tuesday — Syrian doctor Amani Ballour

March 5th, 2020

30:31

From Brussels, Berlin, Paris and London, we break down responses to the coronavirus across Europe. How are politicians and the general population in …

Ep 141: Europe's coronavirus response — Carnival & anti-Semitism — Valdis Dombrovskis interview

February 27th, 2020

35:58

This episode of EU Confidential explores how Europe is responding to the coronavirus, with POLITICO's senior health reporter, Sarah Wheaton. We also take you to the Belgian city of Aalst, whose carnival celebrations …

Ep 140: EU's €1 trillion summit — Herman Van Rompuy — A digital vision

February 21st, 2020

32:44

We go inside the special summit on the EU budget as leaders battle over plans likely to be worth more than €1 trillion over seven years. Among those sharing their thoughts with us: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, …

EU Confidential #139, presented by the Croatian Presidency: Munich Security Conference special

February 16th, 2020

43:49

We go inside one of the world's top gatherings of political leaders, military commanders, ambassadors and policy experts — the Munich Security …

Ep 138, presented by the Croatian Presidency: German mess — 'Greta syndrome' — Anders Fogh Rasmussen

February 13th, 2020

29:05

In the latest EU Confidential, ex-NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen weighs in on the future of European defense and the global artificial intelligence race. We also catch up with the new president of the European …

Ep 137: Margrethe Vestager interview — Macron in Poland — Revisiting enlargement

February 6th, 2020

29:26

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s executive vice president for digital, is the main interview guest in this week's EU Confidential podcast. She made a name for herself by taking on tech giants in her last …

Ep 136: Departing Brits debate — Huawei fallout — EU budget crunch

January 30th, 2020

30:30

This episode of EU Confidential bids adieu (or is it au revoir?) to the U.K. as an EU member. You'll hear a lively debate with outgoing British MEPs Jude Kirton-Darling (Labour Party), Alex Phillips (Green Party) and …

Ep 135, presented by Goldman Sachs: PM Xavier Bettel — Prof. Mary Beard — David Miliband

January 23rd, 2020

35:40

This EU Confidential episode comes to you from Davos, Switzerland where the POLITICO team has been covering the 50th edition of the World Economic Forum.

You'll hear an exclusive interview with Luxembourg Prime Minister …

Davos Confidential #3, presented by Goldman Sachs: Trump address — Solvay's CEO — Quantum computing

January 22nd, 2020

31:44

On episode 3 of POLITICO's Davos Confidential podcast series, our Editor-in-Chief Stephen Brown breaks down Donald Trump's address on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum, and Florian Eder and Rym Momtaz discuss Trump's …

Davos Confidential #2, presented by Goldman Sachs: Trump day — Workforce transformation

January 20th, 2020

32:45

On Day 2 of Davos Confidential, we preview Donald Trump's much-anticipated speech at the World Economic Forum. Who's considered the most "controversial" among this high-powered crowd? POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Stephen …

Davos Confidential #1, presented by Goldman Sachs: World Economic Forum preview

January 20th, 2020

17:34

POLITICO heads to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum this week — bringing you a special daily podcast series from the snowy mountains …

Ep 134: Geopolitical tussles — EU's green cash — New Zealand's EU envoy

January 16th, 2020

28:38

On this episode of EU Confidential, Europe is on the foreign policy defensive again after Russia and Turkey seized the initiative in Libya. But did …

Ep 133, presented by Gilead: Europe's Iran reaction — 2020 EU resolutions — New AIDS epidemic

January 9th, 2020

35:50

The podcast welcomes the New Year with a spirited discussion about Europe's response to the U.S. assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. …

Ep 132: Top 2019 moments — UK vote fallout — Deepfakes — Catalonia's Alfred Bosch

December 19th, 2019

35:56

In the last episode of 2019, the EU Confidential podcast crew selects their top political moments of the year — from the launch of the Brexit party …

Ep 131, presented by ERT: EU summit — Climate confusion — Gentiloni on geopolitics

December 13th, 2019

32:44

This week's podcast comes from the EU summit in Brussels, where new European Council President Charles Michel claimed agreement on the Continent …

Ep 130, presented by ERT: UK general election special

December 9th, 2019

30:34

The U.K. general election is the focus for a special edition of POLITICO'S EU Confidential podcast. Our team of journalists looks at the possible outcomes from both U.K. and EU perspectives. What are the most likely …

Ep 129, presented by Shell: Hot mic NATO summit — Former French ambassador Gérard Araud

December 5th, 2019

27:13

It wouldn't be a meeting of world leaders these days without a spat or two, and NATO's 70th anniversary celebration near London was no exception. …

Ep 128, presented by the Martens Centre: Commissioner Avramopoulos — New Commission standouts

November 28th, 2019

31:15

In the new episode of EU Confidential, we talk migration and security with the EU’s outgoing commissioner for home affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos. …

Ep 127: European Parliament VP Katarina Barley — EU’s missing Iran response — All eyes on NATO

November 21st, 2019

35:08

The podcast crew debates the EU’s response — or lack thereof — to the wave of protests rocking Iran and Tehran's latest violation of the Iran nuclear …

Ep 126: Madeleine Albright — New plan for EU hopefuls — Macron's worldview

November 14th, 2019

33:36

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright talks about the divisions that emerged in Europe after the Cold War — and what the EU can do about …

Ep 125: Oettinger interview — Pompeo hits the Wall — Romania's Commission pick

November 7th, 2019

29:38

In the new EU Confidential podcast, the EU's outgoing budget chief Günther Oettinger opens up on his decade in Brussels. POLITICO's Carmen Paun has the scoop on Romania's new nominee for the European Commission. From …

Ep 124: Macron to China ⁠— Populist resurgence ⁠— UK election ⁠& DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson

October 31st, 2019

36:09

In the brand new episode of EU Confidential, we talk China, populism and British politics.

