Podcasts by EU Confidential

EU Confidential

EU Confidential is a weekly European news and politics podcast published every Thursday by POLITICO Europe. Each 30-minute episode features POLITICO’s analysis of the top stories driving EU politics, as well as notable guests shaping European policy and deep-dive stories from around the Continent. It’s hosted by Sarah Wheaton, POLITICO’s chief Brussels correspondent, who is joined by reporters from around Europe. Discover our show notes for EU Confidential here: https://www.politico.eu/eu-confidential-podcast/


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EU Confidential
SPONSORED CONTENT: Carbon capture and storage to reach net zero from 2023-11-22T03:01:07

Oil, gas and coal still made up 81.5 percent of the global energy mix in 2022 — down just 3 percent from 2015, when the Paris climate agreement was signed. 

  

Given t...

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EU Confidential
Brussels summer survival guide from 2023-08-03T15:01:38

In this episode, we unpack what to expect in Brussels this August as EU decision making grinds to a halt. Also, we explore how extreme weather in Europe is weighing against tourism demands, and ...

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EU Confidential
Director Oliver Stone talks nuclear power — EU economy chief Paolo Gentiloni from 2023-01-19T04:00:39

It's Thursday morning and today we bring you bumper editions from Davos with our final episode of the week landing later this evening.

In this episode, POLITICO Europe's Editor-in-Chief Ja...

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EU Confidential
EU-US subsidy spat — Senator Joe Manchin — Diane von Furstenberg on Equality from 2023-01-18T04:00:12

It's Wednesday, and we're back with another episode from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch, Alex Ward and Jakob Hanke Vela reveal the on-the-ground E...

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EU Confidential
Pessimistic CEOs — WEF after Klaus Schwab — Crypto trust deficit from 2023-01-17T04:00:53

As the World Economic Forum gets underway, we dive into the stories everyone is talking about on the Magic Mountain.

POLITICO's Jakob Hanke Vela sits down with PwC Global Chairman Bob Mori...

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EU Confidential
POLITICO's World Economic Forum guide — Richard Edelman on trust from 2023-01-16T04:05:50

From Davos, Switzerland, the POLITICO crew unpacks the big global issues facing businesses, governments and international organizations as top leaders gather for this year's World Economic Forum...

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EU Confidential
Brussels' Twitter headache — Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko — EU 'Superstate' from 2022-11-24T17:47:52

This week, we debate how Europe is grappling with Twitter since Elon Musk took the helm. We hear from Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and discuss a new book about the EU's "Superstate" status.

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EU Confidential
Zelenskyy chides global elite — Trust troubles — Billionaire bonanza from 2022-05-23T23:30:04

This episode comes to you from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland — featuring participants from business, government and the non-profit sectors.

POLITICO's Listen

EU Confidential
Zelenskyy chides global elite — Trust troubles — Billionaire bonanza from 2022-05-23T23:30:04

This episode comes to you from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland — featuring participants from business, government and the non-profit sectors.

POLITICO's Listen

EU Confidential
Russia's repression — Ukraine jet confusion — Bulgarian PM Kiril Petkov from 2022-03-10T18:57:12

In this episode, we learn how the war in Ukraine is being reported inside Russia and unpack the confusion over whether Poland will supply fighter jets to the Ukrainian government. You'll also he...

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EU Confidential
Moscow's mixed messages — Ukraine's Unity Day — Think tanker Heather Conley from 2022-02-17T19:02:31

We hear from our reporters in Moscow and Kyiv about the continued tensions over Ukraine. Our special guest is Heather Conley, the new president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, ...

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EU Confidential
Scholz and Macron's missions — Le Pen 2.0 — MEP David McAllister from 2022-02-10T17:15:59

Macron in Moscow, Scholz in Washington: How did the French and German leaders do in their diplomatic missions in the midst of the Ukraine crisis? We also get the European Parliament's perspectiv...

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EU Confidential
Partygate fallout — Estonian PM Kaja Kallas — Cecilia Malmström on EU trade from 2022-02-03T17:33:25

This week, a tale of two (very different) crises: the Partygate scandal threatening Boris Johnson and the continuing tension over Ukraine. We hear from Estonian PM Kaja Kallas on the latter. And...

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EU Confidential
Latvia's war worries — Neutrals for NATO? — Polish MEP Patryk Jaki from 2022-01-27T19:52:57

We take the temperature in the Baltics amid fears of a Russian attack on Ukraine and unpack how the U.K. is handling the crisis. We also talk to conservative Polish MEP Patryk Jaki about his gov...

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EU Confidential
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola — Macron on EU — Merkel's next gig from 2022-01-20T17:03:34

Roberta Metsola, the new president of the European Parliament, is our special guest. We also unpack French President Emmanuel Macron's appearance in the European Parliament and share suggestions...

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EU Confidential
Omicron tidal wave — Remembering David Sassoli — Russia standoff from 2022-01-13T17:25:30

The coronavirus wave engulfing Europe and the West's standoff with Russia over Ukraine both feature in this episode. We also reflect on the legacy of European Parliament President David Sassoli,...

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EU Confidential
Previewing 2022 — Russian brinkmanship — DOT Europe's Siada El Ramly from 2022-01-06T15:30:05

We look at the big stories we expect to shape 2022 and suggest a few New Year’s resolutions for European politicians — and DOT Europe Director General Siada El Ramly talks EU tech policy.

...

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EU Confidential
Key 2021 political moments — Hearing from listeners — Politics of Jesus from 2021-12-16T20:39:39

The podcast crew, Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Cristina Gonzalez, present audio clips that sum up some of the big stories of the year — in a conversation recorded at a (virt...

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EU Confidential
Germany's new government — Denglish debate — POLITICO 28 from 2021-12-09T18:14:17

As Angela Merkel bows out after 16 years, we focus this episode on Germany's new government and its chancellor, Olaf Scholz. We also debate the growing use of "Denglish" — a hybrid of German and...

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EU Confidential
OMG it's Omicron — China's EU strategy — Amnesty's Agnès Callamard from 2021-12-02T18:45:22

This week: the Omicron variant and its impact on Europe's coronavirus response, our editor-in-chief on China's approach to Europe and Amnesty International's boss on EU emergency migration measu...

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EU Confidential
Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg — New German government — Luuk van Middelaar from 2021-11-25T19:10:42

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, France's Europe minister Clément Beaune and Dutch political theorist and author Luuk van Middelaar all feature in this episode. Plus, we dive into Ger...

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EU Confidential
COP26 climate drama — Top US foreign policy adviser Derek Chollet from 2021-11-18T18:58:35

This week, we get the American perspective on European strategic autonomy and other issues facing the EU from Derek Chollet, the top adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We also un...

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EU Confidential
COP26 catch-up — Tech boss John Collison — EU gets (even) funnier from 2021-11-04T14:46:50

The COP26 climate talks, a top European tech entrepreneur and a return to the question of whether the EU is funny all feature in this week's episode.

POLITICO's Karl Mathiesen joins Andrew...

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EU Confidential
COP26 and G20 preview — Glasgow gears up — Lessons for liberalism from 2021-10-28T17:55:33

We preview two big weekend events: the G20 summit and the start of COP26 climate talks. We also discuss liberalism and its current struggles with British author and journalist Ian Dunt.

PO...

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EU Confidential
Hungary's would-be PM — Rule-of-law ripples — German coalition talks from 2021-10-21T16:38:27

We talk to Péter Márki-Zay, the man chosen by Hungarian opposition parties to take on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Also in this episode, we have an update on the EU's rule-of-law battle and get ...

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EU Confidential
EU energy prices — Curtains for Kurz — Poland courts controversy from 2021-10-14T17:37:23

On the agenda this week: The EU's plans to tackle soaring energy prices, Sebastian Kurz's resignation as Austrian chancellor and a Polish challenge to the primacy of EU law.

POLITICO's Zos...

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EU Confidential
Macron's US stance — Western Balkans summit — Dark EU lobbying from 2021-10-07T19:17:50

This week: The EU's place in the world — and the Western Balkans' place in the EU. And we dive deep into the murky world EU lobbying.

POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn and Lili Bayer join An...

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EU Confidential
Who is Olaf Scholz? — German election aftermath — EU-US trade and tech push from 2021-09-30T18:47:55

We dive into the aftermath of the German election and take a closer look at Olaf Scholz, the favorite to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor. We also unpack a new push by the EU and the U.S. to ...

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EU Confidential
Special edition: German election results from 2021-09-27T02:19:43

In a special show from Berlin, the POLITICO team analyzes Germany's cliffhanger election, gauges the mood in the different camps, and explores how coalition talks may play out.

POLITICO's ...

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EU Confidential
German election explained — French fury at Australian sub snub from 2021-09-23T19:31:21

We explore the defining moments of the German election campaign and debate the security-and-submarine deal between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom that enraged France.

...

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EU Confidential
State of the European Union — German election latest from 2021-09-16T15:16:08

Ursula von der Leyen's State of the European Union address and the closing stages of the race to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor are our two big topics this week.

POLITICO's And...

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EU Confidential
German election's EU impact — Playbookers' premiere — Age of 'unpeace' from 2021-09-09T16:47:04

The German election campaign's impact on EU policymakers is up for debate this week. And European Council on Foreign Relations director Mark Leonard talks about his new book, "The Age of Unpeace...

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EU Confidential
Afghanistan fallout — Europe's military dilemma — Politics of loneliness from 2021-09-02T15:16:41

We debate whether Afghanistan's collapse moves the needle in Europe's long-running dilemma over building up its own military power. Plus, we have a discussion on a new form of loneliness among y...

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EU Confidential
EU migration wrangle — Economist Joseph Stiglitz — EMA chief Emer Cooke from 2021-08-26T11:37:38

In the wake of the withdrawal of western forces from Afghanistan, the EU is confronting renewed questions about its asylum policy. We also look at the state of the global economy, as well as Eur...

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EU Confidential
Europe reacts to Afghanistan's collapse from 2021-08-19T13:03:37

As the Taliban consolidate their hold over Afghanistan, we have reaction from around Europe to the U.S. decision to pull out and debate the policy implications for NATO and the transatlantic all...

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EU Confidential
Summer special: Recommended reading, listening and viewing from 2021-07-29T12:42:26

We have all the recommendations you need for reading, listening and viewing to make the most of your summer holiday — courtesy of the POLITICO podcast crew, special guests and our listeners.

...

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EU Confidential
German floods — Spyware scandal — Svetlana Tikhanovskaya from 2021-07-22T15:09:47

The devastating floods in Western Europe are our top story this week: We hear from our reporter in the German flood zone and debate the political consequences of the catastrophe. We also discuss...

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EU Confidential
Political football — EU's big climate combo — Recovery cash from 2021-07-15T18:31:11

The political repercussions of Euro 2020, a massive package of European climate laws, and the first economic recovery plans approved for EU cash all feature this week.

POLITICO's Rym Momta...

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EU Confidential
Slovenian EU presidency — Champagne spat — Digital expert Marietje Schaake from 2021-07-08T10:55:33

Slovenia's awkward start to its EU presidency and a look at wh...

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EU Confidential
Stunning summit — EU's engine room — Ex-Swedish PM Carl Bildt from 2021-07-01T18:19:15

We unpack last week's extraordinary summit of EU leaders, take stock of the coronavirus situation in Europe and bring you inside the EU's "engine room." Our special guest is former Swedish Prime...

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EU Confidential
Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ law — Sausage wars — Commission VP Maroš Šef?ovi? from 2021-06-24T14:58:48

Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, France's regional elections and U.K.-EU relations are all up for debate. And we hear from European Commission VP Maroš Šef?ovi?'s on the U.K.-EU "sausage wars" an...

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EU Confidential
Biden's European summit spree — ECB President Christine Lagarde — Birthday bonanza from 2021-06-17T18:29:06

We take stock of Joe Biden's visit to Europe and what it means for EU allies. And our special guest is European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, discussing the uphill battle for gender ...

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EU Confidential
Biden in Europe — Back to Strasbourg — Transatlantic talk from 2021-06-10T17:33:58

Joe Biden's trip to Europe, an interview with Germany's transatlantic coordinator, the European Parliament's strange return to Strasbourg, and a brewing Brussels brouhaha over the French languag...

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EU Confidential
Spy affair — Laschet litmus — Former Irish President Mary Robinson from 2021-06-03T16:13:02

Claims that Denmark helped the U.S. spy on European leaders, demands for the EU to step up on defense and bellwether state elections in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt all feature in this episode. Mary ...

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EU Confidential
Belarusian 'hijack' — Brussels food fight — Art of diplomacy from 2021-05-27T19:05:48

The Belarus airliner drama and EU leaders' response, as well as a big bunfight over farm subsidies, are up for debate this week. And longtime EU diplomat Robert Cooper talks about his new book "...

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EU Confidential
Ep 201, presented by Equinor: Israeli-Palestinian conflict — Laschet's foreign foray — Javier Solana from 2021-05-20T18:43:18

European attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the foreign policy of Germany's conservative candidate for chancellor, and a chat with former EU High Representative Javier Solana all...

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EU Confidential
Ep 200, presented by Shell: Vaccine patent waivers — Macron gets mad — Facebook's Nick Clegg from 2021-05-13T14:05:42

European leaders' cool reaction to a U.S. proposal to waive patents for coronavirus vaccines is up for debate this week. We also discuss big issues facing Facebook with the company's public affa...

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EU Confidential
Ep 199, presented by SQM: Media freedom — European travel — Social summit from 2021-05-06T17:00:11

Is media freedom in Europe under threat? Is the Continent ready to open up as the coronavirus abates? And how much of a social union should the EU be? We tackle all of these questions in this we...

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EU Confidential
Ep 198, presented by Equinor: Recovery recipes — Presidential problems — Scottish election from 2021-04-29T18:16:14

Recovery fund masterplans, a power struggle among EU presidents and a deep dive into next week's Scottish Parliament election all feature in this episode.

Seeking approval for their share ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 197: Germany's candidates — Super League shambles — data breach battles from 2021-04-22T15:06:01

The candidates vying to be Germany's next chancellor, Europe's Super League football flop and battles over people's personal data all feature in this week's episode.

A resurgent Green part...

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EU Confidential
Ep 196: Ukraine tension — Merkel succession battle — Marine litter from 2021-04-15T17:14:07

POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig has been following this week's dramatic battle to beco...

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EU Confidential
Ep 195: Sofagate — Central and Eastern Europe's COVID struggles — Ivan Krastev from 2021-04-08T16:09:02

The big preoccupation for the Brussels bubble this week was a trip to Ankara by European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Michel took a chair next ...

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EU Confidential
Special Edition: Stephen Brown — An audio appreciation from 2021-04-04T20:26:31

This special edition of the EU Confidential podcast reflects on the life and career of Stephen Brown, the POLITICO ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 194: EU faces Beijing backlash — European astronauts in conversation from 2021-04-01T17:36:46

POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Stuart Lau get you up to speed on recent rows between China and the European Union — alongside the United States and others — after t...

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EU Confidential
Ep 193, presented by the European Training Foundation: Vax attacks — German scandals — Syria conflict from 2021-03-25T14:23:19

POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Jakob Hanke Vela break down the Commission plan to give the EU more powers to stop vaccine exports — and point out a loophole that me...

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EU Confidential
Ep 192: AstraZeneca limbo — Vaccine export bans — COVID disinformation from 2021-03-18T21:16:13

As the European Commission proposes a digital certificate to allow for safe travel around the EU in the corona era, we debate how much that matters if enough Europeans aren't vaccinated. POLITIC...

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EU Confidential
Ep 191: German election journey — EESC in spotlight from 2021-03-11T16:50:44

Our Trans-Germany Express stops first in Stuttgart to speak with POLITICO's Laurenz Gehrke about Sunday's regional elections. Then we head to Düsseldorf, where Matthew Karnitschnig picks out nat...

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EU Confidential
Ep 190: EU solidarity jabbed — Vaccine passports — China relations from 2021-03-04T17:33:32

POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton joins podcast regulars Andrew Gray and Rym Momtaz to discuss the implications of an increasing number of EU countries shopping outside the bloc for their vaccines. Where...

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EU Confidential
Ep 120, presented by ExxonMobil: Boris’ Brexit proposal — Latvia’s Prime Minister Krišj?nis Kari?š from 2021-03-04T01:10:44.250132

On our latest episode of the new EU Confidential, POLITICO's Annabelle Dickson unpacks Boris Johnson's new Brexit plan. Meanwhile in Brussels, confirmation hearings for new European Commissioners a...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #4: Pandemic preparations — Behind the masks ?— Coronavirus apps from 2021-03-04T01:10:44.170669

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...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #8: Pledge drive ?— Getting philosophical ?— Brussels post-lockdown plans from 2021-03-04T01:10:44.160041

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 healthc...

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EU Confidential
Ep 159: Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? — Macron soliloquies — Green wave from 2021-03-04T01:10:44.142395

A Green wave in France, the speaking styles of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? all feature in this week's podcast. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz in Paris explains ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 189: Message to Moscow — Frontier fracas — Euro English from 2021-02-25T16:16:57

EU foreign ministers this week gave the go-ahead for sanctions on Russian officials in response to the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. POLITICO's David M. Herszenhorn, Andrew Gray, ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 188: Mario Draghi's return — Italian influence — Is the EU funny? from 2021-02-18T15:50:18

We discuss Italy's new prime minister, Mario Draghi, and explore how he will operate at home and on the European stage. Plus, we debate whether the EU is funny, with a talented comedic cast.

...

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EU Confidential
Ep 187, presented by Equinor: Borrell Russia rumpus — Macron's rivals — Lithuania's foreign minister from 2021-02-11T15:27:47

We debate EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's controversial trip to Moscow and hear from the foreign minister of a country that knows first-hand about Russian influence, Lithuania's Gabrieli...

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EU Confidential
Ep 186, presented by Equinor: Vaccine export fiasco — Von der Leyen's line — Belgian virologist from 2021-02-04T20:17:05

POLITICO trade reporter Jakob Hanke Vela talks us through how the Commission's export control scheme became more controversial as it evolved, culminating in a plan to override part of the Brexit...

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EU Confidential
Ep 144 In Focus: Energy, presented by Shell: Europe on hold — COVID-19 leadership — Energy battles from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As COVID-19 paralyzes Europe, our podcast panel describes daily life right now in Paris, Berlin, London and Brussels. We also look at how Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Boris Johnson and Ursula vo...

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EU Confidential
Ep 185, presented by BP: Europe's vaccine blame game — Brussels bubble struggles from 2021-01-28T15:53

POLITICO's Chief Policy Correspondent Sarah Wheaton joins Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig to talk through an Listen

EU Confidential
Ep 184: Europe reacts to Biden's inauguration — Merkel succession from 2021-01-21T14:04:38

Joe Biden's inauguration may have been happening in America, but the eyes of Europe and the world were watching. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and David M. Herszenhorn discuss Euro...

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EU Confidential
Ep 183: CDU contenders — Platforms and politicians — 'Good' countries from 2021-01-14T15:08:44

POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Matthew Karnitschnig set up the biggest political event in Europe this week — the election of the next leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Matt goes up aga...

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EU Confidential
Ep 182: Vaccine vexation — EU-UK deal — Previewing 2021 from 2021-01-07T20:56:49

We look back on the big news of the holiday period and forward to the stories we expect to shape 2021 in another bumper podcast panel edition of EU Confidential.

POLITICO's Andrew Gra...

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EU Confidential
Ep 181, presented by Google: Reflecting on 2020 from 2020-12-17T21:07:55

It's a bumper end-of-year review edition! But don't worry if 2020 is the year you're already trying to forget — we want to reflect on key moments and themes, rather than relive the trauma.

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EU Confidential
Ep 180, presented by Shell: EU deals on climate & budget — Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya from 2020-12-11T19:07:40

In their final meeting of 2020, EU leaders made key decisions on the bloc's long-term budget and recovery fund, emissions targets, and foreign affairs. We delayed this week's episode to bring yo...

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EU Confidential
Ep 179, presented by Equinor: Von der Leyen's first year reviewed — Manfred Weber interview from 2020-12-03T18:16:01

One year on from Ursula von der Leyen taking office as Commission president, we take stock of how she has performed. And Manfred Weber, leader of the largest group in the European Parliament, sh...

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EU Confidential
Ep 178: Europe's new US BFFs — Biden calling — Big tech lobbying from 2020-11-26T17:22:31

They like America's traditional allies! They talk about multilateralism! Some of them even speak French! U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's foreign policy team has drawn rave reviews in Europe. We...

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EU Confidential
Ep 177 In Focus: Energy, presented by Shell: Budget blocked — Strategic autonomy — COP26 from 2020-11-19T20:28:25

Hungary and Poland's block on the EU's budget and recovery package and a Franco-German clash over European strategy autonomy are up for debate in this episode. And we take a deep dive into clima...

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EU Confidential
Ep 176, presented by Equinor: Vaccine hopes — Budget breakthrough — US election reaction from 2020-11-12T19:56:33

The prospect of a coronavirus vaccine, European reaction to Joe Biden's victory in the US presidential race and a breakthrough on the EU's €1.8 trillion budget — it's all up for debate in this e...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #13, presented by Huawei: Key election lessons — Georgia on our minds from 2020-11-10T16:35:22

In the final episode of our pop-up series on the US elections, we share the key takeaways, looking at what we heard over the past 3 months and how it explains where we ended up. We also look ahe...

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EU Confidential
Ep 175: Biden, Trump and what the US elections mean for Europe from 2020-11-05T19:42:08

In this special extended episode, we debate and dissect the U.S. presidential vote, looking at its implications for America, transatlantic ties and European politics.

Even as the final out...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #12, presented by Huawei: How to watch election night like a pro from 2020-11-02T13:16

In this episode of our pop-up series on the US elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we give you all the details you need to follow the big night like a seasoned DC insider  — including what to look ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 174: Team Macron turmoil — Minimum wage push — OECD contenders from 2020-10-29T19:40:34

Trouble in French President Emmanuel Macron's inner circle, the European Commission's move to boost minimum wages, and the battle to lead the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developme...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #11: Top debate drama and campaign crunch time from 2020-10-27T15:47:02

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we dive into the top debate moments of this campaign season — and explain how they've impacted the election.

...

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EU Confidential
Ep 173, presented by the European Commission: Pandemic politics — Farming feuds — Hospitality hopes from 2020-10-22T17:28:28

Political activity in a pandemic, transatlantic turbulence, the EU's farming future and what the hospitality industry wants from politicians to weather the coronavirus crisis are all up for deba...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #10: Trump's suburban troubles from 2020-10-20T18:16:17

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we explain what is happening in America's suburbs — a crucial voting block for Donald Trump in 2016 — and partic...

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EU Confidential
Ep 172: Coronavirus scramble — Estonia's president — Panel's picks from 2020-10-15T18:27:47

The coronavirus is top of mind as we dig into the state of the pandemic in the EU, and ask whether leaders' handling of its resurgence threatens the bond of trust between governments and citizen...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #9: America's election litigation bonanza from 2020-10-13T17:03:54

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we dive into the myriad of lawsuits and legal issues surrounding November's elections.

Colorado Secretary ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 171, presented by Shell: Commissioner Reynders on rule of law — Brexit crunch time — Coronavirus surge from 2020-10-08T15:43:25

Rule of law in the EU, mounting coronavirus concerns and Brexit brinksmanship are all up for debate on the latest episode of EU Confidential. Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders is our special ...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #8: What's at stake for Europe from 2020-10-06T18:38:47

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, guest hosted by David M. Herszenhorn, we look at what's at stake for Europe and the impact on transatlantic relations.

Former Ge...

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EU Confidential
Ep 170: EU leaders talk Turkey and Russia — Chancellor hopeful Norbert Röttgen from 2020-10-01T18:01:50

As EU leaders meet in Brussels, we hold our own mini-summit to debate issues on the table in the European Council building — including tension in the Eastern Mediterranean and the EU's relations...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #7: How the fight for racial justice is impacting the elections from 2020-09-29T17:41:37

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we talk about America's battle for racial justice and how it's translating into political action.

POLITICO...

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EU Confidential
Ep 169: Commissioner Johansson on EU migration pact — France's Europe Minister Clément Beaune from 2020-09-24T16:42:08

The EU's new plan to handle migration is in the spotlight — Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson lays out the package and our podcast panel breaks it down. You'll also hear from Clément Beau...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #6: How conspiracy theories are shaping the 2020 elections from 2020-09-22T18:41:51

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we talk about how conspiracy theories have moved from the fringes of American political rhetoric to the mainstre...

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EU Confidential
Ep 168: Von der Leyen's State of the European Union — US Ambassador Ronald Gidwitz from 2020-09-17T20:24:52

We analyze Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's first State of the European Union speech. And Ronald Gidwitz, the U.S. ambassador to Belgium who's also the acting Representative to the EU...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #5: Money, money, money from 2020-09-15T22:12:45

In this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we talk money — diving into why American elections are so expensive, and how 2020 is stacking up.

You'll h...

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EU Confidential
Ep 167: Commission reshuffle — Strasbourg skip — Brexit's back — Twitter's Nick Pickles from 2020-09-10T16:41:20

A European Commission reshuffle, the European Parliament's decision to skip Strasbourg and new uproar over Brexit all feature in this episode — alongside our interview guest Nick Pickles, Twitte...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #4: Why is America more polarized than ever? from 2020-09-08T16:00:42

On this episode of our pop-up series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, we explore the polarization of American politics and ask one simple question: Why has this happened?

You'l...

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EU Confidential
Ep 166: Macron's Lebanon gamble — Navalny poisoning — Misha Glenny's Iron Men from 2020-09-03T17:38

A firsthand account of French President Emmanuel Macron's latest diplomatic push in Lebanon; the poisoning of opposition activist Alexei Navalny; and McMafia author Misha Glenny on the political...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #3: A perfect storm — Foreign influence — Absentee ballots from 2020-09-01T16:29:01

Our third episode dedicated to the U.S. election, hosted by Ryan Heath, breaks down the 'perfect storm' of issues — a pandemic, voting troubles and foreign interference — that have experts on ed...

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EU Confidential
Ep 165: Golfgate and Hogan's resignation — Trump-era transatlantic relations from 2020-08-27T15:15:17

EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan's resignation, the "golfgate" controversy surrounding his decision and what this means for the European Commission is the hot topic of this week's episode. POLIT...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #2: Republican National Convention — Pennsylvania voters — American democracy from 2020-08-25T15:22:44

We take you to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in this episode of our pop-up podcast series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, and break down what is motivating Trump voters i...

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EU Confidential
Campaign Confidential #1: Democratic National Convention — Mail drama — Democrats abroad from 2020-08-18T16:39:11

Our pop-up podcast series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, kicks off at the (mostly-virtual) Democratic National Convention, and dives into the current debate over voting by mail and...

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EU Confidential
Trailer: Campaign Confidential from 2020-08-13T13:22:08

A foretaste of our brand new podcast on the U.S. elections, hosted by POLITICO's Ryan Heath

Starting on Tuesday August 18, ...

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EU Confidential
POLITICO EU Confidential Trailer from 2020-08-12T22:00

From Brussels, Berlin, Paris and London — Europe’s premier political podcast.


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EU Confidential
Ep 163: New coronavirus concerns — MEP Evelyn Regner on gender balance — US elections from 2020-07-30T18:22:49

Fears of a coronavirus second wave, a campaign for gender equality at the top of the EU, and the U.S. presidential election all feature in this week's episode.

After weeks of intense debat...

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EU Confidential
Ep 162: EU budget and recovery summit — Deal, drama & details from 2020-07-23T20:04

The POLITICO  team breaks down the details — and the drama — behind the deal struck by EU leaders on a €1.82 trillion financial package during a historic five-day summit in Brussels.

Using...

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EU Confidential
Ep 161: Summit state of play — Polish election aftermath — 'Tribalization' of Europe from 2020-07-16T19:41:26

The EU's budget and recovery plan, the Polish election outcome and the "tribalization" of Europe are all up for debate in this week's episode.

POLITICO's Lili Bayer has the lates...

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EU Confidential
Ep 160: Europe's chief prosecutor — French reshuffle — Merkel in Brussels from 2020-07-09T16:18:24

Emmanuel Macron's reshuffle, Angela Merkel's Brussels trip and Europe's approach to China all feature in this week's episode, as well as an interview with the EU's first chief prosecutor.

...

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EU Confidential
Ep 158: French & Polish elections — Germany's EU mission — Transport Commissioner Adina V?lean from 2020-06-25T20:41:48

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 ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 157: Peter Mandelson's WTO bid — Recovery review — Kosovo maneuvers from 2020-06-18T16:36:40

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 h...

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EU Confidential
Ep 156: VP V?ra Jourová on disinformation — US troop pullout — China strategy from 2020-06-11T20:33:29

European Commission Vice President V?ra 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 R...

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EU Confidential
Ep 155: Protests spread — G7 drama — French MEP Manon Aubry from 2020-06-04T15:58:29

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. H...

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EU Confidential
Ep 154: Commission's €750B recovery plan — Battles ahead — Making 'Parlement' funny from 2020-05-28T18:29:26

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 Karnitschn...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #11: Reviewing Europe's response — Challenges ahead — Behind-the-scenes peek from 2020-05-25T19:43:05

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 ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 153: Merkel & Macron's Recovery Fund — Economist Lucas Guttenberg from 2020-05-21T16:52:33

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...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #10: MEP Pascal Canfin on green recovery — Back-to-school questions from 2020-05-18T18:31:40

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 Merke...

