Brussels Playbook Podcast

EU foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss a hefty list of geopolitical crises. But compared with past gatherings, something feels ... different.

That might be because, without the presence of an obstructionist Hungary, the meeting could finally result in movement on several key topics. Ian and Sarah discuss whether we can expect decisive action to be taken on issues like the unblocking of aid to Ukraine or possible sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Next, we give you the lowdown on the election results in Bulgaria where ex-fighter-jet pilot Rumen Radev won big. Some diplomats here in Brussels are wondering if perhaps we’re looking at another Viktor Orbán type of leader. 

Also, with Brussels urging Europeans to cut back on travel to save fuel, MEPs are also scrutinizing their monthly trips to Strasbourg.

Finally, we have a message from our host Zoya Sheftalovich, who's on vacation in Australia ... and isn't very happy with Ian. That's not all: Carrie Budoff Brown, our executive editor, also dials in with a special birthday shout out.

Do you have a question or a comment? Contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.
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Europe, in efforts to disentangle itself from Russian gas, has become increasingly aware of the vulnerability of its web of pipelines, subsea cables and offshore installations to hybrid attacks. 

A million kilometers of undersea cables transport 95 percent of the world’s internet traffic, and more than 200,000 kilometers of active oil and gas pipelines run across Europe. That physical infrastructure is at risk amid an escalation in hybrid attacks. The attacks on cables and pipelines are across frontiers and jurisdictions, mandating the need for a cross-border, coordinated response. 

In this special podcast episode produced by POLITICO Studio for Equinor, policy experts and industry leaders come together to discuss the vulnerabilities facing Europe’s energy infrastructure, and the collaborative approach to resilience that is on the rise. 

Hear from Oana Lungescu, former NATO spokesperson; Petya Barzilska, head of research and policy at the European Initiative for Energy Security; Camilla Salthe, executive vice president for Safety, Security and Sustainability at Equinor; and Emilie Asberg, CEO of Oslo-based deeptech startup Havguard, on the new security responsibilities emerging for Europe’s governments and industries. 
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This week's agenda is brimming with high-level summits and meetings on foreign affairs. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, kicks it all off by focusing minds on Gaza.

Today Kallas hosts back-to-back events to promote a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. Ian and Nick discuss how the EU is using the occasion to position itself as an authority on the future of Gaza and present an alternative worldview to Donald Trump's. Plus, they explain how Viktor Orbán's defeat in the recent Hungarian election could impact EU-Israel relations.

Later, we unpack the key issues to be discussed at this week’s summit of EU leaders in Cyprus, and the potential knock-on effect it could have on the beleaguered tourism industry.

Last, the EU is celebrating its birthday on the wrong day, according to some. Nick sets the record straight. 

Does your country have a culinary delicacy whose name resembles that of one of our hosts? If so, contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.
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Election night in Hungary was an emotional and teary one ... but now, the work begins.

The winners — Peter Magyar’s Tisza party — have the daunting task of reversing years of democratic backsliding that went on under Viktor Orbán’s watch. Meanwhile, Fidesz — and far-right parties across Europe — have some intense soul searching to do to figure out what went wrong in Orbán’s campaign.

Our panel of guests includes POLITICO’s White House Correspondent Eli Stokols and our Senior France Correspondent Clea Caulcutt in Paris, along with Balazs Kos, a Hungarian consultant and expert on EU affairs. Together with host Sarah Wheaton, they dive deeper into what the outcome means for Brussels and the MAGA movement across the pond.

We also speak with Frank Furedi of MCC Brussels, a think tank with links to Orbán’s government. He gives us a breakdown of why he believes the Fidesz campaign failed.

Do you have a question or a comment? Send us a WhatsApp message here or dial +32 491 05 06 29. 
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Viktor Orbán may be out — but his man in Brussels is not.

Today on the pod, Ian and Sarah discuss how the Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi is expected to stay on in the Berlaymont after his Fidesz party's landslide election loss back home. They explain why neither the Commission nor the new Hungarian government are in a rush to get rid of the Orbán ally.

Next, they talk about the frontrunner in Bulgaria's upcoming vote — an ex-fighter jet pilot. It's the eighth election in five years and voters are hoping for the country to regain political stability.

Plus, chaos has hit airports around Europe as the EU rolls out its new digital border control system. People are missing their flights and waiting in queues for hours.

Has your flight travel been disturbed by this new Entry/Exit system? We want to hear from you! You can contact us on WhatsApp here or on +32 491 05 06 29.
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