With Emmanuel Macron heading for China and top German …

Ep 123, presented by ExxonMobil: Juncker's legacy — Spain’s EU minister Marco Aguiriano

October 24th, 2019

33:51

In the latest episode of EU Confidential, we talk EU enlargement, Jean-Claude Juncker's legacy, Brexit and Syria. And we have an interview with Spain's point man for the EU.

The podcast panel tackles the repercussions of …

Ep 122, presented by BP: Brexit deal — European Council behind the scenes — Greek PM Mitsotakis

October 18th, 2019

32:58

This special episode of EU Confidential takes you inside the European Council summit in Brussels which signed off on the brand new Brexit deal. POLITICO’s Annabelle Dickson, Rym Momtaz and Andrew Gray break down the …

Ep 121: Goulard rejected — Sondland in hot water — Green MEP Daniel Freund on EU transparency

October 10th, 2019

35:37

Commission drama, impeachment battles, countries struggling to leave and join the EU, and fights over transparency in politics — they’re all here in …

SPONSORED CONTENT: As farms go digital, possibilities for decarbonization grow

October 7th, 2019

34:15

In the special branded episode of EU Confidential Goes Green by Bayer: The episode focuses on digital tools being used on European farms, and the new …

Ep 120, presented by ExxonMobil: Boris’ Brexit proposal — Latvia’s Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš

October 3rd, 2019

32:45

On our latest episode of the new EU Confidential, POLITICO's Annabelle Dickson unpacks Boris Johnson's new Brexit plan. Meanwhile in Brussels, confirmation hearings for new European Commissioners are well underway. …

Ep 119, presented by the European Commission: Von der Leyen’s rejection woes — Labour’s Keir Starmer

September 26th, 2019

38:04

This week’s episode takes us to London, New York and around the Continent. We start in Brussels, where members of the European Parliament rejected the Romanian and Hungarian nominees for the next European Commission …

Ep 118, presented by BP: Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili

September 19th, 2019

34:13

In our just-released podcast, we review the week in European politics and speak to the president of a small country with big geopolitical challenges.

Ep 117 Special Edition: US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland

September 15th, 2019

23:53

In a special edition of the EU Confidential podcast, U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland speaks with POLITICO’s Ryan Heath about the state of relations between Europe and the United States. Donald Trump’s man in …

Ep 116, presented by Bayer: Swedish Enviro Minister Isabella Lövin — Commission’s Green New Deal

September 12th, 2019

38:49

The new episode of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast is part of our "goes green" series. And the timing could hardly be better, with Ursula von der …

Ep 115, presented by the European Commission: Brexit drama — MEPs Caroline Voaden and Judith Bunting

September 5th, 2019

36:38

Our brand new podcast focuses on the Brexit drama in London — but not just from a British perspective. POLITICO journalists Rym Momtaz (based in Paris), Matthew Karnitschnig (Berlin), Annabelle Dickson (London) and …

Episode 114, presented by Shell: Ryan Heath signs off

August 30th, 2019

38:39

In this episode the POLITICO team turns the tables on Ryan Heath, who finishes as host of EU Confidential this episode, and interviews him about the …

Episode 113, presented by Citi: Megan Richards

August 22nd, 2019

19:46

Ryan Heath interviews Megan Richards, a Canadian who spent three decades working for the EU, rising to be one of its top officials in digital and …

Episode 112, presented by Bayer: Electrification Alliance's Kristian Ruby

August 8th, 2019

39:21

This week we’re going Green again: Ryan Heath talks to Kristian Ruby who runs Eurelectric and the Electrification Alliance, as a way to clean our energy systems. After that, POLITICO's Anca Gurzu takes a …

Episode 111 — Inside UK Parliament's groping, harassment, bullying problem; Jacob Rees-Mogg reaction

August 1st, 2019

36:27

As Boris Johnson's begins his term as U.K. prime minister on a fast and furious Brexit course, Annabelle Dickson asks the Conservative leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, and a group of U.K. Parliament …

Episode 110: Author Peter May - Boris begins - Martin's move

July 25th, 2019

34:47

Best-selling author Peter May talks about his political thriller set in Brussels, The Man With No Face, just republished four decades after he wrote …

Episode 109, presented by BP: Mette Grolleman — Debating EU presidency corporate sponsorship

July 18th, 2019

29:47

Mette Grolleman runs the biggest lobbying office in Brussels — FleishmanHillard — and isn’t tempted to return to the Berlaymont to work for her old …

Episode 108 — Paul Adamson, godfather of Brussels lobbying scene

July 11th, 2019

31:29

In our latest podcast episode, we discuss the life of a lobbyist, the latest in the Brussels hustle, and the recent transatlantic twitterstorm.

This …

Episode 107: Moonshot Venture's Mark MacGann —— President Ursula von der Leyen?

July 4th, 2019

35:26

A surprise European Commission presidential nominee landed on Brussels this week: the polished and much-criticised defense minister of Germany, …

Episode 106, presented by Bayer: Can capitalism save the planet?

June 27th, 2019

44:29

In the latest in our occasional series focusing on green issues, we ask whether capitalism can save the planet.

The European Commission held a sustainable finance conference this week, and two of our reporters went along …

Episode 105, presented by Romania's EU presidency: David Miliband & political rebrands

June 20th, 2019

33:15

David Miliband speaks to POLITICO’s Brexit editor James Randerson in our feature interview this week.

It’s delicious timing, given the U.K. is getting a new prime minister and the EU is getting a new slate of leaders. …

Episode 104: Jean-Claude Juncker & Shada Islam

June 13th, 2019

37:06

Hear European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in conversation with POLITICO's Florian Eder, discussing Trump, Brexit and more.
Also this week, Shada Islam from think tank Friends of Europe talks to POLITICO's …

Episode 103: Danny Alexander — Debating the Trump visit

June 6th, 2019

31:08

In a week full of world-shaping history, from the 75th D-Day anniversary to the 30th anniversary of the Tianamen Square massacre, our feature …

Episode 102: Martin Selmayr — EU election results

May 30th, 2019

35:08

A look back at the European Parliament election results, and a look ahead to the race for EU top jobs.

Ryan Heath interviews Martin Selmayr, the …

Episode 101: Bruno Le Maire and EU election preview

May 23rd, 2019

29:05

Bruno Le Maire, French minister of economy and finance, outlines his big ambitions for collecting tax from giant companies, creating a eurozone …

XX Factor Episode 5 — UK: Annunziata Rees-Mogg, and MPs Mary Creagh, Jo Swinson, and Helen Whately

May 19th, 2019

27:37

After three years of divisive Brexit debate and voting in the United Kingdom, POLITICO's Annabelle Dickson surveyed the damage and opportunities that have arisen as British voters unexpectedly head to vote in the 2019 …

**Episode 100** presented by Bayer: Air pollution, killing us softly?

May 16th, 2019

34:35

For EU Green Week and EU Public Health Week, we go to an issue at the intersection of those themes: air quality.

The World Health Organisation …

Episode 99: Frans Timmermans and Margrethe Vestager, rivals for European Commission president

May 9th, 2019

41:42

We have a double-header this week: interviews with both Frans Timmermans (Socialist) and Margrethe Vestager (Liberal), two rivals to become European Commission president.

Ryan Heath and Nazan Gökdemir jointly interviewed …

XX Factor Episode 4 — What can Europe learn from around the world?

May 7th, 2019

15:17

Hosted by Sarah Wheaton and featuring Corinna Horst, Lina Aburous, Jacinda Ardern and Lulwah Al Khater, this episode takes us from the Middle East to …

Episode 98: EU Presidential Debate highlights

May 2nd, 2019

53:18

In this episode we offer you highlights from Monday's 95-minute EU presidential debate in Maastricht, co-moderated by EU Confidential host Ryan Heath. Five candidates debate on Digital Europe, Sustainable Europe and the …

Episode 97: Manfred Weber, EPP EU presidential candidate

April 25th, 2019

24:35

This week it's a short episode: just a 20-minute interview with Manfred Weber, the person in pole position to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as European …

XX Factor Episode 3: Women in election media coverage, featuring Marietje Schaake, and Italy

April 23rd, 2019

35:56

Why do female candidates and politicians receive more negative coverage than men, and why are they seen as less newsworthy? In this episode we look …

Episode 96, presented by BP: Decoding election betting, polling and journalism

April 18th, 2019

25:17

The European Parliament has wrapped up its current five-year term, and the election campaign now enters into a final five-week sprint. This episode features a three-way discussion about what betting companies, opinion …

Episode 95: For & Against the EU — Sandro Gozi & Anders Vistisen

April 11th, 2019

39:02

For or against the EU? It's the biggest European question of all — and we tackled it in a debate in front of an audience in Brussels this week as the EU election campaign gets into high gear.

Hear highlights of the …

Episode 94: Emily Thornberry on Labour, Brexit and foreign policy

April 7th, 2019

53:47

Emily Thornberry, the U.K. Labour Party’s shadow foreign secretary, is our guest in this special edition of EU Confidential. The show was recorded on Sunday in London in front of an audience at Podcast Live, an event …

Episode 93, presented by Bayer: MEP climate debate — Can the EU avert disaster?

April 4th, 2019

41:04

Are we headed for climate disaster, and is the EU the solution?

That's the question we ask in the second episode of "EU Confidential Goes Green,” the …

Episode 92, presented by Bayer: Amanda Eichel and Stockholm mayor Anna König Jerlmyr

March 28th, 2019

35:41

The first of six special EU Confidential Goes Green episodes between March and September 2019.
This episode is all about cities and features interviews with Amanda Eichel, executive director of the Global Covenant of …

XX Factor 2 – MEP Mairead McGuinness and the women shaking up Irish politics

March 26th, 2019

32:27

Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness, vice president of the European Parliament from Ireland’s ruling Fine Gael party, talks Brexit, the Irish border and …

Episode 91: EU summit — Brexit, Orbán & liberals — Flemish Culture Minister Sven Gatz

March 21st, 2019

35:41

It's a summit special this week. POLITICO’s Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Florian Eder discussed the topic du jour, Brexit, as EU leaders gathered in Brussels. They also chewed over Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party being …

Episode 90, presented by Naftogaz: Twitter's Nick Pickles — Syria conference — AKK's vision