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EU Confidential
Ep 152: Timothy Garton Ash — Second wave — War on leaks from 2020-05-14T19:19:45

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 it...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #9: Talking Tedros: WHO chief in spotlight — Sweden's light-touch lockdown from 2020-05-11T19:08:27

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 tal...

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EU Confidential
Ep 151, presented by the Croatian presidency: Coronavirus quandaries — New British Chamber CEO from 2020-05-07T19:15:53

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...

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EU Confidential
Ep 150: Chinese propaganda — Economist Thomas Piketty — Brussels love bus from 2020-04-30T19:28:11

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 B...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #7: Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on economic recovery — Critical seasonal workers from 2020-04-27T19:23:45

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 ho...

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EU Confidential
Ep 149: Europe's recovery — Virtual Council — Anything but corona from 2020-04-23T21:51:24

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 task...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #6: Belgium death toll explained — Antibodies vs. immunity — AI & COVID-19 from 2020-04-20T17:30:33

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 la...

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EU Confidential
Ep 148: Coronavirus Twitter chat — The Brussels Effect — Virtual Parliament from 2020-04-16T15:50:32

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 corresponde...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #5: How Europe failed coronavirus test — Auto industry impact — MEP Bas Eickhout from 2020-04-13T15:46:05

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 wit...

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EU Confidential
Ep 147: Who's running Britain? — Exit strategy U-turn — Virtual Brussels tour from 2020-04-09T18:39:50

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. P...

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EU Confidential
Ep 146: Jobs Commissioner Schmit — Lockdown limits — Corona bond bungle from 2020-04-02T19:23:39

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.

O...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #3: Testing questions ?— Corona bond debate ?— Dr. Herman Goossens from 2020-03-30T23:36:31

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 t...

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EU Confidential
Ep 145: Italian lessons — Democratic distancing — ONE Campaign's Gayle Smith from 2020-03-27T00:19:03

POLITICO's Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli in Rome shares her thoughts on what the rest of Europe can learn from Italy's response to the coronavirus. Our pan-European panel debates the challenges for ...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #2: European Commissioner Ylva Johansson — Vaccine confusion — 8 more weeks? from 2020-03-23T20:34:32

We hear from someone directly involved in the EU's response to the coronavirus crisis: Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson. The Swedish commissioner talks about the challenges of trying to ...

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EU Confidential
Coronavirus edition #1: Shutdowns & lockdowns — Europe's response — What airlines want from 2020-03-16T22:22:39

POLITICO brings you a special edition of the EU Confidential podcast focusing on the coronavirus crisis. This is the first in a series of extra episodes looking at the people, politics and polic...

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EU Confidential
Ep 143: Italy in coronavirus lockdown — Elections in France — UK's Tom Tugendhat from 2020-03-12T12:23:34

Life under lockdown in Italy: This episode of EU Confidential leads off with a conversation with Silvia Sciorilli-Borrelli in Rome about how Italy's attempt to quell the spread of the coronaviru...

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EU Confidential
Ep 142, presented by Goldman Sachs: EU in crisis mode — Super Tuesday — Syrian doctor Amani Ballour from 2020-03-05T14:43:49

From Brussels, Berlin, Paris and London, we break down responses to the coronavirus across Europe. How are politicians and the general population in each capital reacting? Is there a coherent Eu...

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EU Confidential
Ep 141: Europe's coronavirus response — Carnival & anti-Semitism — Valdis Dombrovskis interview from 2020-02-27T15:23:48

This episode of EU Confidential explores how Europe is responding to the coronavirus, with POLITICO's senior health reporter, Sarah Wheaton. We also take you to the Belgian city of Aalst, whose ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 140: EU's €1 trillion summit — Herman Van Rompuy — A digital vision from 2020-02-21T01:59:14

We go inside the special summit on the EU budget as leaders battle over plans likely to be worth more than €1 trillion over seven years. Among those sharing their thoughts with us: Dutch Prime M...

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EU Confidential
EU Confidential #139, presented by the Croatian Presidency: Munich Security Conference special from 2020-02-16T19:42:12

We go inside one of the world's top gatherings of political leaders, military commanders, ambassadors and policy experts — the Munich Security Conference. POLITICO's team of reporters analyzes t...

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EU Confidential
Ep 138, presented by the Croatian Presidency: German mess — 'Greta syndrome' — Anders Fogh Rasmussen from 2020-02-13T14:34:07

In the latest EU Confidential, ex-NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen weighs in on the future of European defense and the global artificial intelligence race. We also catch up with the new presiden...

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EU Confidential
Ep 137: Margrethe Vestager interview — Macron in Poland — Revisiting enlargement from 2020-02-06T14:57:35

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s executive vice president for digital, is the main interview guest in this week's EU Confidential podcast. She made a name for herself by taking on t...

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EU Confidential
Ep 136: Departing Brits debate — Huawei fallout — EU budget crunch from 2020-01-30T16:32:34

This episode of EU Confidential bids adieu (or is it au revoir?) to the U.K. as an EU member. You'll hear a lively debate with outgoing British MEPs Jude Kirton-Darling (Labour Party), Alex Phil...

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EU Confidential
Ep 135, presented by Goldman Sachs: PM Xavier Bettel — Prof. Mary Beard — David Miliband from 2020-01-23T19:20:53

This EU Confidential episode comes to you from Davos, Switzerland where the POLITICO team has been covering the 50th edition of the World Economic Forum.

You'll hear an exclusive interview...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential #3, presented by Goldman Sachs: Trump address — Solvay's CEO — Quantum computing from 2020-01-22T00:15:38

On episode 3 of POLITICO's Davos Confidential podcast series, our Editor-in-Chief Stephen Brown breaks down Donald Trump's address on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum, and Florian Eder and Ry...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential #2, presented by Goldman Sachs: Trump day — Workforce transformation from 2020-01-20T23:43:32

On Day 2 of Davos Confidential, we preview Donald Trump's much-anticipated speech at the World Economic Forum. Who's considered the most "controversial" among this high-powered crowd? ...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential #1, presented by Goldman Sachs: World Economic Forum preview from 2020-01-20T00:16:17

POLITICO heads to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum this week — bringing you a special daily podcast series from the snowy mountains where some of the world's top political, busine...

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EU Confidential
Ep 134: Geopolitical tussles — EU's green cash — New Zealand's EU envoy from 2020-01-16T18:35:32

On this episode of EU Confidential, Europe is on the foreign policy defensive again after Russia and Turkey seized the initiative in Libya. But did Putin and Erdo?an overreach and could the EU s...

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EU Confidential
Ep 133, presented by Gilead: Europe's Iran reaction — 2020 EU resolutions — New AIDS epidemic from 2020-01-09T17:38:57

The podcast welcomes the New Year with a spirited discussion about Europe's response to the U.S. assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Will the EU, France or the U.K. emerge as the ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 132: Top 2019 moments — UK vote fallout — Deepfakes — Catalonia's Alfred Bosch from 2019-12-19T16:25:51

In the last episode of 2019, the EU Confidential podcast crew selects their top political moments of the year — from the launch of the Brexit party in the U.K., to the Ibiza affair that toppled ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 131, presented by ERT: EU summit — Climate confusion — Gentiloni on geopolitics from 2019-12-13T04:35:13

This week's podcast comes from the EU summit in Brussels, where new European Council President Charles Michel claimed agreement on the Continent going climate-neutral by 2050 ?— but Poland has o...

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EU Confidential
Ep 130, presented by ERT: UK general election special from 2019-12-09T22:54:18

The U.K. general election is the focus for a special edition of POLITICO'S EU Confidential podcast. Our team of journalists looks at the possible outcomes from both U.K. and EU perspectives. Wha...

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EU Confidential
Ep 129, presented by Shell: Hot mic NATO summit — Former French ambassador Gérard Araud from 2019-12-05T16:28:53

It wouldn't be a meeting of world leaders these days without a spat or two, and NATO's 70th anniversary celebration near London was no exception. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, David Hersze...

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EU Confidential
Ep 128, presented by the Martens Centre: Commissioner Avramopoulos — New Commission standouts from 2019-11-28T19:23:48

In the new episode of EU Confidential, we talk migration and security with the EU’s outgoing commissioner for home affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos. The Greek politician doesn’t mince words on mig...

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EU Confidential
Ep 127: European Parliament VP Katarina Barley — EU’s missing Iran response — All eyes on NATO from 2019-11-21T14:48:59

The podcast crew debates the EU’s response — or lack thereof — to the wave of protests rocking Iran and Tehran's latest violation of the Iran nuclear deal.

POLITICO's chief Brussels corres...

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EU Confidential
Ep 126: Madeleine Albright — New plan for EU hopefuls — Macron's worldview from 2019-11-14T18:33:32

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright talks about the divisions that emerged in Europe after the Cold War — and what the EU can do about them.

We also debate a controversial pl...

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EU Confidential
Ep 125: Oettinger interview — Pompeo hits the Wall — Romania's Commission pick from 2019-11-07T18:57:10

In the new EU Confidential podcast, the EU's outgoing budget chief Günther Oettinger opens up on his decade in Brussels. POLITICO's Carmen Paun has the scoop on Romania's new nominee for the Eur...

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EU Confidential
Ep 124: Macron to China ?— Populist resurgence ?— UK election ?& DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson from 2019-10-31T13:30:46

In the brand new episode of EU Confidential, we talk China, populism and British politics.

With Emmanuel Macron heading for China and top German officials in open disagreement over Huawei’...

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EU Confidential
Ep 123, presented by ExxonMobil: Juncker's legacy — Spain’s EU minister Marco Aguiriano from 2019-10-24T19:14:27

In the latest episode of EU Confidential, we talk EU enlargement, Jean-Claude Juncker's legacy, Brexit and Syria. And we have an interview with Spain's point man for the EU.

The podcast pa...

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EU Confidential
Ep 122, presented by BP: Brexit deal — European Council behind the scenes — Greek PM Mitsotakis from 2019-10-18T01:53:12

This special episode of EU Confidential takes you inside the European Council summit in Brussels which signed off on the brand new Brexit deal. POLITICO’s Annabelle Dickson, Rym Momtaz and Andre...

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EU Confidential
Ep 121: Goulard rejected — Sondland in hot water — Green MEP Daniel Freund on EU transparency from 2019-10-10T17:41:15

Commission drama, impeachment battles, countries struggling to leave and join the EU, and fights over transparency in politics — they’re all here in our latest episode.

France's Commission...

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EU Confidential
SPONSORED CONTENT: As farms go digital, possibilities for decarbonization grow from 2019-10-07T16:01:45

In the special branded episode of EU Confidential Goes Green by Bayer: The episode focuses on digital tools being used on European farms, and the new technologies that are around the corner. Fea...

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EU Confidential
Ep 119, presented by the European Commission: Von der Leyen’s rejection woes — Labour’s Keir Starmer from 2019-09-26T19:13:31

This week’s episode takes us to London, New York and around the Continent. We start in Brussels, where members of the European Parliament rejected the Romanian and Hungarian nominees for the nex...

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EU Confidential
Ep 118, presented by BP: Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili from 2019-09-19T17:53:49

In our just-released podcast, we review the week in European politics and speak to the president of a small country with big geopolitical challenges.

"Protecting the European way of l...

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EU Confidential
Ep 117 Special Edition: US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland from 2019-09-15T16:36:12

In a special edition of the EU Confidential podcast, U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland speaks with POLITICO’s Ryan Heath about the state of relations between Europe and the United States...

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EU Confidential
Ep 116, presented by Bayer: Swedish Enviro Minister Isabella Lövin — Commission’s Green New Deal from 2019-09-12T19:26

The new episode of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast is part of our "goes green" series. And the timing could hardly be better, with Ursula von der Leyen this week unveiling her team ...

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EU Confidential
Ep 115, presented by the European Commission: Brexit drama — MEPs Caroline Voaden and Judith Bunting from 2019-09-05T17:33:34

Our brand new podcast focuses on the Brexit drama in London — but not just from a British perspective. POLITICO journalists Rym Momtaz (based in Paris), Matthew Karnitschnig (Berlin), Annabelle ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 114, presented by Shell: Ryan Heath signs off from 2019-08-30T12:48:41

In this episode the POLITICO team turns the tables on Ryan Heath, who finishes as host of EU Confidential this episode, and interviews him about the high, lows and changes he has seen in EU politic...

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EU Confidential
Episode 113, presented by Citi: Megan Richards from 2019-08-22T17:05:20

Ryan Heath interviews Megan Richards, a Canadian who spent three decades working for the EU, rising to be one of its top officials in digital and later energy policy. It's a short episode this week...

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EU Confidential
Episode 112, presented by Bayer: Electrification Alliance's Kristian Ruby from 2019-08-08T16:07:45

This week we’re going Green again: Ryan Heath talks to Kristian Ruby who runs Eurelectric and the Electrification Alliance, as a way to clean our energy systems. After that, POLITICO's Anca Gurz...

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EU Confidential
Episode 111 — Inside UK Parliament's groping, harassment, bullying problem; Jacob Rees-Mogg reaction from 2019-08-01T16:56:24

As Boris Johnson's begins his term as U.K. prime minister on a fast and furious Brexit course, Annabelle Dickson asks the Conservative leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, and a group of...

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EU Confidential
Episode 110: Author Peter May - Boris begins - Martin's move from 2019-07-25T18:53:52

Best-selling author Peter May talks about his political thriller set in Brussels, The Man With No Face, just republished four decades after he wrote it. Forget the heatwave sweeping the Continen...

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EU Confidential
Episode 109, presented by BP: Mette Grolleman — Debating EU presidency corporate sponsorship from 2019-07-18T17:45:38

Mette Grolleman runs the biggest lobbying office in Brussels — FleishmanHillard — and isn’t tempted to return to the Berlaymont to work for her old boss Margrethe Vestager: “When you leave, you ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 108 — Paul Adamson, godfather of Brussels lobbying scene from 2019-07-11T16:56:39

In our latest podcast episode, we discuss the life of a lobbyist, the latest in the Brussels hustle, and the recent transatlantic twitterstorm.

This week’s feature interview is with Paul A...

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EU Confidential
Episode 107: Moonshot Venture's Mark MacGann —— President Ursula von der Leyen? from 2019-07-04T21:06:15

A surprise European Commission presidential nominee landed on Brussels this week: the polished and much-criticised defense minister of Germany, Ursula von der Leyen. The job is now hers to lose, an...

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EU Confidential
Episode 106, presented by Bayer: Can capitalism save the planet? from 2019-06-27T19:20:59

In the latest in our occasional series focusing on green issues, we ask whether capitalism can save the planet.

The European Commission held a sustainable finance conference this week, and...

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EU Confidential
Episode 105, presented by Romania's EU presidency: David Miliband & political rebrands from 2019-06-20T19:34:54

David Miliband speaks to POLITICO’s Brexit editor James Randerson in our feature interview this week.

It’s delicious timing, given the U.K. is getting a new prime minister and the EU is ge...

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EU Confidential
Episode 104: Jean-Claude Juncker & Shada Islam from 2019-06-13T18:55:12

Hear European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in conversation with POLITICO's Florian Eder, discussing Trump, Brexit and more.
Also this week, Shada Islam from think tank Friends of E...

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EU Confidential
Episode 103: Danny Alexander — Debating the Trump visit from 2019-06-06T17:18:01

In a week full of world-shaping history, from the 75th D-Day anniversary to the 30th anniversary of the Tianamen Square massacre, our feature interview is with former U.K. Cabinet minister Danny...

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EU Confidential
Episode 102: Martin Selmayr — EU election results from 2019-05-30T17:33:41

A look back at the European Parliament election results, and a look ahead to the race for EU top jobs.

Ryan Heath interviews Martin Selmayr, the powerful and controversial secretary-genera...

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EU Confidential
Episode 101: Bruno Le Maire and EU election preview from 2019-05-23T08:15:53

Bruno Le Maire, French minister of economy and finance, outlines his big ambitions for collecting tax from giant companies, creating a eurozone budget and ensuring European sovereignty on key new t...

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EU Confidential
XX Factor Episode 5 — UK: Annunziata Rees-Mogg, and MPs Mary Creagh, Jo Swinson, and Helen Whately from 2019-05-19T20:53:34

After three years of divisive Brexit debate and voting in the United Kingdom, POLITICO's Annabelle Dickson surveyed the damage and opportunities that have arisen as British voters unexpectedly head...

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EU Confidential
**Episode 100** presented by Bayer: Air pollution, killing us softly? from 2019-05-16T15:25:28

For EU Green Week and EU Public Health Week, we go to an issue at the intersection of those themes: air quality.

The World Health Organisation attributes up to seven million deaths annuall...

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EU Confidential
Episode 99: Frans Timmermans and Margrethe Vestager, rivals for European Commission president from 2019-05-09T16:38:20

We have a double-header this week: interviews with both Frans Timmermans (Socialist) and Margrethe Vestager (Liberal), two rivals to become European Commission president.

Ryan Heath and Na...

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EU Confidential
XX Factor Episode 4 — What can Europe learn from around the world? from 2019-05-07T06:35:37

Hosted by Sarah Wheaton and featuring Corinna Horst, Lina Aburous, Jacinda Ardern and Lulwah Al Khater, this episode takes us from the Middle East to Mexico, and on to New Zealand, the United State...

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EU Confidential
Episode 98: EU Presidential Debate highlights from 2019-05-02T17:45:43

In this episode we offer you highlights from Monday's 95-minute EU presidential debate in Maastricht, co-moderated by EU Confidential host Ryan Heath. Five candidates debate on Digital Europe, S...

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EU Confidential
Episode 97: Manfred Weber, EPP EU presidential candidate from 2019-04-25T17:23:07

This week it's a short episode: just a 20-minute interview with Manfred Weber, the person in pole position to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president later this year. The in...

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EU Confidential
XX Factor Episode 3: Women in election media coverage, featuring Marietje Schaake, and Italy from 2019-04-23T04:12:04

Why do female candidates and politicians receive more negative coverage than men, and why are they seen as less newsworthy? In this episode we look at the case study of Italy with POLITICO reporter...

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EU Confidential
Episode 96, presented by BP: Decoding election betting, polling and journalism from 2019-04-18T15:39:39

The European Parliament has wrapped up its current five-year term, and the election campaign now enters into a final five-week sprint. This episode features a three-way discussion about what bettin...

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EU Confidential
Episode 95: For & Against the EU — Sandro Gozi & Anders Vistisen from 2019-04-11T18:03:20

For or against the EU? It's the biggest European question of all — and we tackled it in a debate in front of an audience in Brussels this week as the EU election campaign gets into high gear. Listen

EU Confidential
Episode 94: Emily Thornberry on Labour, Brexit and foreign policy from 2019-04-07T22:05:30

Emily Thornberry, the U.K. Labour Party’s shadow foreign secretary, is our guest in this special edition of EU Confidential. The show was recorded on Sunday in London in front of an audience at ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 93, presented by Bayer: MEP climate debate — Can the EU avert disaster? from 2019-04-04T17:19:25

Are we headed for climate disaster, and is the EU the solution?

That's the question we ask in the second episode of "EU Confidential Goes Green,” the occasional series in which we zoo...

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EU Confidential
Episode 92, presented by Bayer: Amanda Eichel and Stockholm mayor Anna König Jerlmyr from 2019-03-28T17:41:24

The first of six special EU Confidential Goes Green episodes between March and September 2019.
This episode is all about cities and features interviews with Amanda Eichel, executive director o...

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EU Confidential
XX Factor 2 – MEP Mairead McGuinness and the women shaking up Irish politics from 2019-03-26T10:53:43

Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness, vice president of the European Parliament from Ireland’s ruling Fine Gael party, talks Brexit, the Irish border and about her interest in throwing her hat in the ri...

