Brussels Playbook Podcast

As farmer protests continue around Europe, we unpack their various concerns and analyze their impact on the European election. We also take you to an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels where crucial cash for Ukraine hung in the balance.Host Sarah Wheaton speaks to POLITICO's Parliament reporter Eddy Wax among the thousands of tractors and angry farmers in the heart of Brussels. Later in the episode, our in-house experts explain what's behind the farmers' uprising and what impact the protests could have on the EU's ambitious green agenda and the upcoming EU election. We're joined by Clea Caulcutt in Paris, Matthew Karnitschnig in Berlin, senior climate correspondent Karl Mathiesen, and agriculture reporter Bartosz Brzezinski. And we hear from a protesting farmer in France, who spoke to our colleague Victor Goury-Laffont about his top concerns.Also in the episode, we head across town to an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders. POLITICO's chief Brussels correspondent Barbara Moens and senior diplomatic correspondent Jacopo Barigazzi explain the successful outcome after weeks of intense negotiations on financial aid for Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the podcast discusses the housing crisis in Europe, covering topics such as skyrocketing rents and house prices, shortages of affordable housing, and long waiting lists. It explores the causes of the crisis, its impact on the bloc, and solutions at the EU level. The episode features interviews with experts, including a Dutch MEP discussing housing challenges in the Netherlands, and a secretary of state for the Brussels-Capital Region discussing the struggles of keeping up with affordable housing demands. It also explores the use of the housing crisis by far-right parties as an election platform and emphasizes the need for more investment in social and public housing to ensure decent housing for all.

Catherine Woolard, director of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, discusses the details of the new EU agreement on migration. Professor Florian Trauner explains how migration has become a central issue for far-right parties during the European elections. They also discuss challenges in managing migration, potential solutions, and the significance of migration as a key issue in European Parliament elections.

In this episode we look at the ongoing tug-of-war between Budapest and Brussels in the context of a rather shocking development that could pave the way for Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán — who has won a reputation as the bloc's biggest troublemaker — to chair meetings of EU leaders and set the EU agenda.It follows a surprising decision by European Council President Charles Michel to step down and run for a seat in the European Parliament.Host Sarah Wheaton and colleagues Barbara Moens and Hans von der Burchard delve into the quibbles and clashes Viktor Orbán has had with Brussels over the years, and how the EU has tried to play ball with the Hungarian leader. And yes — they also report on the infamous "toilet break" Viktor Orbán took at the last EU summit in December, which paved the way for accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.Then Sarah and Nick Vinocur, POLITICO's editor-at-large, talk to Professor Alberto Alemanno, an expert on EU law who has taken a hard line on Hungary, and who has even suggested Budapest be stripped of the EU's rotating presidency. Finally, we bring you a Hungarian perspective from our guest Frank Füredi, executive director of the Brussels office of Hungary's government-backed MCC think tank.We also recommend you listen to the latest episode of our sister podcast, Power Play. Host Anne McElvoy talks to Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (a contender for the job of NATO's next secretary-general) and gets his reaction to Michel's shocking decision.Here is the link: Taking on Russia: Krišjānis Kariņš’ pitch to lead NATO and defend Ukraine – POLITICO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Predicting the impact of upcoming elections in Europe, US, and UK. Discussing EU elections, Belgian presidency, and conflicts in Ukraine and Israel-Palestine. Focus on finalizing negotiations, EU enlargement, Olympic Games, and Notre Dame reopening. Criticism of Macron's New Year's address and concerns about Paris' readiness for the Olympics. Speculation about bed bug infestations as Russian propaganda. Winter weather in Northern Europe. Exploring the border conflict and challenges faced by Donald Tusk's government in Poland.

The policy editors at POLITICO highlight the most important EU stories of 2023, including the AI Act, pharmaceutical regulations, and defense capabilities. Opinion editor Jamie Dettmer discusses Europe's response to the Israel-Hamas war and the war in Ukraine. They also reveal their most-read story of the year and discuss the EU's stance on Ukraine's future in the bloc.

The podcast discusses the Qatargate scandal in the European Parliament, providing updates on the investigation and the involvement of key players. It also explores the recent EU-China summit and the challenges in the EU's relationship with China, including concerns about human rights and predictions for the future of Sino-EU ties.

This episode discusses the unveiling of Europe's most powerful people, von der Leyen's comments on the Israel-Hamas war, and her plans to run again. It also explores new tactics used by far-right leaders in Europe and Germany's budget woes. The hosts break down the POLITICO 28 ranking and discuss clever tactics of far-right leaders, and why Germany's budget crisis is significant.

Geert Wilders shocks with far-right victory in Dutch election, David O'Sullivan discusses EU sanctions on Russia, anticipation of lengthy coalition talks, outreach to third countries to address sanction circumvention, and appreciation from listeners

Oil, gas and coal still made up 81.5 percent of the global energy mix in 2022 — down just 3 percent from 2015, when the Paris climate agreement was signed.   Given the slow pace of the energy transition, carbon capture and storage, or CCS, has the potential to become an important technology for achieving net zero. Advocates believe that without CCS — which gathers emissions, processes them and stores them safely underground — we simply won’t meet our climate targets.   But the technology faces a range of obstacles. Campaign groups believe CCS offers oil and gas companies a free pass to keep extracting and burning fossil fuels. Others worry about the safety of stored carbon dioxide. There are also practical constraints. CCS technology, while proven, is expensive to install, and needs subsidies and financial incentives to encourage the industry to make the short-term capital investment needed.   In this podcast episode produced by POLITICO Studio, science and technology writer Adam Green interviews leading European experts from industry and policy about the need for CCS, what’s holding it back and where it fits into Europe’s energy transition.    Ruth Herbert, CEO of Carbon Capture and Storage Association, breaks down the fundamentals of CCS. Chris Davies, a former member of the European Parliament and now director of CCS Europe, talks about the need to educate the public on the safety of onshore CCS. Jan Theulen, of building material producer Heidelberg Materials, explains why industries such as cement, where production itself results in large CO2 emissions, will need CCS most. And Torbjørg Klara Heskestad, vice president for global CCS solutions at Equinor, speaks about shared infrastructure that will help reduce the costs of CCS for carbon emitters.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices