Brussels Playbook Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 150: Chinese propaganda — Economist Thomas Piketty — Brussels love bus Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

French economist Thomas Piketty has some big ideas about how Europe should respond to the coronavirus crisis. He shared them in a livestreamed conversation with POLITICO earlier this week, and Brussels Playbook author Florian Eder joins us to talk through some highlights.

The podcast panel's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matt Kartnitschnig discuss China's diplomatic pressure on EU institutions and member countries, and how European leaders are trying to balance their economic reliance on Beijing with a desire to push back against coronavirus disinformation.

We celebrate our 150th episode with a throwback to our first podcast and a salute to the original crew of Ryan Heath, Alva Finn and Lina Aburous. And we say thank you to our audience for a record-breaking month of EU Confidential listens by sharing some affection via the Brussels love bus.

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Coronavirus edition #7: Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on economic recovery — Critical seasonal workers Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

Elisa Ferreira, the European commissioner for cohesion and reforms, is directly involved in crafting the EU's economic response to the coronavirus. She speaks with POLITICO's Lili Bayer about how the Commission plans to use regional development cash from the long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), to ensure the whole of the Continent can recover economically.

Ferreira also talks about how the recovery plan will fit with the EU's flagship climate initiatives, such as the European Green Deal and the Just Transition Fund to help countries go carbon-neutral.

POLITICO's Carmen Paun shines the spotlight on seasonal agricultural workers from Romania and elsewhere in Eastern Europe who have been recognized as critical workers and allowed to travel to countries where farmers are desperate for their skills and labor. But are enough measures in place to shield them from the coronavirus and protect their rights?

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Ep 149: Europe's recovery — Virtual Council — Anything but corona Apr 23, 2020

Show notes

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, what are the main sticking points to getting Europe up and running again?

POLITICO's David Herszenhorn and Jacopo Barigazzi take us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the European Council, explaining how things typically work and how that's changed in the coronavirus era.

Our podcast panel digs into the battles over the economy and the row over Britain's decision not to take part in an EU effort to procure medical equipment. We also explore some stories that didn't get so much attention because the world has been transfixed by the coronavirus.

And we bid a fond farewell — for now — to our U.K. correspondent and panel regular Annabelle Dickson, who shares some joyful news with our listeners.

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Coronavirus edition #6: Belgium death toll explained — Antibodies vs. immunity — AI & COVID-19 Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

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 Barbara Moens answer these questions in the latest edition of our special series on the coronavirus crisis in Europe.

Also in this episode, POLITICO's Artificial Intelligence correspondent Janosch Delcker speaks with Nuria Oliver, high commissioner for AI and COVID-19 at the regional government in Valencia, about how she and her team of computer scientists are using AI to tackle the coronavirus.

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Ep 148: Coronavirus Twitter chat — The Brussels Effect — Virtual Parliament Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

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. Listen in to hear what U.K. political correspondent Annabelle Dickson, EU editor Andrew Gray, chief Europe correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig and senior health reporter Sarah Wheaton had to say.

Anu Bradford, a professor at Columbia Law School, is our special guest to talk about her new book on "The Brussels Effect" — a term she coined to describe how EU rules end up setting standards in global markets. She talks about the impact of EU power on the Brexit negotiations, artificial intelligence, climate change and globalization. Bradford spoke to producer Cristina Gonzalez on a visit to Brussels before the coronavirus put a stop to travel as we know it. So Cristina also brings us up to date with how Bradford thinks the crisis may impact the EU's power.

Our virtual tour of the Brussels bubble continues this week with an insider's guide to the European Parliament. POLITICO's Maïa de La Baume reports on how the Parliament is struggling to do its job in this era of lockdowns and social distancing.

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Coronavirus edition #5: How Europe failed coronavirus test — Auto industry impact — MEP Bas Eickhout Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

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 correspondent David M. Herszenhorn, How Europe failed the coronavirus test, on our website.

POLITICO's Joshua Posaner tells us about the impact of the crisis on the auto industry, how it plans to recover and how that may affect regulation. You'll hear the perspectives of Eric-Mark Huitema, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), and Dutch Green MEP Bas Eickhout, who has long expressed concerns about the industry's efforts to adapt to climate demands.

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Ep 147: Who's running Britain? — Exit strategy U-turn — Virtual Brussels tour Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

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 Dickson paints a portrait of Dominic Raab, the U.K. foreign secretary standing in for Boris Johnson while the PM is in hospital. The podcast panel also discusses the European Commission's midweek U-turn — promising, but then postponing, a roadmap for returning to normality. And we examine the chances of EU countries finding common ground on funding an economic response to the pandemic.

Nostalgic for the Brussels bubble, or curious about how it works? We start our virtual tour series with POLITICO's Lili Bayer, who walks us through how journalists usually engage with the European Commission via their press briefings, and how this has changed now that questions can't be asked in person.

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Coronavirus edition #4: Pandemic preparations — Behind the masks ⁠— Coronavirus apps Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

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 state of "frantic improvisation" now this one has come along.

Governments needed "an immediate, aggressive response" but underestimated the threat posed by the coronavirus as they weighed up the risks of action, Alexander says. He also sets out the case for the EU to "aggressively assert" a greater role for itself in handling major emergencies.

POLITICO's health reporter Carmen Paun untangles the confusing advice on whether we should all be wearing masks. She also delves into the troubles governments and individuals are having procuring personal protective equipment.

Chief technology correspondent Mark Scott talks about coronavirus apps ⁠— examining concerns about data privacy and looking ahead to the prospect of digital passports to show who's allowed back out into the world.

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Ep 146: Jobs Commissioner Schmit — Lockdown limits — Corona bond bungle Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

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

Our pan-European panel debates how long citizens will tolerate lockdown life before pushing back against their governments. We look at Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's communications troubles, after she triggered anger in Italy by describing corona bonds as a "catchphrase" in the German press. And we ask if Europe will rally round a viable economic response to match the scale of the crisis.

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Coronavirus edition #3: Testing questions ⁠— Corona bond debate ⁠— Dr. Herman Goossens Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

Herman Goossens, a professor of microbiology and coordinator of an EU group studying how to combat the coronavirus, is our special guest. What would he have done differently if he could turn back the clock? And when can we realistically expect a return to normal? Goossens answers those questions and more in conversation with POLITICO's senior health reporter Sarah Wheaton and EU editor Andrew Gray.

We also look at coronavirus testing with health reporter Carmen Paun. What are the different types of test and how are authorities deciding who gets them? And POLITICO's Bjarke Smith-Meyer demystifies "corona bonds" and explains the other options at the EU's disposal to manage the economic fallout from the crisis.

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