March 14th, 2019

32:46

Nick Pickles, Twitter’s senior policy strategist, is our main guest. He responds to heated criticism of Twitter’s handling of free expression, …

XX Factor 1 - Women, power and the EU election

March 12th, 2019

29:54

Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series on women, power and the EU election — a fortnightly spin-off podcast from POLITICO's EU …

Episode 89: UAE parliament president Amal Al-Qubaisi — Polling guru Cornelius Hirsch

March 7th, 2019

36:03

This week’s podcast features Amal Al Qubaisi, president of the United Arab Emirates' Federal National Council, making her perhaps the most senior …

Episode 88: Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister

February 28th, 2019

32:35

In a week of geopolitical ping-pong we take a break to dive deeper into the politics of well-being and what it takes to be a great political …

Episode 87 — Richard Grenell and Miroslav Lajčák at the Munich Security Conference

February 21st, 2019

28:44

This week’s podcast focuses on the Munich Security Conference, one of the big events on the global political calendar. It features two interviews …

Episode 86: Jeremy Hunt, UK Foreign Secretary

February 19th, 2019

25:23

U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt talks to POLITICO's Ryan Heath in this extra edition of our podcast.
Hunt once took heavy fire from Brussels for making a comparison that invoked the EU and the Soviet Union. But he's …

Episode 85: UK Labour's John McDonnell — Is Strasbourg tearing MEP families apart?

February 14th, 2019

31:33

This week's feature interview is a 15-minute highlight reel from John McDonnell's already famous interview with POLITICO's London Playbook editor Jack Blanchard. In addition to discussing Brexit next steps and Labour's …

Episode 84: The Bellingcat team — Marietje Schaake MEP — U.S ambassador to EU Gordon Sondland

February 7th, 2019

37:23

This week we bring you the revenge of the geeks! Bellingcat is the world's most surprising and one of its most successful journalism ventures. …

Episode 83: Facebook's Nick Clegg

January 31st, 2019

31:54

Facebook's new global head of public affairs gives his first public interview since starting the job to Ryan Heath. Clegg addresses a growing number of Facebook controversies and outlines the company's plan to win back …

Episode 82, presented by BP: Wopke Hoekstra — Sarah Kate Ellis — Brok rocked

January 24th, 2019

32:33

POLITICO's Ryan Heath brings you two podcasts in one from the World Economic Forum — our final daily Davos Confidential show also doubles as your …

Davos Confidential 2019: Ep 3 - Amnesty's Kumi Naidoo — WHO chief Tedros

January 23rd, 2019

19:08

Kumi Naidoo, secretary-general of Amnesty International, talks to POLITICO's Ryan Heath in our latest pop-up podcast from the World Economic Forum.
Ryan also sums up his impressions of the WEF so far and talks to World …

Davos Confidential 2019: Ep 2 - Helle Thorning-Schmidt & Tim Berners-Lee

January 22nd, 2019

24:45

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the former Danish prime minister and current head of Save the Children International, is our main guest in today’s pop-up podcast from the World Economic Forum.
Speaking before an audience at a …

Davos Confidential 2019: Ep 1 - Setting the scene — Nico Rosberg — Resilience ratings

January 22nd, 2019

12:56

POLITICO’s Ryan Heath is back with another series of daily podcasts from the World Economic Forum.

In our first episode of the 2019 edition, Ryan asks Huffpost international director Louise Roug if all the chatter about …

Episode 81: Historian Felix Klos — Divided Europe in data

January 17th, 2019

33:26

As the winds of right-wing populism sweep through the world's biggest democracies, from India to the United States, and Brazil to the European Union, …

Episode 80: Netflix's David Hyman

January 10th, 2019

26:05

Netflix plans 153 original shows in Europe in 2019, worrying local broadcasters and delighting consumers. That level of ambition also leaves the company burning through billions in cash. The week's featured guest is …

Episode 79: Gayle Smith — New Year's resolutions & predictions

January 3rd, 2019

25:47

Gayle Smith, a former journalist and now campaigner against extreme poverty, is our main guest. In our podcast panel, Alva Finn and Lina Aburous …

Episode 78: Carles Puigdemont — Ai Weiwei — Tajani awards

December 20th, 2018

34:48

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and Chinese artist Ai Weiwei are our main guests, interviewed live on stage by POLITICO's Ryan Heath.
Also, panelists Alva Finn and Lina Aburous join Ryan to look back on 2018 …

Episode 77: EU presidential contender Frans Timmermans — Tibor Navracsics

December 13th, 2018

32:14

Double-header this week: socialist candidate for European Commission president Frans Timmermans and the European Commissioner for sport, education …

Episode 76, presented by Ericsson: Carlos Moedas - Macron's climb down - Denmark's immigration plan

December 6th, 2018

39:36

We talk to Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for innovation, research and science, about his passion for zero-emission cities, artificial intelligence and blockchain. The panel debates the Yellow Jackets eco-tax …

Episode 75, presented by Google: Debating Diversity — Hillary's migrant misfire

November 29th, 2018

39:07

We return to the theme of diversity in Brussels, a year after POLITICO’s Brussels So White article series, which looked at racial diversity and related themes in the EU’s de facto capital.

