Brussels Playbook Podcast
POLITICO’s daily audio briefing on what’s moving Brussels — and why it matters.
The Brussels Playbook Podcast is the audio extension of the Brussels Playbook newsletter. Hosted by POLITICO's chief EU correspondent, Zoya Sheftalovich, the podcast runs Monday through Thursday, offering a clear, reporting-driven guide to EU politics in under 15 minutes. It’s a perfect companion for your morning coffee.
Each episode takes listeners inside the decisions, power shifts and debates shaping the day in Brussels — and explains how they connect to national capitals across Europe.
Clear, conversational and shaped by reporting from the heart of the EU, the Brussels Playbook Podcast brings context to EU politics as your day begins.
On Fridays, the same feed features a longer episode that goes deeper into the week’s biggest themes, offering context and analysis beyond the daily news cycle — with Sarah Wheaton behind the mic.
276
Spy affair — Laschet litmus — Former Irish Pres...
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 Robinson is our special guest.
32 min
277
Belarusian 'hijack' — Brussels food fight — Ar...
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 "The Ambassadors."
33 min
278
Ep 201, presented by Equinor: Israeli-Palestini...
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 feature in this week's episode.
28 min
279
Ep 200, presented by Shell: Vaccine patent waiv...
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 affairs chief Nick Clegg, and get an alternative take on those ho
38 min
280
Ep 199, presented by SQM: Media freedom — Euro...
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 week's episode.
33 min
281
Ep 198, presented by Equinor: Recovery recipes ...
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.
39 min
282
Ep 197: Germany's candidates — Super League sha...
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.
34 min
283
Ep 196: Ukraine tension — Merkel succession bat...
Rising tension over Ukraine, the showdown to be the German conservative candidate for chancellor, and a sailor-turned-politician on a mission to clean up the oceans all feature in this week's episode.
28 min
284
Ep 195: Sofagate — Central and Eastern Europe's...
An EU storm over a seating snafu and a resurgence of coronavirus cases in Eastern and Central Europe take center stage in this episode — along with Bulgarian political scientist Ivan Krastev.
36 min
285
Special Edition: Stephen Brown — An audio appre...
This special edition of the EU Confidential podcast reflects on the life and career of Stephen Brown, the POLITICO Europe editor in chief who died of a heart attack last month at the age of 57.
31 min
286
Ep 194: EU faces Beijing backlash — European as...
We explore the rapidly rising tensions between China and Europe and ask where the relationship between the two sides is heading. And we reach for the stars as we hear from two European astronauts — and get the lowdown on the search for the next generation
30 min
287
Ep 193, presented by the European Training Foun...
The European Commission's plan to get tougher on vaccine exports, a lockdown mea culpa from Angela Merkel, and corona-corruption scandals in her camp are all on the agenda this week. And we ask what Europe can do to ease suffering in Syria, 10 years after
29 min
288
Ep 192: AstraZeneca limbo — Vaccine export bans...
Vaccine suspensions and possible export bans are up for discussion in this episode, along with elections in Germany and the Netherlands. We also delve into the issue of COVID-19 disinformation.
35 min
289
Ep 191: German election journey — EESC in spotl...
This week, we take you on a journey — a virtual train trip to guide you through Germany's (unexpectedly exciting) "super election year," which kicks off in earnest this weekend and culminates in a national vote in September marking the end of the Merkel e
42 min
290
Ep 190: EU solidarity jabbed — Vaccine passport...
This week, a double dose of vaccines: We examine crumbling EU solidarity on procurement and the debate around vaccine passports. Plus, we focus on the EU's increasingly important and complex economic relationship with China.
37 min
291
Ep 189: Message to Moscow — Frontier fracas — E...
Sanctions on Russia and trouble at the EU's internal borders are up for discussion this week, along with the question of whether the European Union and its citizens should embrace their own form of English now the Brits are gone.
30 min
292
Ep 188: Mario Draghi's return — Italian influen...
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.
33 min
293
Ep 187, presented by Equinor: Borrell Russia ru...
EU-Russia tensions and a first look at next year's French presidential race are on the menu this week.
30 min
294
Ep 186, presented by Equinor: Vaccine export fi...
The fallout from a botched European Commission attempt to impose export controls on coronavirus vaccines tops the agenda this week. We also hear directly from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and talk to Steven Van Gucht, a top Belgian virologist
33 min
295
Ep 185, presented by BP: Europe's vaccine blame...
We break down the EU's vaccine struggles — what's gone wrong, what went right, what the repercussions are, and who's responsible. We also dive deeper into a documentary about the people working the "Brussels bubble" and what it takes to thrive personally
34 min
296
Ep 184: Europe reacts to Biden's inauguration —...
We bring you reaction from around Europe to the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, and get you up to speed on the outcome of the CDU leadership race in Germany. Our special guest is American Academy in Berlin President Daniel Benjamin.
28 min
297
Ep 183: CDU contenders — Platforms and politici...
We have your guide to the candidates vying to lead Germany's governing CDU party. We debate how social media platforms are handling the fallout from the storming of the U.S. Capitol. And we talk to British author Simon Anholt about his formula for what it
36 min
298
Ep 182: Vaccine vexation — EU-UK deal — Preview...
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.
42 min
299
Ep 181, presented by Google: Reflecting on 2020
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.
42 min
300
Ep 180, presented by Shell: EU deals on climate...
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 you a must-listen analysis of what happened and what it all mea
39 min