Brussels Playbook Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rebuilding Ukraine under the shadow of a presidential row Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Ukraine’s allies are gathering in Gdańsk to talk about rebuilding the country — even as Russia continues to destroy homes, power stations and critical infrastructure.

Zoya Sheftalovich reports from the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where governments, banks and businesses are trying to turn political promises into real investment. She and Sarah Wheaton look at the money on the table, Poland’s hopes of playing a major role in the reconstruction effort and the diplomatic row between Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stayed away from the conference as tensions escalated.

Plus: Why some European fossil fuel companies could still appear in investment funds marketed as supporting the green transition — and why the European Council wants influencers at EU summits, but only if their content does not go against “EU values.”

Questions? Comments? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

On June 30, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Do you want to attend a live taping? Click here to register for a chance to apply!

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Can Europe’s big five get their act together in Berlin? Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Europe’s biggest military powers are meeting today.

The group of countries is called the E5 (not to be confused with the E3) and consists of France, Germany, the U.K., Italy and Poland. They’ll be preparing for the NATO summit next month and discussing support for Ukraine. Hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss what smaller meeting formats like this mean for the EU as a whole.

Also on the show, we discuss the new EU agreement on migrant return laws. Under the new rules, people ordered to leave EU territory could be transferred to detention centers in countries outside the bloc. It’s a highly contentious plan, but it’s moving ahead at a fast pace, with countries already floating potential countries to house these so-called “return hubs.”

And finally, we’ve spoken on the show before about the heatwave that’s hit Europe. Now we dig into a story by senior climate reporter Zia Weise on why it’s so warm.

Questions? Comments? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

On June 30, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Do you want to attend a live taping? Click here to register for a chance to apply!

This episode was produced by Dionis Sturis and Saga Ringmar.

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The Visegrád Four is back from the dead Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

The leaders of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary are gathering for the first proper Visegrád Group summit in more than two years.

Meetings of these four countries have essentially been frozen since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine — in large part because of former PM Viktor Orbán. With the Hungarian leader’s ouster, the format is back, but can the group actually work together?

Plus, we’re checking on the U.K., where Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned yesterday and looks likely to be replaced by former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. But what does this transfer of power mean for EU-U.K. relations? We take a deeper look.

And finally, as of July 1, people working at the European Parliament will be given more days to work from another country each year — from five to 10. It’s good news for any staffers who were jealous of the Commission’s generous work-from-abroad policies.

What do you think about working from another country? Do you like it or do you struggle to get anything done? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

On June 30, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Do you want to attend a live taping? Click here to register for a chance to apply!

This episode was produced by Dionis Sturis and Saga Ringmar.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why tensions are high between Poland and Ukraine Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

When Ireland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, they will have a lot of hot-button issues to deal with.

Host Zoya Sheftalovich sat down last week with Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne at a POLITICO event to dig deeper into what he believes Dublin’s top priorities will be. We’ll hear from him on the show.

Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be heading to Poland this week as tensions heat up between Kyiv and Warsaw. We dig deeper into why a tragic event from decades ago is still causing strain between the two countries today.

And finally, Europe’s hot ... real hot. As a heatwave hits the continent, Nick and Zoya desperately search for ways to stay cool.

Questions? Comments? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

On June 30 we’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Do you want to attend a live taping? Click here to register for a chance to apply!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who should negotiate with Putin? Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Brussels Playbook Week Ender host Sarah Wheaton is on the ground at the European Council summit, where divisions over European Council President António Costa's outreach to the Kremlin divided leaders and dominated an evening that was supposed to be devoted to confronting the trade deficit with China. Chief EU Correspondent Zoya Sheftalovich, trade reporter Carlo Martuscelli, Berlin correspondent Nette Nöstlinger and Senior Defense Correspondent Jacopo Barigazzi break down the divisions and look ahead to how next year's elections affect today's talks.