The interview guests are two …

Episode 74 presented by Tetra Pak: The Green episode, with Ska Keller, Bas Eickhout, Petra De Sutter

November 22nd, 2018

30:37

Greens are riding high as they gather in Berlin this weekend for their co-candidates for European Commission president in 2019. A string of national and regional electoral successes in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg …

Episode 73, presented by Future Europe Podcast: Rose Gottemoeller — Brexit deal — Merkel's vision

November 15th, 2018

32:27

Rose Gottemoeller, NATO's deputy-secretary general, is our main guest this week. She's the highest-ranking female official in the history of the military alliance — or, as Gottemoeller herself puts it, "the first …

Episode 72, presented by EFPIA: Bill Browder & Russia — US midterms — Picking politicians

November 8th, 2018

32:34

Our main guest is Bill Browder, once the largest foreign investor in Russia but now a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. He’s the driving force behind the Magnitsky Act — legislation designed to impose severe financial …

Episode 71, presented by Google: Malin Björk & Merkel's legacy

November 1st, 2018

30:06

With Europe's eyes glued to Berlin this week as the effects of Angela Merkel's partial retirement are digested, this podcast episode looks at what happens now that she has more time to devote to EU-level challenges and …

Episode 70, presented by Thai Union: Special Oceans-themed episode with Karmenu Vella, Werner Hoyer

October 25th, 2018

41:17

First up Justine Maillot from the Surfrider Foundation, a group of activists pushing for healthy oceans from the bottom-up. Then we speak to Davide Magnana who is trying to build an industry based on wave and tidal …

Episode 69, presented by Corteva Agriscience: Bill Gates and Emmanuel Macron's youth wing

October 18th, 2018

33:12

Bill Gates — billionaire tech founder turned philanthropist — is the main guest on this week's podcasts. We focus on why Europe is an aid superpower, …

Episode 68, presented by UNESDA: Manfred Weber wants to recast the European Commission presidency

October 11th, 2018

31:40

In a wide-ranging interview Weber says Brussels is a "black box" that is disconnected from most Europeans (though he leads its biggest party in the European Parliament). His campaign pitch puts a premium on changing how …

Episode 67, Alexander Stubb on why he should be European Commission president

October 4th, 2018

25:45

Alexander Stubb lays out his pitch for the European Commission presidency in this week's episode. Stubb is competing with Manfred Weber to be the European Peoples Party's candidate for the post in 2019.

Stubb is leaning …

Episode 66, presented by Qualcomm: OSCE chief — Montenegro's foreign minister — MEP expenses

September 27th, 2018

32:11

Ukraine, the Balkans, MEPs' expenses, fake news and fallout from the Salzburg summit are all on the menu this week. Our main guests are Thomas Greminger, head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, …

Episode 65, presented by Google: Emily O'Reilly — Vestager vs. German carmakers — Macron's job tips

September 20th, 2018

32:32

EU watchdog Emily O'Reilly is our main guest this week. Before heading off to get married, regular host Ryan Heath sat down for a candid chat with …

Episode 64, presented by Qualcomm: Lyor Cohen — Alain Deneef — Democracy festival

September 13th, 2018

28:10

This week, a bona fide music mogul. Lyor Cohen has been in the business for 37 years, working with musicians who define memories and eras — think the …

Episode 63, presented by Qualcomm: Dimitris Avramopoulos — Selmayrgate — Election fever

September 6th, 2018

32:41

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European commissioner for migration, sets out how the Commission plans to fighting back against populist attempts to …

Episode 62 — Inside Europe's right-wing extremist groups with Julia Ebner

August 30th, 2018

43:42

This week's episode revolves around two political hot topics: how Europe should manage the growth of far-right politics across the continent, and …

Episode 61: Brexit scenarios unpacked — Headscarf-free holidays

August 23rd, 2018

29:55

This week we hit peak Barnier — the height of the EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier's influence — and the U.K. published its Brexit no-deal contingency plans. We run through the dangers and the dramas ahead with Jill …

Episode 60: Summer stories — Tattoos to potatoes — Bridge blame game

August 16th, 2018

34:50

This week, we mix the format up: not one guest, but many. We've asked POLITICO reporters to talk us through stand-out stories they've produced this summer.

Ginger Hervey and Jillian Deutsch talk about the EU getting …

Episode 59: Inside the House of European History

August 9th, 2018

22:17

This week's interview is with Constanze Itzel, the director of the EU museum, the House of European History, in Brussels.
Listen to hear her views on fake memory, conscious distortion of history, and her battle with …

Episode 58: Labor market secrets — EU school rules — Summit entry fee

August 2nd, 2018

33:46

In this week's main interview, we hear from Sue Duke, the global head of public policy for LinkedIn. She reveals the labor market lessons to be …

Episode 57: Johannes Hahn — Western Balkans — Trump-Juncker love-in

July 26th, 2018

38:11

Johannes Hahn, European commissioner for enlargement negotiations and neighborhood policy, talks us through the Western Balkans. It's a region whose …

Episode 56: Phil Hogan — Amélie de Montchalin (En Marche) — Juncker and Trump stumble

July 19th, 2018

35:19

Amélie de Montchalin, a French member of Parliament with Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche party explains why its undemocratic to finalise the EU’s next …

Episode 55, presented by Raytheon: Inside the NATO summit

July 12th, 2018

30:14

A special defense-themed episode take you inside this week’s tense NATO summit and discusses the new specialism of 24/7 POTUS management. The stellar line-up includes United States Ambassadors Alexander Vershbow and …

Episode 54: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg — Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki — EU Parliament expense shock

July 5th, 2018

36:56

A bumper episode featuring NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg who’s got a present for Donald Trump ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Brussels, …

Episode 53, presented by Google: Wolfgang Schäuble — Danny McCoy — EU's Migration Troubles

June 28th, 2018

41:54

It’s summit week: crammed with migration and Trump and eurozone and Brexit and will-Merkel-stay-or-go drama.

