The Europe Desk

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has passed its second year mark, and support from Kyiv is now facing multiple challenges, from a military aid package that is stalled in U.S. Congress, to rifts in the EU’s “strategic ambiguity” strategy and shortages in ammunition production. For this episode, we sat down with Max Bergmann, Director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to discuss how the war in Ukraine may end and how we can maintain support for the country. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Andreea Procopan and Sophie al Mutawaly Communications: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with Dr. Endre Szentkiralyi, president of the United Hungarian Societies and author, to discuss the role of diaspora communities in shaping the culture and society of the United States, as well as identity and assimilation in these communities. His works include the following: Being Hungarian in Cleveland: Maintaining Language, Culture, and Traditions; Cold War to Warm Cooperation: The Military Service of Cleveland Hungarians; and an oral history project, Do Hungarians Still Live in Cleveland? Collection of Memories. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Greg Pal Communications: Sophie al Mutawaly

As discussions on the future of the transatlantic relationship on Earth run hot, the Europe Desk has its head in - or rather above - the clouds: We sat down with Prof. Dr. Hoffman, former NASA astronaut, and current MIT professor, to discuss differing European and US priorities regarding space, the potential for enhanced transatlantic collaboration, and how sustainability is crucial - both in space and on earth. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Siv Röhrl, Sophia Winograd and Charlotte Davis Communication: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with Ana Kozomara of the Advanced Leadership in Politics Institute (ALPI) in Serbia. In this episode, we discuss the current landscape of women’s political representation in Serbia and why prioritizing women’s political empowerment is essential to democracy building in the country, as well as for trans-regional cooperation. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Alexandra Long and Nina Avramovski Communication: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with Anesa Omanović, Marta Onorato, and Željka Cvejin of the International Republican Institute. In this episode, we cover IRI’s efforts to advance and improve women’s political representation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia, and how such efforts have implications for objectives like trans-regional cooperation and EU accession. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Alexandra Long and Nina Avramovski Communication: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with Valerie Dowling, Director of Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) and Private Sector Engagement at International Republican Institute (IRI), a nonpartisan, nongovernmental sister organization of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). In this episode, we discuss the current landscape of women’s political representation in Albania and why prioritizing women’s political empowerment is essential to democracy building in the country. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Alexandra Long and Nina Avramovski Communication: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with Dr. Andrew Lebovich, a research fellow at the Clingendael Institute focused on Conflict Research. As an expert on security and political issues in the Sahel, we were able to ask Dr. Lebovich about the coup in Niger, the rising influence of China, Turkey and Russia in the region as well as the EU’s interests in the Sahel. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Siv Röhrl, Yasmine Adrian and Louis Onoratini Communication: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with Dr. Danyel Reiche, a Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS), a Visiting Associate Professor at Georgetown on the Qatar campus who teaches on “Soccer Politics”, and co-author of the book “Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Politics, Controversy, Change”. We discussed the intersection of soccer and politics including sportswashing, the shifting dynamics of European soccer, and human rights in sports. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinet issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Sophie al Mutawaly, Louis Onoratini, and Nina Avramovski Communications: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with Jaume Duch Guillot, the Director-General for Communication of the European Parliament and its spokesperson. We discussed the upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections, their implications and the work done by the Communications department. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzviat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Andreea Procopan and Louis Onoratini Communication: Sophie al Mutawaly

We sat down with College of Europe Rector and former Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini to discuss EU-China relations, and how she expects the EU's de-risking process to proceed. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Hailey Ordal Communications: Sophie al Mutawaly

On June 12, 2023, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi passed away at the age of 86, leaving behind his party, Forza Italia, and a media empire worth more than $7 billion. In this episode, we sat down with Georgetown University professor Pauliina Patana to discuss Silvio Berlusconi’s legacy and what comes next for the Italian state. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Euorpe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephie Sylvestre Production: Hailey Ordal Communications: Sophie al Mutawaly

In collaboration with our partners at Columbia University, the Europe Desk sat down with Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow and director of research at the Brookings Institution as well as Yevhen Fedchenko, the chief editor and co-founder of Ukrainian fact-checking website StopFake.org. In this expansive conversation, the Europe Desk and our guests discuss the war on the ground, the future of western investment in the region, the tactical use of Russian disinformation and the means to counter it, the role of Russian citizens, personal anecdotes from the war, and the future of Ukraine. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design: Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre Production: Sophie al Mutawaly, Katherine Yusko, Andreea Propocan, Michael Kaether, Mason Kane Communications: Sophie al Mutawaly

Last month, The Europe Desk sat down with Martin Schulz, the Former President of the European Parliament, to hear his reflections on recent events and perspective on the future of European affairs. Our conversation spanned various topics, including Qatargate, the future of the European socialist movement, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder. Design: Sarah Diebboll. Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler. Production: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler Communications: Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al Mutawaly, and Flora Adamian.