Also this week, Anne McElvoy brings together two leading figures to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum and where the EU-U.K. relationship may go next. Jeremy Hunt was a close Cabinet colleague of David Cameron and became the U.K.'s foreign secretary and chancellor in the years after the vote. He’s just written "Can We Be Rich Again?," which is about Britain’s economic problems since Brexit. Peter Altmaier was Angela Merkel’s right-hand man as head of the German Chancellery and served as her finance and economy minister during the fraught Brexit negotiations between the EU27 and the UK.

If you have comments, send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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Europe’s budget war starts now Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

EU leaders arrive in Brussels for a summit dominated by two major debates: How far Europe should go in confronting China and how the bloc should shape its next long-term budget. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton break down the tougher mood toward Beijing, the divisions among capitals and the battle over what Europe should spend its money on.

Then, they meet the four new heads of government taking their seats around the European Council table — and assess who could become the next ally, wildcard or obstacle on Ukraine, sanctions and Israel.

And finally, inside the Commission’s enlargement department, officials are turning to a homegrown AI tool to help check whether aspiring EU members are bringing their laws into line with the bloc’s rules.

Do you have a story about using AI for your work and it all going terribly wrong ... or maybe terribly right? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Plus: On June 30, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Do you want to attend a live taping? Click here to register for a chance to apply!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Von der Leyen won't run for a third term. Or will she? Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Ursula von der Leyen is only a year and a half into her second term, but Brussels is already whispering about a third. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart examine what is fueling the speculation — from her sweeping overhaul of the European Commission to concerns that more power is being concentrated at the top.

Then, they explain why the U.S.-Iran peace deal has brought down oil and gas prices, but has not ended Europe’s energy worries.

And they take a first look at W, a new “made in Europe” social media platform hoping to challenge X with verified users, European data hosting and no bots.

Questions? Comments? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Plus: On June 30th, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Do you want to attend a live taping? Click here to register for a chance to apply!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of Brussels’ most important dinner party Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

The fight over the EU’s next seven-year budget is heating up.

European affairs ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss the cash pot. Last week, the Cypriot presidency came up with concrete figures … but the backlash was almost immediate. Zoya and Ian discuss the main sticking points.

Next, one of the most useful diplomatic gatherings in Brussels for years has been the exclusive dinners organized at the U.S. ambassador to the EU’s residence in Uccle. Now, these intimate meetings are disappearing and diplomats are feeling their absence.

Lastly, things aren’t looking good for MCC Brussels, a think tank linked to former prime minister Viktor Orbán. The timing is awkward as the former leader comes to town this week.

This summer, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Do you want to attend a live taping? Click here to register for a chance to apply!

Questions? Comments? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bardella warns Brussels he won’t moderate Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

French presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella wants Brussels to know that if he reaches the Élysée, he won’t follow Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s path from insurgent outsider to pragmatic EU power broker. POLITICO’s Marion Solletty joins Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur to discuss her wide-ranging interview with the far-right leader — including his plans to confront the EU, his pitch to French voters, and what his rise could mean for Europe.

Then, Zoya and Nick preview the G7 summit in Évian, where Emmanuel Macron’s challenge is to keep Donald Trump engaged as leaders discuss China, Ukraine and the Middle East.

Plus: Brussels is banning shared e-scooters from 2027.

Nick feels it’s a terrible idea — what do you think? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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Are voters hopelessly divided or universally angry? Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

Across Europe, political instability, fragmentation and polarization are increasingly becoming the norm. But how are governments tackling these tensions?

On this episode of the Brussels Playbook Week Ender, host Sarah Wheaton and her guests hone in on three countries: France, Greece and Denmark. Dialing in from Paris and Athens are our colleagues Clea Caulcutt and Nektaria Stamouli, and Jakob Moroza-Rasmussen, former secretary general of the centrist ALDE European political party, joins Sarah in the studio where he talks about his native Denmark.

From the EU farm funds scandal in Greece, to the upcoming 2027 presidential election in France and Denmark’s new coalition government, they unpack the biggest news stories from each capital. While every country faces different challenges, they also reveal larger trends shaping the EU.

If you have comments, do send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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