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EU Confidential
Episode 91: EU summit — Brexit, Orbán & liberals — Flemish Culture Minister Sven Gatz from 2019-03-21T18:22:50

It's a summit special this week. POLITICO’s Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Florian Eder discussed the topic du jour, Brexit, as EU leaders gathered in Brussels. They also chewed over Viktor Orbán’s...

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EU Confidential
Episode 90, presented by Naftogaz: Twitter's Nick Pickles — Syria conference — AKK's vision from 2019-03-14T18:07:19

Nick Pickles, Twitter’s senior policy strategist, is our main guest. He responds to heated criticism of Twitter’s handling of free expression, misogyny, disinformation and transparency.
“Incre...

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EU Confidential
XX Factor 1 - Women, power and the EU election from 2019-03-12T18:58:31

Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series on women, power and the EU election — a fortnightly spin-off podcast from POLITICO's EU Confidential.
Our timing for episode one could hardl...

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EU Confidential
Episode 89: UAE parliament president Amal Al-Qubaisi — Polling guru Cornelius Hirsch from 2019-03-07T15:08:08

This week’s podcast features Amal Al Qubaisi, president of the United Arab Emirates' Federal National Council, making her perhaps the most senior female politician in the Arab world. We cover a ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 88: Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister from 2019-02-28T15:12:37

In a week of geopolitical ping-pong we take a break to dive deeper into the politics of well-being and what it takes to be a great political communicator, with the 38-year-old prime minister of ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 87 — Richard Grenell and Miroslav Laj?ák at the Munich Security Conference from 2019-02-21T17:55:59

This week’s podcast focuses on the Munich Security Conference, one of the big events on the global political calendar. It features two interviews from POLITICO’s chief Europe correspondent Matt Kar...

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EU Confidential
Episode 86: Jeremy Hunt, UK Foreign Secretary from 2019-02-19T16:56:13

U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt talks to POLITICO's Ryan Heath in this extra edition of our podcast.
Hunt once took heavy fire from Brussels for making a comparison that invoked the EU and ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 85: UK Labour's John McDonnell — Is Strasbourg tearing MEP families apart? from 2019-02-14T17:00:59

This week's feature interview is a 15-minute highlight reel from John McDonnell's already famous interview with POLITICO's London Playbook editor Jack Blanchard. In addition to discussing Brexit...

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EU Confidential
Episode 84: The Bellingcat team — Marietje Schaake MEP — U.S ambassador to EU Gordon Sondland from 2019-02-07T17:42:44

This week we bring you the revenge of the geeks! Bellingcat is the world's most surprising and one of its most successful journalism ventures. Founder Eliot Higgins and senior investigator Chris...

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EU Confidential
Episode 83: Facebook's Nick Clegg from 2019-01-31T15:12:46

Facebook's new global head of public affairs gives his first public interview since starting the job to Ryan Heath. Clegg addresses a growing number of Facebook controversies and outlines the compa...

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EU Confidential
Episode 82, presented by BP: Wopke Hoekstra — Sarah Kate Ellis — Brok rocked from 2019-01-24T21:23:04

POLITICO's Ryan Heath brings you two podcasts in one from the World Economic Forum — our final daily Davos Confidential show also doubles as your regular weekly EU Confidential. (Check out the othe...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential 2019: Ep 3 - Amnesty's Kumi Naidoo — WHO chief Tedros from 2019-01-23T21:48:15

Kumi Naidoo, secretary-general of Amnesty International, talks to POLITICO's Ryan Heath in our latest pop-up podcast from the World Economic Forum.
Ryan also sums up his impressions of the WEF...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential 2019: Ep 2 - Helle Thorning-Schmidt & Tim Berners-Lee from 2019-01-22T21:34:40

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the former Danish prime minister and current head of Save the Children International, is our main guest in today’s pop-up podcast from the World Economic Forum.
Speakin...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential 2019: Ep 1 - Setting the scene — Nico Rosberg — Resilience ratings from 2019-01-22T00:30:42

POLITICO’s Ryan Heath is back with another series of daily podcasts from the World Economic Forum.

In our first episode of the 2019 edition, Ryan asks Huffpost international director Louis...

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EU Confidential
Episode 81: Historian Felix Klos — Divided Europe in data from 2019-01-17T17:31:39

As the winds of right-wing populism sweep through the world's biggest democracies, from India to the United States, and Brazil to the European Union, and the United Kingdom continues to tear its...

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EU Confidential
Episode 80: Netflix's David Hyman from 2019-01-10T16:50:05

Netflix plans 153 original shows in Europe in 2019, worrying local broadcasters and delighting consumers. That level of ambition also leaves the company burning through billions in cash. The week's...

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EU Confidential
Episode 79: Gayle Smith — New Year's resolutions & predictions from 2019-01-03T18:07:26

Gayle Smith, a former journalist and now campaigner against extreme poverty, is our main guest. In our podcast panel, Alva Finn and Lina Aburous discuss the U.K. policy of making victims of forc...

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EU Confidential
Episode 78: Carles Puigdemont — Ai Weiwei — Tajani awards from 2018-12-20T19:54:52

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and Chinese artist Ai Weiwei are our main guests, interviewed live on stage by POLITICO's Ryan Heath.
Also, panelists Alva Finn and Lina Aburous join...

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EU Confidential
Episode 77: EU presidential contender Frans Timmermans — Tibor Navracsics from 2018-12-13T14:18:44

Double-header this week: socialist candidate for European Commission president Frans Timmermans and the European Commissioner for sport, education and culture, Tibor Navracsics. The panel debates ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 76, presented by Ericsson: Carlos Moedas - Macron's climb down - Denmark's immigration plan from 2018-12-06T16:40:27

We talk to Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for innovation, research and science, about his passion for zero-emission cities, artificial intelligence and blockchain. The panel debates the Yello...

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EU Confidential
Episode 75, presented by Google: Debating Diversity — Hillary's migrant misfire from 2018-11-29T19:49:42

We return to the theme of diversity in Brussels, a year after POLITICO’s Brussels So White article series, which looked at racial diversity and related themes in the EU’s de facto capital.

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EU Confidential
Episode 74 presented by Tetra Pak: The Green episode, with Ska Keller, Bas Eickhout, Petra De Sutter from 2018-11-22T15:27:35

Greens are riding high as they gather in Berlin this weekend for their co-candidates for European Commission president in 2019. A string of national and regional electoral successes in Germany, ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 73, presented by Future Europe Podcast: Rose Gottemoeller — Brexit deal — Merkel's vision from 2018-11-15T16:54:25

Rose Gottemoeller, NATO's deputy-secretary general, is our main guest this week. She's the highest-ranking female official in the history of the military alliance — or, as Gottemoeller herself ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 72, presented by EFPIA: Bill Browder & Russia — US midterms — Picking politicians from 2018-11-08T19:05:28

Our main guest is Bill Browder, once the largest foreign investor in Russia but now a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. He’s the driving force behind the Magnitsky Act — legislation designed to i...

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EU Confidential
Episode 71, presented by Google: Malin Björk & Merkel's legacy from 2018-11-01T19:09:03

With Europe's eyes glued to Berlin this week as the effects of Angela Merkel's partial retirement are digested, this podcast episode looks at what happens now that she has more time to devote to...

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EU Confidential
Episode 70, presented by Thai Union: Special Oceans-themed episode with Karmenu Vella, Werner Hoyer from 2018-10-25T15:02:03

First up Justine Maillot from the Surfrider Foundation, a group of activists pushing for healthy oceans from the bottom-up. Then we speak to Davide Magnana who is trying to build an industry based ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 69, presented by Corteva Agriscience: Bill Gates and Emmanuel Macron's youth wing from 2018-10-18T17:37:04

Bill Gates — billionaire tech founder turned philanthropist — is the main guest on this week's podcasts. We focus on why Europe is an aid superpower, what support Africa needs to cope with its expl...

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EU Confidential
Episode 68, presented by UNESDA: Manfred Weber wants to recast the European Commission presidency from 2018-10-11T16:59:18

In a wide-ranging interview Weber says Brussels is a "black box" that is disconnected from most Europeans (though he leads its biggest party in the European Parliament). His campaign pitc...

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EU Confidential
Episode 67, Alexander Stubb on why he should be European Commission president from 2018-10-04T17:28

Alexander Stubb lays out his pitch for the European Commission presidency in this week's episode. Stubb is competing with Manfred Weber to be the European Peoples Party's candidate for the post ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 66, presented by Qualcomm: OSCE chief — Montenegro's foreign minister — MEP expenses from 2018-09-27T15:31:52

Ukraine, the Balkans, MEPs' expenses, fake news and fallout from the Salzburg summit are all on the menu this week. Our main guests are Thomas Greminger, head of the Organisation for Security an...

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EU Confidential
Episode 65, presented by Google: Emily O'Reilly — Vestager vs. German carmakers — Macron's job tips from 2018-09-20T19:09:58

EU watchdog Emily O'Reilly is our main guest this week. Before heading off to get married, regular host Ryan Heath sat down for a candid chat with the European ombudsman in Strasbourg.

Am...

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EU Confidential
Episode 64, presented by Qualcomm: Lyor Cohen — Alain Deneef — Democracy festival from 2018-09-13T18:11:03

This week, a bona fide music mogul. Lyor Cohen has been in the business for 37 years, working with musicians who define memories and eras — think the Beastie Boys, Run DMC and Public Enemy, all ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 63, presented by Qualcomm: Dimitris Avramopoulos — Selmayrgate — Election fever from 2018-09-06T17:14:01

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European commissioner for migration, sets out how the Commission plans to fighting back against populist attempts to hijack the migration agenda.
Avramopoulos outlin...

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EU Confidential
Episode 62 — Inside Europe's right-wing extremist groups with Julia Ebner from 2018-08-30T18:30:04

This week's episode revolves around two political hot topics: how Europe should manage the growth of far-right politics across the continent, and whether to support redrawing the borders of Serb...

