Brussels Playbook Podcast

Europe, in efforts to disentangle itself from Russian gas, has become increasingly aware of the vulnerability of its web of pipelines, subsea cables and offshore installations to hybrid attacks. A million kilometers of undersea cables transport 95 percent of the world’s internet traffic, and more than 200,000 kilometers of active oil and gas pipelines run across Europe. That physical infrastructure is at risk amid an escalation in hybrid attacks. The attacks on cables and pipelines are across frontiers and jurisdictions, mandating the need for a cross-border, coordinated response. In this special podcast episode produced by POLITICO Studio, policy experts and industry leaders come together to discuss the vulnerabilities facing Europe’s energy infrastructure, and the collaborative approach to resilience that is on the rise. Hear from Oana Lungescu, former NATO spokesperson; Petya Barsilisca, head of research and policy at the European Initiative for Energy Security; Camilla Salthe, executive vice president for Safety, Security and Sustainability at Equinor; and Emilie Asberg, CEO of Oslo-based deeptech startup Havguard, on the new security responsibilities emerging for Europe’s governments and industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's agenda is brimming with high-level summits and meetings on foreign affairs. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, kicks it all off by focusing minds on Gaza. Today Kallas hosts back-to-back events to promote a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. Ian and Nick discuss how the EU is using the occasion to position itself as an authority on the future of Gaza and present an alternative worldview to Donald Trump's. Plus, they explain how Viktor Orbán's defeat in the recent Hungarian election could impact EU-Israel relations. Later, we unpack the key issues to be discussed at this week’s summit of EU leaders in Cyprus, and the potential knock-on effect it could have on the beleaguered tourism industry. Last, the EU is celebrating its birthday on the wrong day, according to some. Nick sets the record straight. Does your country have a culinary delicacy whose name resembles that of one of our hosts? If so, contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election night in Hungary was an emotional and teary one ... but now, the work begins. The winners — Peter Magyar’s Tisza party — have the daunting task of reversing years of democratic backsliding that went on under Viktor Orbán’s watch. Meanwhile, Fidesz — and far-right parties across Europe — have some intense soul searching to do to figure out what went wrong in Orbán’s campaign. Our panel of guests includes POLITICO’s White House Correspondent Eli Stokols and our Senior France Correspondent Clea Caulcutt in Paris, along with Balazs Kos, a Hungarian consultant and expert on EU affairs. Together with host Sarah Wheaton, they dive deeper into what the outcome means for Brussels and the MAGA movement across the pond. We also speak with Frank Furedi of MCC Brussels, a think tank with links to Orbán’s government. He gives us a breakdown of why he believes the Fidesz campaign failed. Do you have a question or a comment? Send us a WhatsApp message here or dial +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viktor Orbán may be out — but his man in Brussels is not. Today on the pod, Ian and Sarah discuss how the Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi is expected to stay on in the Berlaymont after his Fidesz party's landslide election loss back home. They explain why neither the Commission nor the new Hungarian government are in a rush to get rid of the Orbán ally. Next, they talk about the frontrunner in Bulgaria's upcoming vote — an ex-fighter jet pilot. It's the eighth election in five years and voters are hoping for the country to regain political stability. Plus, chaos has hit airports around Europe as the EU rolls out its new digital border control system. People are missing their flights and waiting in queues for hours. Has your flight travel been disturbed by this new Entry/Exit system? We want to hear from you! You can contact us on WhatsApp here or on +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

European ambassadors are gathering to prep for a leaders’ summit taking place in Cyprus next week. And yet again, the agenda will likely be dominated by geopolitical crises. Ian Wishart and guest co-host Ryan Heath explain how topics like the budget, enlargement and competitiveness are falling by the wayside as the bulk of the meeting will instead focus on the fallout of the Iran war. They also ask whether another leader will take over Viktor Orbán's role as the bad boy around the summit table. Next, centrist dads unite! We discuss how Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Canadian PM Mark Carney — running partners and friends who text each other regularly — are trying to build a new transatlantic alliance along with other middle powers. Also, Donald Trump’s backpedaling on a social media post that appeared to depict himself as Jesus Christ has us looking through the archives for other classic excuses used by politicians. Finally: The halloumi wars continue ... and Ryan weighs in with his cheesy take. Do you have any questions or comments for us? Sent them to our WhatsApp here or via +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The EU may be saying goodbye to Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, but the system that empowered him and the problems he’s left behind are still very much in place. Today on the podcast, Ian Wishart and Nick Vinocur discuss what a new leader in Budapest means for issues like Russia sanctions and the €90 billion loan for Ukraine that Hungary has been blocking. Also on the pod, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has a vision of a vastly expanded European Union — but the bloc’s leaders are less enthusiastic. They fear the topic of enlargement will stoke support for far-right, populist parties. We unpack these concerns. Finally, we have some bad news for halloumi fans. Do you have any questions or comments for us? Sent them along to our WhatsApp here or via +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the end of an era: Hungary’s Viktor Orbán is on the way out after suffering a crushing defeat in Hungary’s general election. Péter Magyar, who will take his place as prime minister, is on course to win a supermajority in parliament. In this election special, host Ian Wishart speaks with reporter Max Griera who’s been at the victorious Tisza