One man who could benefit greatly from …

Episode 52, presented by Martens Centre: Women Rule! - Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - Rome's Roma rhetoric

June 21st, 2018

34:28

This week’s theme is Women Rule! Our feature interview is with
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of U.N. Women, who’s got passionate views …

Episode 51: Helle Thorning-Schmidt — European Parliament election — Migration debate

June 14th, 2018

35:04

Helle Thorning Schmidt, the former Danish PM who's now head of Save the Children International, is our main guest. Host Ryan Heath asks her about …

Episode 50, presented by Google: How NGOs lobby the EU — OSF's Patrick Gaspard — Leaders get younger

June 7th, 2018

46:20

A blockbuster episode, our 50th, in which three guests from the world of NGOs talk about the joys of their work and their frustrations at dealing with the EU and national governments.
Our first 50 episodes featured nine …

Episode 49, sponsored by Barilla Foundation: Nicola Sturgeon — Journalist's revival — Irish vote

May 31st, 2018

48:18

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon talks to host Ryan Heath in an interview recorded in front of an audience at POLITICO's Brussels HQ. …

Episode 48: Big tech’s brain hijack — Data protection D-Day — Zuckerberg’s Brussels moment

May 24th, 2018

33:30

It’s a tech special this week — but you don’t have to be a geek to understand any of it. Host Ryan Heath talks to Tristan Harris, who spent three years as a design ethicist at Google and has been called “the closest …

Episode 47: Combating anti-Semitism — Boosting the Balkans — Europe from afar

May 17th, 2018

41:33

We dive right in with two interviews — the first with the EU’s coordinator for combatting anti-Semitism, Katharina von Schnurbein. Then we speak to Martina Larkin, who is heading up a World Economic Forum initiative to …

Episode 46, presented by Grow with Google: Curbing idealism - EESC chief Luca Jahier - Hot mic hell

May 10th, 2018

40:15

Host Ryan Heath talks to author Vincent Stuer about his new book, Curb Your Idealism: The European Union as seen from within.
Ryan also chats to Luca Jahier, the new president of the European Economic and Social …

Episode 45: Margrethe Vestager — EU budget battle — Whistleblower protection

May 3rd, 2018

36:52

Ryan Heath hits the road with Europe’s Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager — darling of Emmanuel Macron and foe of tax cheats and tech giants — to learn about how one Belgian city went from wasteland to strength …

Episode 44, presented by Grow with Google: EU's energy future – Spencer Dale – Macron & Trump

April 26th, 2018

38:45

Spencer Dale, the former chief economist at the Bank of England who now holds the same position at energy giant BP, is our main guest this week. He …

Episode 43, presented by Grow with Google: Cécile Kyenge — Harassment investigation — Winking Macron

April 19th, 2018

33:23

Cécile Kyenge, one of the few black members of the European Parliament, talks to Ryan Heath about the obstacles and abuse she’s faced in her career — and what she wants the EU institutions to do to foster more diversity …

Episode 42: The Orbán effect — Mr. Data Protection — Harassment at EU gender equality agency

April 12th, 2018

31:30

Kati Marton, a veteran reporter and author now with the Committee to Protect Journalists, talks to host Ryan Heath about how the reelection of Victor Orbán in Hungary will impact media freedom in Europe.

Jan Philipp …

Episode 41: Bill Gates — Judging junkets — Greek MEPs' special stopover

April 5th, 2018

34:39

Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, is this week’s main guest. He talks to Ryan Heath about the work of his foundations, the next …

Episode 40, presented by Edelman and PAC: Brexit Countdown — Guy Verhofstadt — Brussels Press Revue

March 29th, 2018

35:58

With a year to go until Brexit, we take stock of where things stand and what lies ahead.

The European Parliament's Brexit Coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, talks to EU Confidential's executive producer, Andrew Gray, about …

Episode 39: Lithuania's Linas Linkevičius — Artificial Intelligence — Naughty MEPs

March 22nd, 2018

29:25

Russia, artificial intelligence and MEPs who are famous for the wrong reasons all feature in this week’s episode.

Host Ryan Heath talks to the foreign …

Episode 38: President Margvelashvili of Georgia— Ryanair's Michael O'Leary

March 15th, 2018

38:17

On this episode Ryan talks to Giorgi Margvelashvili, the president of Georgia who is a doctor of philosophy and was in town for the German Marshall …

Episode 37, presented by DowDupont: Marianne Thyssen — Lulwah Al Khater — Selmayr vs the world

March 8th, 2018

46:58

Ryan Heath talks to Marianne Thyssen, the European Commissioner for employment, about how she wants to overhaul EU policies on jobs, education and …

Ep. 36 : Tony Blair interview — Food bank furor — MEP of the week

March 1st, 2018

36:08

Tony Blair came to Brussels this week with a clear message, delivered in this week's interview: I’m trying to stop Brexit, and there’s only one shot …

Episode 35, presented by Raytheon: Ben Hodges — Munich Security Conference — Brexit blockbusters

February 22nd, 2018

36:32

This week's episode features a review of the Munich Security Conference and an interview with Ben Hodges, who recently retired as commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe.