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EU Confidential
Episode 61: Brexit scenarios unpacked — Headscarf-free holidays from 2018-08-23T16:54:34

This week we hit peak Barnier — the height of the EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier's influence — and the U.K. published its Brexit no-deal contingency plans. We run through the dangers and the d...

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EU Confidential
Episode 60: Summer stories — Tattoos to potatoes — Bridge blame game from 2018-08-16T16:56:26

This week, we mix the format up: not one guest, but many. We've asked POLITICO reporters to talk us through stand-out stories they've produced this summer.

Ginger Hervey and Jillian Deutsc...

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EU Confidential
Episode 59: Inside the House of European History from 2018-08-09T14:01:31

This week's interview is with Constanze Itzel, the director of the EU museum, the House of European History, in Brussels.
Listen to hear her views on fake memory, conscious distortion of histo...

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EU Confidential
Episode 58: Labor market secrets — EU school rules — Summit entry fee from 2018-08-02T17:45:40

In this week's main interview, we hear from Sue Duke, the global head of public policy for LinkedIn. She reveals the labor market lessons to be learned from data on the company's 167 million users ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 57: Johannes Hahn — Western Balkans — Trump-Juncker love-in from 2018-07-26T18:10:03

Johannes Hahn, European commissioner for enlargement negotiations and neighborhood policy, talks us through the Western Balkans. It's a region whose countries desperately want into the EU club, ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 56: Phil Hogan — Amélie de Montchalin (En Marche) — Juncker and Trump stumble from 2018-07-19T14:11:34

Amélie de Montchalin, a French member of Parliament with Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche party explains why its undemocratic to finalise the EU’s next seven-year budget ahead of the 2019 EU election. E...

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EU Confidential
Episode 55, presented by Raytheon: Inside the NATO summit from 2018-07-12T17:24:25

A special defense-themed episode take you inside this week’s tense NATO summit and discusses the new specialism of 24/7 POTUS management. The stellar line-up includes United States Ambassadors Alex...

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EU Confidential
Episode 54: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg — Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki — EU Parliament expense shock from 2018-07-05T17:03:33

A bumper episode featuring NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg who’s got a present for Donald Trump ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Brussels, and Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, w...

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EU Confidential
Episode 53, presented by Google: Wolfgang Schäuble — Danny McCoy — EU's Migration Troubles from 2018-06-28T18:02:31

It’s summit week: crammed with migration and Trump and eurozone and Brexit and will-Merkel-stay-or-go drama.

One man who could benefit greatly from Merkel going is Wolfgang Schäuble, her l...

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EU Confidential
Episode 52, presented by Martens Centre: Women Rule! - Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - Rome's Roma rhetoric from 2018-06-21T18:00:09

This week’s theme is Women Rule! Our feature interview is with
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of U.N. Women, who’s got passionate views about violence, #MeToo and more.

Ml...

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EU Confidential
Episode 51: Helle Thorning-Schmidt — European Parliament election — Migration debate from 2018-06-14T17:04:07

Helle Thorning Schmidt, the former Danish PM who's now head of Save the Children International, is our main guest. Host Ryan Heath asks her about tackling populism and who should lead Europe. Listen

EU Confidential
Episode 50, presented by Google: How NGOs lobby the EU — OSF's Patrick Gaspard — Leaders get younger from 2018-06-07T18:38:12

A blockbuster episode, our 50th, in which three guests from the world of NGOs talk about the joys of their work and their frustrations at dealing with the EU and national governments.
Our firs...

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EU Confidential
Episode 49, sponsored by Barilla Foundation: Nicola Sturgeon — Journalist's revival — Irish vote from 2018-05-31T19:13:30

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon talks to host Ryan Heath in an interview recorded in front of an audience at POLITICO's Brussels HQ. Sturgeon shares her views on Brexit, the chances of...

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EU Confidential
Episode 48: Big tech’s brain hijack — Data protection D-Day — Zuckerberg’s Brussels moment from 2018-05-24T17:43:05

It’s a tech special this week — but you don’t have to be a geek to understand any of it. Host Ryan Heath talks to Tristan Harris, who spent three years as a design ethicist at Google and has bee...

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EU Confidential
Episode 47: Combating anti-Semitism — Boosting the Balkans — Europe from afar from 2018-05-17T19:35:20

We dive right in with two interviews — the first with the EU’s coordinator for combatting anti-Semitism, Katharina von Schnurbein. Then we speak to Martina Larkin, who is heading up a World Economi...

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EU Confidential
Episode 46, presented by Grow with Google: Curbing idealism - EESC chief Luca Jahier - Hot mic hell from 2018-05-10T17:25:37

Host Ryan Heath talks to author Vincent Stuer about his new book, Curb Your Idealism: The European Union as seen from within.
Ryan also chats to Luca Jahier, the new president of the European ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 45: Margrethe Vestager — EU budget battle — Whistleblower protection from 2018-05-03T19:03:06

Ryan Heath hits the road with Europe’s Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager — darling of Emmanuel Macron and foe of tax cheats and tech giants — to learn about how one Belgian city went f...

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EU Confidential
Episode 44, presented by Grow with Google: EU's energy future – Spencer Dale – Macron & Trump from 2018-04-26T18:45:19

Spencer Dale, the former chief economist at the Bank of England who now holds the same position at energy giant BP, is our main guest this week. He looks into Europe’s energy future and discusse...

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EU Confidential
Episode 43, presented by Grow with Google: Cécile Kyenge — Harassment investigation — Winking Macron from 2018-04-19T15:50:10

Cécile Kyenge, one of the few black members of the European Parliament, talks to Ryan Heath about the obstacles and abuse she’s faced in her career — and what she wants the EU institutions to do...

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EU Confidential
Episode 42: The Orbán effect — Mr. Data Protection — Harassment at EU gender equality agency from 2018-04-12T16:01:03

Kati Marton, a veteran reporter and author now with the Committee to Protect Journalists, talks to host Ryan Heath about how the reelection of Victor Orbán in Hungary will impact media freedom i...

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EU Confidential
Episode 41: Bill Gates — Judging junkets — Greek MEPs' special stopover from 2018-04-05T15:21:48

Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, is this week’s main guest. He talks to Ryan Heath about the work of his foundations, the next EU budget and the Oxfam scandal.

And we ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 40, presented by Edelman and PAC: Brexit Countdown — Guy Verhofstadt — Brussels Press Revue from 2018-03-29T15:56:54

With a year to go until Brexit, we take stock of where things stand and what lies ahead.

The European Parliament's Brexit Coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, talks to EU Confidential's executive...

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EU Confidential
Episode 39: Lithuania's Linas Linkevi?ius — Artificial Intelligence — Naughty MEPs from 2018-03-22T16:52:14

Russia, artificial intelligence and MEPs who are famous for the wrong reasons all feature in this week’s episode.

Host Ryan Heath talks to the foreign minister of Lithuania, Linas Linkevi?...

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EU Confidential
Episode 38: President Margvelashvili of Georgia— Ryanair's Michael O'Leary from 2018-03-15T17:13:02

On this episode Ryan talks to Giorgi Margvelashvili, the president of Georgia who is a doctor of philosophy and was in town for the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum. Following that Michael O’L...

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EU Confidential
Episode 37, presented by DowDupont: Marianne Thyssen — Lulwah Al Khater — Selmayr vs the world from 2018-03-08T16:00:49

Ryan Heath talks to Marianne Thyssen, the European Commissioner for employment, about how she wants to overhaul EU policies on jobs, education and training to face up to globalization. She also ...

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EU Confidential
Ep. 36 : Tony Blair interview — Food bank furor — MEP of the week from 2018-03-01T18:04:37

Tony Blair came to Brussels this week with a clear message, delivered in this week's interview: I’m trying to stop Brexit, and there’s only one shot left — European immigration controls. If that...

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EU Confidential
Episode 35, presented by Raytheon: Ben Hodges — Munich Security Conference — Brexit blockbusters from 2018-02-22T18:13:36

This week's episode features a review of the Munich Security Conference and an interview with Ben Hodges, who recently retired as commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe.

Also on the...

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EU Confidential
Episode 34: Alexander Stubb — Spitzenkandidat — MEP of the Week from 2018-02-15T17:08:18

This week's special guest is Alexander Stubb, the former Finnish prime minister and ex-MEP who is now vice president of the European Investment Bank (EIB). Stubb talks about how the bank will ha...

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EU Confidential
Episode 33: Nick Clegg — Western Balkans tough love — Lambert van Nistelrooij from 2018-02-08T18:12:25

EU politics this week was all about shrinkage and enlargement.

The shrinkage of course is Brexit, with the U.K. government again failing to set out its negotiating position and Michel Barn...

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EU Confidential
Episode 32: Czech politics — Slovenian PM Cerar — German car industry experiments from 2018-02-01T19:22:25

It's a bumper episode this week. We hear from POLITICO's man in Prague, Siegfried Mortkowitz, about the good cop-bad cop Euroskeptic routine coming out of the Czech capital, and we catch up with...

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EU Confidential
Episode 31: Direct from Davos — Dutch PM Mark Rutte — Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki from 2018-01-25T21:15:35

We've got the lowdown from Davos in another special edition from the World Economic Forum. The podcast features interviews with two prime ministers — the Netherlands' Mark Rutte and Poland's Mat...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential 4: Theresa Time — Werner Hoyer — Trump’s warm-up act from 2018-01-24T20:32:33

Ryan Heath and Matthew Kaminski look ahead to Theresa May’s appearance in Davos, hot on the heels of speeches by Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.

Also in the daily podcast, they discuss ...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential 3: Europe’s back — Post-rage politics — Modi’s missed chance from 2018-01-23T20:37:59

Direct from Davos in our daily podcast, POLITICO’s Ryan Heath, Florian Eder and Matthew Kaminski look forward to an unofficial Europe day at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, when Angela Me...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential 2: Talking trade — Digital rights — Desperately seeking Donald from 2018-01-22T22:33:11

Ryan Heath and Florian Eder bring you the latest from the World Economic Forum in Davos in POLITICO’s special daily pop-up podcast.