watch party in Budapest and Jamie Dettmer, our foreign affairs columnist, who’s also in the Hungarian capital. They discuss what Magyar’s victory means for the country following years of democratic backsliding and illiberal democracy. Plus, how this new leader might mend Budapest’s fractured relationship with Brussels — thanks in large part to Orbán’s obstructionism and pro-Russian stance. How do you feel about the results? Did you vote in the election? Send us your thoughts via WhatsApp here or via +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hungarians may be the ones voting this Sunday — but all EU citizens have something at stake in the outcome of the election. After years of obstructionism under PM Viktor Orbán, a new leader in Budapest could mark a turning point for the EU. But is Hungary's relationship with Brussels dominating the campaign domestically to the same extent it is internationally? On today’s episode, host Sarah Wheaton speaks with journalist Abigail Frizon (a former EU Confidential trainee) who is filming a documentary about the Hungarian election. She takes us inside the swell of support for the Tisza opposition party based on conversations she’s had with voters on the ground. Plus, she unpacks the top issues for Hungarians that may have been missed abroad. Then Sarah is joined by Nick Vinocur, our chief foreign affairs correspondent, who’s been reporting on growing calls to rethink the EU’s unanimous decision-making process. Do you have a question or a comment? Send us a WhatsApp message here or dial +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s three days until the Hungarian election, and opposition leader Péter Magyar appears poised to end PM Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. If that happens, some in the Brussels bubble hope Magyar will take steps to improve Hungary’s strained relationship with the EU. But on today’s episode, host Zoya Sheftalovich and EU Policy Editor Sarah Wheaton explain why that won’t be easy — with the chore of unblocking billions of euros in frozen EU funds representing just one example. Then, the latest developments from the war in Iran suggest Europe may again be left footing the bill for controversial actions by U.S. President Donald Trump. Last, the Commission’s DiscoverEU initiative is offering free train passes to 18-year-olds who correctly answer a short quiz. Sarah tests Zoya on one of last year’s questions. Do you have a harrowing or pleasant train travel experience within Europe?Send us a WhatsApp message here or dial +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump’s threats to wipe out Iran’s “whole civilization” shocked the world. On the podcast today, host Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart, POLITICO’s senior EU politics editor, discuss the European reaction as the conflict in the Middle East spirals. Plus, NATO chief Mark Rutte is in Washington to meet the U.S. president, but what does he hope to achieve with so little consensus within the alliance? Next, we obtained documents that reveal the extent to which Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán is deepening ties with Russia. An agreement signed between the two countries last year includes cooperation in a diverse range of areas from energy to circus arts. Zoya and Ian discuss what implications, if any, these revelations could have for the upcoming election in Hungary. Finally, Australia has been trying to limit the use of social media for the under-16s — and it wants Brussels’ help to get Big Tech to comply. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us on our WhatsApp here or by dialing +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EU foreign policy runs on unanimity — and it’s starting to break down. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart unpack growing frustration with how the EU makes foreign policy, as divisions over Ukraine funding, Russia sanctions and the war in Iran expose the pitfalls of the veto. With calls — led by Germany and Sweden — mounting to scrap unanimity in foreign and security policy, the question is becoming harder to avoid: Can the EU still act together when it matters most? They also discuss the fallout from the war in Iran, which is already landing in Europe. Energy prices are rising, jet fuel shortages are starting to bite, and countries like Italy are moving independently to secure supplies — raising fresh questions about coordination inside the EU. And finally, Brussels faces a different kind of dilemma: What to do about fur. As the Commission prepares to respond to a citizens’ petition signed by more than 1.5 million people calling for an EU-wide ban, it looks set to stop short — despite a shrinking industry, mounting public pressure and warnings from its own scientific advisers. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us on our WhatsApp here or by dialing +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the war in Iran and its economic consequences preoccupying London and Brussels, much work is going on behind the scenes to strike a closer relationship between the U.K. and the European Union. Nearly a decade after Britain voted to leave the bloc, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tasked his ministers with negotiating a post-Brexit reset that brings areas of the British economy in alignment with the EU in a bid to bring down prices and cut regulations on businesses. In this interview episode of EU Confidential, host Anne McElvoy talks to one of Starmer's closest allies, Nick Thomas-Symonds. The U.K. Cabinet Office Minister has been notching up the Eurostar hours back and forth to Brussels in a bid to strike a deal by the summer. Will he and his EU counterparts be able to agree a youth mobility scheme and alignment in key sectors of the economy or will their differences be too great to overcome? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bulgaria is heading towards another tight parliamentary election this month — and it wants the EU to help counter malign foreign interference. Haunted by memories of coordinated social media campaigns targeting other countries in the region, the government is concerned that Russian misinformation could sway public opinion ahead of the vote. Host Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart, senior EU politics editor, discuss what tools Brussels has to counter foreign interference efforts. Also on the show, a Signal group chat with European Commission officials has been shut down over security concerns. But this isn’t an isolated case, it’s part of a series of cyberattacks targeting the EU executive branch. Finally: We take a look at the Italian football fiasco that’s sparking a political row. Want to send us a message? You can reach us on our WhatsApp by clicking here or dialing +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An energy shock that once felt distant is starting to look very real as the war in Iran spirals ... and the EU is considering a Covid-style crisis response. From emergency meetings to talk of jointly purchasing energy — host Zoya Sheftalovich and Senior EU Politics Editor Ian Wishart explain how some of the strategies being floated are straight out of the pandemic-era playbook. Also on the pod, Péter Magyar is ahead in the polls in the lead-up to the Hungarian general election, but it’s by no means a slam dunk. According to some experts, years of gerrymandering and media capture by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party mean the opposition leader still faces an uphill challenge. Finally, if you’re looking to buy a ticket to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you might be disappointed: Prices are soaring. In fact, MEPs have asked the Commission to look into FIFA’s opaque ticket-sale tactics. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us on our WhatsApp by clicking here or dialing +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Europe is facing another potential energy shock — and this time, Brussels is starting to float something politically tricky: using less fuel. Host Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by POLITICO’s senior EU politics editor Ian Wishart to break down a warning from Brussels that points to a possible need to cut fuel use, as fears grow of a prolonged disruption linked to the war in Iran. They also zoom in on Kyiv, where EU foreign ministers are marking the anniversary of the Bucha massacre of March 2022 while pushing forward plans for a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s war of aggression. And back in Brussels, a €3.6 million plan from the Committee of the Regions is raising eyebrows — and prompting questions about priorities. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us on our WhatsApp at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For two decades, aspiring EU members wanted to join the bloc to get richer. Now, that’s changing. With conflicts raging at Europe’s doorstep and NATO shaky under Donald Trump, even rich countries want to join the bloc, hoping it’ll help them feel safer. Zoya and Nick unpack this shift on today’s episode. Also on the show, we trace Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s political journey from a liberal dissident to MAGA darling. As the leader continues to antagonize the EU, we ask what options the bloc has to minimize his influence in European political decision-making if he’s reelected in the upcoming election. Finally: Russia is recruiting informants to spy on dissidents abroad. POLITICO got its hands on a cache of text messages and recordings between two intelligence agents and a student blackmailed into spying for the Kremlin. We discuss what the correspondence tells us about Moscow’s efforts to infiltrate opposition groups in Europe. Send any questions or comments to us on our WhatsApp: +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The far right took some minor hits to its seemingly impenetrable armor this week, as people in Denmark, Italy, France and Slovenia headed to the polls. But those votes also told another, more existential story: the slow-motion collapse of the EU’s center left. To unpack what’s ailing left-leaning parties across the bloc, host Sarah Wheaton is joined by a panel of POLITICO colleagues: Clea Caulcutt in Paris, James Angelos in Berlin, and Iberian correspondent Aitor Hernández-Morales. Plus, an excerpt from an exclusive interview by POLITICO’s Tim Ross with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb — who has a stark warning about the economic fallout of the Iran war. He explains why he thinks the current moment could spiral further than many expect. Questions? Comments? Send us a message! Our WhatsApp is: +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Officials are meeting in Brussels today to discuss the brutal civil war in Sudan and the looming refugee crisis that may result. U.N. officials warn that the conflict could lead to a mass displacement on a par with what happened with Syria in 2011. Zoya and Sarah unpack what the various humanitarian agencies want the EU to do about it. You’ll also be hearing from Cyprus’ Europe minister, Marilena Raouna, who reflects on the Cypriot Council presidency so far and assesses the security risks involved in hosting European leaders following Iranian drone strikes on the island earlier this month. Finally: Is this the end of long-winded abbreviations in the Brussels Bubble? Probably not, TBH ... but we can dream! Do you have a favorite convoluted EU abbreviation? Send it to us on WhatsApp: +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Europe is facing another energy shock — so what can it actually do to keep prices down? Zoya Sheftalovich speaks with Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen in a conversation recorded live at POLITICO’s Competitive Europe summit, on how the EU is responding to rising costs linked to the war in Iran — and what happens if the crisis drags on. Then, back in the studio, Zoya and Ian Wishart look at the contest among nine cities vying to host the EU’s new customs authority, take stock of Denmark’s tight election result — and, yes, return to the great tree debate. Got a favorite tree? Send us a voice note or a message on WhatsApp: +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Hungary was accused of leaking sensitive EU discussions to the Kremlin, the spotlight is now shifting to Germany. Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by Ian Wishart to unpack mounting concerns in Brussels over the far-right AfD’s access to confidential EU documents — and whether Europe’s open systems are creating new vulnerabilities. The duo also discuss Denmark’s election, where Mette Frederiksen is fighting for another term in a tight race, and break down a razor-thin result in Slovenia — plus what Giorgia Meloni’s referendum defeat means for her authority at home. And finally — Europe’s quirkiest contest returns. The “Eurovision of trees” is about to crown its winner, and we want your pick. Which tree do you like the most? Which one gets your vote? Send us your choice on our WhatsApp: +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices