Episode 1: The plan to get Ukraine into the EU

Welcome to the first edition of the Brussels Playbook Podcast! In the debut episode, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart break down two big questions facing Brussels: How far is the EU willing to go to bring Ukraine into its fold? And can Europe finally get serious about fixing its economy? First, Ukraine and enlargement. EU officials are quietly exploring unconventional options to move Kyiv closer to the bloc — potentially as early as next year — as talk of a possible peace deal grows and uncertainty around the U.S. deepens. Then, competitiveness. Ahead of a closed-door leaders’ retreat later this week, EU capitals are under pressure to revive Europe’s sluggish economy and cut internal barriers that have held growth back for years. Ian and Zoya also ask what the recent closure of Irish pubs Kitty O’Shea’s and De Valera’s — two key Brussels institutions for talking shop over a beer — means for the informal spaces where EU politics has long been done. And we’d love to hear from you — where are people now going instead? Send us your pub tips, memories or voice notes. We may play some of them in a future episode. Messages can be anonymous. Our WhatsApp number is: +32 491 05 06 29 **A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at AWS.eu.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(593)

Bonus episode: Ernstfall — What if Russia attacks NATO?

Today, we’re bringing you a special bonus episode from our colleagues at WELT. Originally released in German, Ernstfall is now available in English. What if Russia attacked NATO? How would German...

5 Jul 30min

Can NATO allies avoid a clash with Trump in Ankara?

Despite all the backslapping and glad-handing, transatlantic tensions are never far from the surface at the annual gathering of NATO leaders. It’s unlikely to be any different when they gather in Anka...

3 Jul 32min

Has Ukraine found Russia’s weak spot?

Ukraine has a rare advantage over Russia … but only if its allies move fast enough to sustain it. After months of attacks on refineries, fuel depots and supply routes, Kyiv has finally hit Russia whe...

2 Jul 15min

Nobody touch the farm budget — our 100th episode, live from Brussels

We’re celebrating 100 episodes this summer! To mark this milestone, today’s show was recorded in front of a live audience with the full lineup of our rotating podcasts hosts. Kicking us off, Zoya She...

1 Jul 21min

Europe’s awkward embrace of Turkey

Three very senior EU heavyweights are on the ground in Turkey today — just days before the NATO summit in Ankara. When EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Mig...

30 Jun 15min

Europe’s foreign policy turf war

The EU’s diplomatic service is losing power, people and influence to Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur look at how the EEAS is fighting for its future — and whether...

29 Jun 16min

Can Europe help repair the invisible scars of war?

After four and a half years of war, Ukraine’s physical destruction is easy to see. But the psychological damage caused by occupation, displacement and loss is much harder to measure — although just as...

26 Jun 41min

Rebuilding Ukraine under the shadow of a presidential row

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 t...

25 Jun 16min