Also on the podcast: our panelists give …

Episode 34: Alexander Stubb — Spitzenkandidat — MEP of the Week

February 15th, 2018

34:03

This week's special guest is Alexander Stubb, the former Finnish prime minister and ex-MEP who is now vice president of the European Investment Bank (EIB). Stubb talks about how the bank will handle Brexit and how it …

Episode 33: Nick Clegg — Western Balkans tough love — Lambert van Nistelrooij

February 8th, 2018

31:09

EU politics this week was all about shrinkage and enlargement.

The shrinkage of course is Brexit, with the U.K. government again failing to set out …

Episode 32: Czech politics — Slovenian PM Cerar — German car industry experiments

February 1st, 2018

35:28

It's a bumper episode this week. We hear from POLITICO's man in Prague, Siegfried Mortkowitz, about the good cop-bad cop Euroskeptic routine coming out of the Czech capital, and we catch up with a prime minister, a bank …

Episode 31: Direct from Davos — Dutch PM Mark Rutte — Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki

January 25th, 2018

35:22

We've got the lowdown from Davos in another special edition from the World Economic Forum. The podcast features interviews with two prime ministers — …

Davos Confidential 4: Theresa Time — Werner Hoyer — Trump’s warm-up act

January 24th, 2018

16:55

Ryan Heath and Matthew Kaminski look ahead to Theresa May’s appearance in Davos, hot on the heels of speeches by Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.

Also in the daily podcast, they discuss U.S. officials’ reception at the …

Davos Confidential 3: Europe’s back — Post-rage politics — Modi’s missed chance

January 23rd, 2018

18:36

Direct from Davos in our daily podcast, POLITICO’s Ryan Heath, Florian Eder and Matthew Kaminski look forward to an unofficial Europe day at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, when Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and …

Davos Confidential 2: Talking trade — Digital rights — Desperately seeking Donald

January 22nd, 2018

19:05

Ryan Heath and Florian Eder bring you the latest from the World Economic Forum in Davos in POLITICO’s special daily pop-up podcast.

Ryan talks to Arancha González, executive director of the International Trade Centre, …

Davos Confidential 1: Setting the scene - Advantage Angela - Panda scale for speeches

January 21st, 2018

10:39

Davos Confidential: In the first of POLITICO’s daily pop-up podcasts from the World Economic Forum, Ryan Heath and Florian Eder preview this year’s gathering of the global elite.

From the Crystal Awards to the Panda …

Episode 30: Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid — Davos preview — MEP of the Week

January 18th, 2018

31:21

This week's show features an interview with Estonia's President Kersti Kaljulaid, the first head of state to appear on the podcast.

Kaljulaid explains …

Episode 29: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek - Poland vs Brussels - Harassment survey

January 11th, 2018

46:04

Host Ryan Heath interviews Daniel Ek, the CEO of global music pioneer Spotify.

The music world was a notorious graveyard for online entrepreneurs: …

Episode 28: Estonia's EU presidency — Bulgaria's big moment — Iran protests

January 4th, 2018

36:04

Kaja Tael, Estonia's ambassador to the EU, reviews her country's six months running the bloc's rotating presidency. Host Ryan Heath also talks to …

Episode 27, presented by Raytheon : 2017 review & NATO’s Jamie Shea

December 21st, 2017

40:58

Episode 27 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features a review of the year from POLITICO reporters and an interview with NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General Jamie Shea, a Brussels veteran of almost 40 years.

Episode 26: Rebooting Brussels — #BrusselsSoWhite — David Davis’s double talk

December 14th, 2017

40:56

Episode 26 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast has just been released, featuring a deep dive into the EU's capital city. We discuss how to improve Brussels as a city with regional minister Pascal Smet and debate the …

Episode 25: Herman Van Rompuy & Theresa May's Manic Monday

December 7th, 2017

37:55

Former European Council President Herman Van Rompuy talks to host Ryan Heath about the future of the EU in this week's episode.

EU reform and Brexit haiku: Since leaving office, Van Rompuy has been shepherding a major …

Episode 24: Glyphodrama — Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis — food safety chief Bernard Uhl

November 30th, 2017

47:35

This week's show features back-to-back interviews with the European commissioner for health, Vytenis Andriukaitis, who is also a heart surgeon, and Bernhard Uhl, the head of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Episode 23: Olympic committee chief — EMA, EBA to Amsterdam, Paris — Failed German coalition talks

November 23rd, 2017

41:41

Episode 23 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee.

This week, we've got two feature interviews for you. As well as Bach, there's Adecco Group …

Episode 22, presented by Ørsted: Statoil CEO Eldar Sætre — White supremacy in Europe

November 16th, 2017

38:23

Episode 22 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features Eldar Sætre, the CEO of Norway's oil and gas company Statoil.

We spoke to Sætre on November 9, after the COP23 global climate conference had kicked off in Bonn, …

Episode 21: Greek opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis — Oettinger's car clash — UK Cabinet chaos

November 9th, 2017

31:30

Host Ryan Heath interviews Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the head of Greece's New Democracy party and opposition leader in parliament.

The outsider and the Mitsotakis dynasty: The opposition leader is the son of a former Greek …

Episode 20: Historian Rolf Falter — Catalonia comes to Brussels — Harassment scandal

November 2nd, 2017

35:34

Ryan Heath interviews Rolf Falter, a historian who has worked across the Belgian and EU political landscapes: from adviser, to journalist, to …

Episode 19: Harassment discussion — Hope for change — Maroš Šefčovič interview

October 26th, 2017

44:50

Episode 19 of EU Confidential features a special discussion on the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the EU Brussels bubble.

The podcast also …

Episode 18: EU Commissioner Vĕra Jourová — Remembering Daphne Caruana Galizia — Catalonia dilemma

October 19th, 2017

35:44

Episode 18 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features an interview with European Commissioner Vĕra Jourová, who leads the EU's work on data protection among her many responsibilities as commissioner for justice, …

Episode 17, presented by AB InBev: Athens Mayor — EU Committee of Regions President

October 12th, 2017

41:37

Episode 17 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features back-to-back interviews with Karl-Heinz Lambertz, president of the European Committee of the Regions, and George Kaminis, the center-left mayor Athens.

Theresa …

Episode 16: Telia's Johan Dennelind — Global Policy Lab — Catalan independence referendum

October 5th, 2017

41:18

Host Ryan Heath talks to POLITICO's chief Europe correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig about a homegrown journalism experiment: POLITICO's first Global …

Episode 15: Catalan independence debate — German election — Court confusion

September 28th, 2017

44:36

In a special episode this week, we feature interviews from both sides of the Catalan independence debate ahead of the Catalan regional government's …

Episode 14: NationBuilder's Toni Cowan-Brown — German election — Boris Johnson's fact and fantasy

September 21st, 2017

43:24

Host Ryan Heath interviews Toni Cowan-Brown, a vice president at NationBuilder, the software company that has powered election campaigns for Emmanuel Macron's party, Theresa May, Bernie Sanders and even Belgian …

Episode 13: Tomáš Valášek — Juncker's State of the Union — Catalonia

September 14th, 2017

45:05

Ryan Heath interviews Tomáš Valášek, the former Slovakian ambassador to NATO who heads the Carnegie Europe think tank.

As Russia begins its Zapad war …

Episode 12: David McAllister MEP - London Playbook's Jack Blanchard - Azerbaijan Scandal

September 7th, 2017

43:27

Host Ryan heath talks to David McAllister, head of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and a key ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

McAllister says the U.K.'s decision to leave the EU is a "historic …

Episode 11: EU rights expert Michael O'Flaherty — Poland's peril — Macron's make-up

August 31st, 2017

37:41

Regular host Ryan Heath is back with an interview with Michael O’Flaherty, the head of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The interview, recorded at …

Episode 10: Brexit & Ireland — John Bruton — Trump's tax break

August 24th, 2017

36:07

While regular host Ryan Heath recovers from his holiday jet lag, news editor Andrew Gray presents an interview with former Irish PM John Bruton on …

Episode 9: NATO's Petr Pavel — German election campaign — Britain's Brexit papers

August 17th, 2017

34:22

Regular host Ryan Heath is on holiday but the podcast rolls on with news editor Andrew Gray standing in once more.

This week, we've dug into the …

Episode 8: Emmanuel Macron interview — Commissioners' expenses — Brussels networking tips

August 10th, 2017

40:13

Europe might be slowing down for the summer but we're still going strong. Regular host Ryan Heath is on holiday so news editor Andrew Gray stands in …

Episode 7: Anders Fogh Rasmussen — Russia, Ukraine and the US — Greece's scapegoat statistician

August 3rd, 2017

46:16

This week, host Ryan Heath sits down with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO secretary-general and now adviser to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Rasmussen talks defense spending, Trump and how to handle …

Episode 6: Violeta Bulc — Ryanair to Brexit rescue? — Endless car scandals

July 27th, 2017

41:05

This week Violeta Bulc, the European transport commissioner and a taekwondo black belt, explains why she’d have Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary as a …

Episode 5: Taavet Hinrikus — Digital Regulation — David Davis: genius or fool?

July 20th, 2017

35:19

This week Mark Scott, POLITICO Europe's new chief technology correspondent, talks to us about the trends he sees as tech companies deal with the …

Episode 4: Marietje Schaake — Politics of EU-Japan deal — Parliament's PhD babysitter

July 13th, 2017

34:47

This week Christian Oliver, POLITICO Europe's trade editor, talks us through the astonishing speed with which the EU completed its trade deal with Japan, and why future trade deals will not be so easy.

Marietje Schaake, …

Episode 3: Victoria Espinel — What Brexit's broken — European Parliament harassment

July 6th, 2017

36:17

Host Ryan Heath, author of POLITICO's Brussels Playbook, talks to journalist Frances Robinson about the things Brexit has already wrecked — before it’s even happened. Frances reveals how it's ruined the British dating …

Episode 2: Ángel Gurría — EU's Googlewhack — Interns in bikinis backlash

June 29th, 2017

36:06

Host Ryan Heath speaks to Ángel Gurría, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), who explains why it will take more than austerity to get the world economy growing faster — …

Episode 1: Cecilia Malmström — Brexit talks

June 22nd, 2017

40:10

After two pilot shows, host Ryan Heath brings you the first official episode of POLITICO’s new podcast all about the EU and European politics. Ryan …

Bonus Episode: Erna Solberg

June 18th, 2017

34:37

Host Ryan Heath gets some tips for Brits from Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg about what it's like to be closely linked to the EU but not part …

Pilot episode: Pierre Moscovici

June 13th, 2017

39:32

In this pilot episode of POLITICO's new podcast, EU Confidential, host Ryan Heath talks to European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici about the future of …

EU Confidential Trailer

June 5th, 2017

0:22

A sneak preview of the new podcast from Politico Europe. Coming soon.

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