Ryan talks to Arancha González, executive director of th...

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EU Confidential
Davos Confidential 1: Setting the scene - Advantage Angela - Panda scale for speeches from 2018-01-21T19:58:33

Davos Confidential: In the first of POLITICO’s daily pop-up podcasts from the World Economic Forum, Ryan Heath and Florian Eder preview this year’s gathering of the global elite.

From the ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 30: Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid — Davos preview — MEP of the Week from 2018-01-18T19:46:29

This week's show features an interview with Estonia's President Kersti Kaljulaid, the first head of state to appear on the podcast.

Kaljulaid explains why Estonia wants to pay more to the ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 29: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek - Poland vs Brussels - Harassment survey from 2018-01-11T18:45:16

Host Ryan Heath interviews Daniel Ek, the CEO of global music pioneer Spotify.

The music world was a notorious graveyard for online entrepreneurs: until Spotify. In this episode, Ek explai...

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EU Confidential
Episode 28: Estonia's EU presidency — Bulgaria's big moment — Iran protests from 2018-01-04T20:11:54

Kaja Tael, Estonia's ambassador to the EU, reviews her country's six months running the bloc's rotating presidency. Host Ryan Heath also talks to POLITICO's Christian Oliver about the challenges...

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EU Confidential
Episode 27, presented by Raytheon : 2017 review & NATO’s Jamie Shea from 2017-12-21T18:09:15

Episode 27 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features a review of the year from POLITICO reporters and an interview with NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General Jamie Shea, a Brussels vete...

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EU Confidential
Episode 26: Rebooting Brussels — #BrusselsSoWhite — David Davis’s double talk from 2017-12-14T18:07:13

Episode 26 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast has just been released, featuring a deep dive into the EU's capital city. We discuss how to improve Brussels as a city with regional minister Pas...

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EU Confidential
Episode 25: Herman Van Rompuy & Theresa May's Manic Monday from 2017-12-07T17:28:25

Former European Council President Herman Van Rompuy talks to host Ryan Heath about the future of the EU in this week's episode.

EU reform and Brexit haiku: Since leaving office, Van Rompuy...

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EU Confidential
Episode 24: Glyphodrama — Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis — food safety chief Bernard Uhl from 2017-11-30T20:35:23

This week's show features back-to-back interviews with the European commissioner for health, Vytenis Andriukaitis, who is also a heart surgeon, and Bernhard Uhl, the head of the European Food Sa...

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EU Confidential
Episode 23: Olympic committee chief — EMA, EBA to Amsterdam, Paris — Failed German coalition talks from 2017-11-23T16:46:05

Episode 23 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee.

This week, we've got two feature interviews for you. As well as...

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EU Confidential
Episode 22, presented by Ørsted: Statoil CEO Eldar Sætre — White supremacy in Europe from 2017-11-16T19:41:10

Episode 22 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features Eldar Sætre, the CEO of Norway's oil and gas company Statoil.

We spoke to Sætre on November 9, after the COP23 global climate conf...

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EU Confidential
Episode 21: Greek opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis — Oettinger's car clash — UK Cabinet chaos from 2017-11-09T17:14:06

Host Ryan Heath interviews Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the head of Greece's New Democracy party and opposition leader in parliament.

The outsider and the Mitsotakis dynasty: The opposition leader...

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EU Confidential
Episode 20: Historian Rolf Falter — Catalonia comes to Brussels — Harassment scandal from 2017-11-02T21:36:14

Ryan Heath interviews Rolf Falter, a historian who has worked across the Belgian and EU political landscapes: from adviser, to journalist, to get-out-the-vote advocate, to author of a new book o...

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EU Confidential
Episode 19: Harassment discussion — Hope for change — Maroš Šef?ovi? interview from 2017-10-26T17:21:52

Episode 19 of EU Confidential features a special discussion on the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the EU Brussels bubble.

The podcast also includes an interview with European Co...

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EU Confidential
Episode 18: EU Commissioner V?ra Jourová — Remembering Daphne Caruana Galizia — Catalonia dilemma from 2017-10-19T16:21:16

Episode 18 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features an interview with European Commissioner V?ra Jourová, who leads the EU's work on data protection among her many responsibilities as comm...

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EU Confidential
Episode 17, presented by AB InBev: Athens Mayor — EU Committee of Regions President from 2017-10-12T14:02:20

Episode 17 of POLITICO's EU Confidential podcast features back-to-back interviews with Karl-Heinz Lambertz, president of the European Committee of the Regions, and George Kaminis, the center-lef...

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EU Confidential
Episode 16: Telia's Johan Dennelind — Global Policy Lab — Catalan independence referendum from 2017-10-05T15:01:06

Host Ryan Heath talks to POLITICO's chief Europe correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig about a homegrown journalism experiment: POLITICO's first Global Policy Lab. We convened labor and economics e...

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EU Confidential
Episode 15: Catalan independence debate — German election — Court confusion from 2017-09-28T15:59:05

In a special episode this week, we feature interviews from both sides of the Catalan independence debate ahead of the Catalan regional government's referendum, planned for Sunday.

Ryan Hea...

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EU Confidential
Episode 14: NationBuilder's Toni Cowan-Brown — German election — Boris Johnson's fact and fantasy from 2017-09-21T18:04:24

Host Ryan Heath interviews Toni Cowan-Brown, a vice president at NationBuilder, the software company that has powered election campaigns for Emmanuel Macron's party, Theresa May, Bernie Sanders ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 13: Tomáš Valášek — Juncker's State of the Union — Catalonia from 2017-09-14T18:26:33

Ryan Heath interviews Tomáš Valášek, the former Slovakian ambassador to NATO who heads the Carnegie Europe think tank.

As Russia begins its Zapad war game, the West should be worried about...

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EU Confidential
Episode 12: David McAllister MEP - London Playbook's Jack Blanchard - Azerbaijan Scandal from 2017-09-07T18:59:28

Host Ryan heath talks to David McAllister, head of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and a key ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

McAllister says the U.K.'s decisio...

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EU Confidential
Episode 11: EU rights expert Michael O'Flaherty — Poland's peril — Macron's make-up from 2017-08-31T17:36:02

Regular host Ryan Heath is back with an interview with Michael O’Flaherty, the head of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The interview, recorded at the European Alpbach Forum in Austria, looks a...

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EU Confidential
Episode 10: Brexit & Ireland — John Bruton — Trump's tax break from 2017-08-24T16:15:09

While regular host Ryan Heath recovers from his holiday jet lag, news editor Andrew Gray presents an interview with former Irish PM John Bruton on Brexit, a roundup of the latest on Britain's de...

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EU Confidential
Episode 9: NATO's Petr Pavel — German election campaign — Britain's Brexit papers from 2017-08-17T16:38:55

Regular host Ryan Heath is on holiday but the podcast rolls on with news editor Andrew Gray standing in once more.

This week, we've dug into the archives again to bring you the highlights ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 8: Emmanuel Macron interview — Commissioners' expenses — Brussels networking tips from 2017-08-10T16:38:57

Europe might be slowing down for the summer but we're still going strong. Regular host Ryan Heath is on holiday so news editor Andrew Gray stands in this week.

We've raided the archive to ...

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EU Confidential
Episode 7: Anders Fogh Rasmussen — Russia, Ukraine and the US — Greece's scapegoat statistician from 2017-08-03T17:57:10

This week, host Ryan Heath sits down with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO secretary-general and now adviser to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Rasmussen talks defense spending, Trump a...

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EU Confidential
Episode 6: Violeta Bulc — Ryanair to Brexit rescue? — Endless car scandals from 2017-07-27T16:55:17

This week Violeta Bulc, the European transport commissioner and a taekwondo black belt, explains why she’d have Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary as a Brexit negotiator to make sure planes can still f...

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EU Confidential
Episode 5: Taavet Hinrikus — Digital Regulation — David Davis: genius or fool? from 2017-07-20T16:55:32

This week Mark Scott, POLITICO Europe's new chief technology correspondent, talks to us about the trends he sees as tech companies deal with the reality that their libertarian early days are com...

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EU Confidential
Episode 4: Marietje Schaake — Politics of EU-Japan deal — Parliament's PhD babysitter from 2017-07-13T15:21:30

This week Christian Oliver, POLITICO Europe's trade editor, talks us through the astonishing speed with which the EU completed its trade deal with Japan, and why future trade deals will not be s...

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EU Confidential
Episode 3: Victoria Espinel — What Brexit's broken — European Parliament harassment from 2017-07-06T16:06:12

Host Ryan Heath, author of POLITICO's Brussels Playbook, talks to journalist Frances Robinson about the things Brexit has already wrecked — before it’s even happened. Frances reveals how it's ruine...

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EU Confidential
Episode 2: Ángel Gurría — EU's Googlewhack — Interns in bikinis backlash from 2017-06-29T15:30:19

Host Ryan Heath speaks to Ángel Gurría, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), who explains why it will take more than austerity to get the world...

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EU Confidential
Episode 1: Cecilia Malmström — Brexit talks from 2017-06-22T16:27:05

After two pilot shows, host Ryan Heath brings you the first official episode of POLITICO’s new podcast all about the EU and European politics. Ryan talks to European trade commissioner Cecilia Malm...

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EU Confidential
Bonus Episode: Erna Solberg from 2017-06-18T09:53:59

Host Ryan Heath gets some tips for Brits from Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg about what it's like to be closely linked to the EU but not part of the club. POLITICO Europe news editor Andrew ...

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EU Confidential
Pilot episode: Pierre Moscovici from 2017-06-13T19:43:15

In this pilot episode of POLITICO's new podcast, EU Confidential, host Ryan Heath talks to European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici about the future of the euro — and about what he would do if he was...

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EU Confidential
EU Confidential Trailer from 2017-06-05T19:13:11

A sneak preview of the new podcast from Politico Europe. Coming soon.


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