Guest: Professor Marc Busch Although the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is largely concerned with promoting environmental protection and advancing climate goals, its provisions regarding electric vehicles have unexpectedly become a sticking point in transatlantic relations. In this episode, we sat down with Georgetown University professor and trade expert Marc Busch to better understand why European leaders are unhappy with the IRA and how this transatlantic disagreement may evolve in the coming months. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music: Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder. Design: Sarah Diebboll. Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler. Production: Hailey Ordal, Josephine Sylvestre. Communications: Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al Mutawaly, and Flora Adamian.

Barcelona has emerged as one of the EU's top startup hubs, and we wanted to learn about the factors that set the city up for success in this space, as well as how European and American cities can contribute to innovations in the science and technology spheres. We sat down with Alexis Roig, Barcelona's Chief Science and Technology Envoy and CEO of SciTech DiploHub, to learn more about his role in connecting cities, foreign affairs, and science diplomacy. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music by Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design by Sarah Diebboll. Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler. Production by Flora Adamian and Drew Fenner. Communications by Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al-Mutawaly, and Flora Adamian. https://cges.georgetown.edu/podcast Twitter and Instagram: @theeuropedesk If you need more information about the Center's events, or have any questions or feedback, please email: theeuropedesk@georgetown.edu.

The Russian war in Ukraine and Europe's current energy crisis are inextricably linked. Recent crisis-response techniques in the European Union appear to have been successful for the continent, resulting in just enough stored energy to survive through the coming winter. Looking ahead, medium- and long-term policies targeted at diversifying energy sources will be vital for economic and environmental sustainability in Europe. This week, we spoke with Max Gruenig, a climate and energy economist and Professor at Georgetown's Walsh School of Foreign Service. Our conversation touches on the energy crisis, Europe's most recent efforts to combat it, and Ukraine's future in the EU. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music by Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design by Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler Production by Mason Kane, Carson Rayhill Communications by Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al-Mutawaly, and Flora Adamian https://cges.georgetown.edu/podcast Twitter and Instagram: @theeuropedesk If you need more information about the Center's events, or have any questions or feedback, please email: theeuropedesk@georgetown.edu.

While an increasingly erratic climate demands environmental action and mitigation measures, the pandemic and war in Ukraine underscore serious vulnerabilities in global supply chains. In this context, we focus on two areas at the center of the transatlantic agenda — sustainability and resilience. Recent legislative developments in the U.S and EU aim to advance decarbonization, resource efficiency, and supply chain resilience. In this episode, Vice President of Corporate Communications for BMW of North America Adam Sykes joins us to discuss how these political and legislative developments are influencing BMW’s sustainability strategy and business operations. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music by Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design by Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler Production by Drew Fenner, Flora Adamian, Joe Vitale Communications by Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al-Mutawaly, and Flora Adamian https://cges.georgetown.edu/podcast Twitter and Instagram: @theeuropedesk If you need more information about the Center's events, or have any questions or feedback, please email: theeuropedesk@georgetown.edu.

EU Commissioner for the Economy and former Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni recently joined the Europe Desk to discuss the state of the economy and the proposed recovery strategies. We asked him about potential fragmentation amongst EU Member States and what this means for solidarity. We also asked him about the additional economic challenges some countries face in the form of high debt levels and increasing borrowing costs. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music by Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design by Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler Production by Hailey Ordal and Josephine Sylvestre Communications by Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al-Mutawaly, and Flora Adamian https://cges.georgetown.edu/podcast Twitter and Instagram: @theeuropedesk If you need more information about the Center's events, or have any questions or feedback, please email: theeuropedesk@georgetown.edu.

European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly recently joined The Europe Desk to discuss her work on ethics, lobbying, whistleblowing, transparency in law-making, and good practices in EU public administration. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music by Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design by Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler Production by Ryan Conner and Jakob Winkler. Communications by Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al-Mutawaly and Flora Adamian. https://cges.georgetown.edu/podcast Twitter and Instagram: @theeuropedesk If you need more information about the Center's events, or have any questions or feedback, please email: theeuropedesk@georgetown.edu.

The month of September saw multiple elections taking place across Europe, with two especially high-profile contests in the United Kingdom and in Italy. In this episode, POLITICO Europe’s Suzanne Lynch joined us to break down the results of each contest, what they mean for the domestic politics of each country, and how these results may impact these countries’ relationships with the European Union. The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today. Music by Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder Design by Sarah Diebboll Leadership: Flora Adamian, Jakob Winkler Production by Ryan Conner and Hailey Ordal. Communications by Shelby Emami, Ryan Conner, Mason Kane, Sophie al-Mutawaly and Flora Adamian. https://cges.georgetown.edu/podcast Twitter and Instagram: @theeuropedesk If you need more information about the Center's events, or have any questions or feedback, please email: theeuropedesk@georgetown.edu.