Politico's Eu Confidential

A Green wave in France, the speaking styles of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić all feature in this week's podcast. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz in Paris explains what Green wins in local polls mean for Macron, while Matthew Karnitschnig gives us the perspective from Berlin on the Continent's Green shift in recent elections.A joint press conference from Merkel and Macron this week highlighted their contrasting approaches to communication. Merkel kept things concise while Macron, the guest, hogged the clock with a 9-minute opening speech. The podcast panel debates whether it's all down to cultural differences, personal preferences, or just bad manners.Vučić spoke to POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Jacopo Barigazzi during a recent visit to Brussels. The Serbian president discussed thwarted plans for a White House meeting with leaders from Kosovo and prospects for further peace talks. He also responded to criticism of last month's parliamentary election in Serbia, in which his party

The podcast crew marks your political calendar with previews of elections in France and Poland as well as Germany's presidency of the EU Council. Rym Momtaz in Paris looks ahead to Sunday's second round of French local elections and discusses the stakes for President Emmanuel Macron. Zosia Wanat gives us the lowdown on Polish President Andrzej Duda's re-election bid, hot on the heels of his visit to the White House, and brings us some audio treats from the campaign.From Berlin, Matthew Karnitschnig sets out Germany's aims as it takes over the EU's rotating presidency on July 1, seeking deals on the bloc's recovery fund and long-term budget as well as on future relations with the U.K.The EU's Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean is our special guest, interviewed by POLITICO mobility reporters Joshua Posaner and Hanne Cokelaere. Vălean has been at the forefront of some big coronavirus battles in Brussels lately, including over whether customers should get vouchers or refunds for canceled flights. Vălean also rev

Peter Mandelson, former EU trade commissioner and British Cabinet minister, throws his hat into the ring to be the next boss of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He makes his pitch as to why he could pull the WTO out of crisis — and why Britain's Conservative government might back him. He also discusses tensions with China and the path he foresees for a deal between the EU and the U.K.The POLITICO podcast crew — Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig — review the state of play as EU leaders hold a virtual summit on economic recovery plans and the bloc's long-term budget. They also discuss Emmanuel Macron's visit to London and ask how the U.S. outmaneuvered the EU in its own neighborhood with Kosovo peace talks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová joins us to discuss the EU executive's plan to crack down on disinformation related to the coronavirus. The document specifically accuses China and Russia,  as well as home-grown peddlers of disinformation, of using the crisis to spread fake news — and it calls on tech platforms to do more to tackle the problem. Jourová, whose portfolio includes the rule of law, also shares her latest assessments on Hungary and Poland.Our podcast panel this week comes from Brussels, Paris, Berlin and Warsaw. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Jan Cienski analyze Donald Trump's plans to slash the number of U.S. troops in Germany and examine whether some of them might end up in Poland. They also debate EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's assertion that China does not pose a military threat. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police officers sparked protests in the United States, as well as in Europe. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and David M. Herszenhorn debate the reaction from European leaders, including the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell who called this "an abuse of power." The panel also examines the current state of transatlantic relations, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel declines President Donald Trump's invitation to attend a G7 summit in Washington citing the coronavirus pandemic.French MEP Manon Aubry (GUE/NGL) is this week's special guest to discuss her first year in the European Parliament as the youngest co-chair of a political group, the Commission's recovery package proposal and to highlight, what she views as, a systemic problem with corporate lobbying's influence on EU lawmakers and ethical violations which erode citizens' trust.And be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode: http://listen.politico.

The European Commission this week unveiled a sweeping €750 billion proposal to get the EU's economies back on track. POLITICO's budget guru Lili Bayer, along with Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig and Rym Momtaz break down the plan and preview the battles ahead. We assess the mood in Commission HQ and around the Continent, and ask whether Ursula von der Leyen and her team have emerged strengthened from the skirmishes so far.Noé Debré, the creator of "Parlement," a TV comedy set in the European Parliament, is our special guest. POLITICO's Cristina Gonzalez and Maïa de La Baume get the behind-the-scenes scoop on how the show came about, how it's been received inside the Parliament and what makes EU lawmaking funny. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As countries ease lockdowns and try to move toward normality, we take stock of Europe's response to the coronavirus so far. We pick out key themes and moments, offer a behind-the-scenes peek at our coverage and look at the challenges to come.POLITICO's Andrew Gray reviews the past few months and senior health care reporter Sarah Wheaton adds her insights in the last of our special coronavirus episodes — at least for now. Be sure to continue listening to our regular Thursday editions of EU Confidential, which will also focus largely on the coronavirus crisis in the weeks and months to come. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was big and bold and came out of the blue — Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron took Europe by surprise with a plan for a €500 billion EU recovery fund. Was it a historic moment for Europe? How would the scheme work? And can the skeptics be won over? POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Andrew Gray break down the politics behind the plan and preview the battles ahead.To add an expert economist's view into the mix, Matt catches up with Lucas Guttenberg, deputy director of the Jacques Delors Centre at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How green will Europe's economic revival be? Pascal Canfin, the chair of the European Parliament's environment committee, outlines what MEPs want to see from the EU's recovery plan. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron outlined their vision for that plan this week but how does the Parliament think the money should be raised and spent, particularly to help the EU meet its climate goals?Children are heading back to school in parts of Europe. But their return to the classroom isn't without concern. POLITICO's U.K. health reporter Ashleigh Furlong walks us through the latest research on how the coronavirus impacts children and examines the political and parental dilemmas over the issue. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European studies in the University of Oxford, doesn't mince words about the challenges — and opportunities — facing the European Union as it tries to navigate its way out of the coronavirus crisis. His Europe’s Stories project is producing some surprising findings about what young people want from the Continent's politicians. Can they rise to the challenge?The renowned historian also talks about why this is a moment of "existential" danger for the EU, why he calls today's Hungary a dictatorship and how liberals mishandled the aftermath of the Cold War.Is Europe facing a second wave of the coronavirus? POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig and Carmen Paun join EU Editor Andrew Gray to look at possible triggers for a new spike in infections. They also discuss the response to the pandemic in Carmen's home country of Romania.And we debate the European Commission's new war on leaks. Does the Commission have any justification for threatening charges against those who pass on inf

We turn the spotlight on World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the man at the center of a global public health crisis and a geopolitical storm. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton talks about her recent profile of Tedros and the challenges he faces over COVID-19, written together with colleague Simon Marks, who is based in the WHO leader's home country of Ethiopia. Read their article here: https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-tedros-who-doctor-making-donald-trump-queasy/We also hear from POLITICO's Charlie Duxbury in Sweden on why the Nordic country has taken such a light-touch approach to lockdown. What does it mean for everyday life? And how do officials explain a strategy so different from others around the world and what's been the reaction at home and abroad? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What standards should we expect from politicians, professors and public health experts as they guide us through this crisis? And where does science end and politics begin? POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Matthew Kartnischnig, Rym Momtaz and Kate Day debate those questions and other coronavirus quandaries.And the brand new head of the British Chamber of Commerce to the EU and Belgium, Daniel Dalton, talks about what his members want from negotiations between the U.K. and EU as a crunch point looms. The former member of the European Parliament explains why he thinks a win-win outcome is still possible. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pledges of billions of euros to fight the coronavirus rolled into a conference hosted by the European Commission on Monday — but how much of that money is new and where will it go? POLITICO healthcare reporter Jillian Deutsch breaks down the results of the virtual gathering.We discuss why Thomas Hobbes is seen as the philosophical father of lockdowns with POLITICO's senior policy editor and resident philosopher, Christian Oliver.And Elke Van den Brandt, the transport minister of the Brussels region, tells us about her plans to roll out extra bike lanes and make the EU capital more pedestrian-friendly as the lockdown eases. As she tells our mobility reporters, Hanne Cokelaere and Joshua Posaner, the idea is to stop public transport getting too crowded and encourage commuters to consider alternatives to driving into the city. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.