Brussels Playbook Podcast

The European Union is in disagreement over whether the Commission should allow Serbia to progress in its membership process.

The issue will come to a head at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels today. While the Commission argues that dangling accession in front of prospective members is a useful geopolitical tool that can prevent countries from turning towards rival powers, some countries in the bloc aren’t convinced. Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson unpack the debate.

Also on the show, at the sidelines of the NATO summit happening in Ankara, our colleague Dasha Burns, host of POLITICO’s The Conversation podcast, sat down with the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. His main message? Donald Trump was right.

Finally, the European Anti-Fraud Office is warning that fake condoms are making their way into the bloc.

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Europe is on the edge of its seat as it awaits a crucial verdict in the case of France’s National Rally leader, Marine Le Pen, today.

If the Paris appeals court upholds her five-year ban on holding public office, Le Pen’s dream of running in 2027 will be dashed, and the campaign of her 30-year-old protégé, Jordan Bardella, will officially kick off.

Also on the show, NATO allies are meeting in Ankara with one goal: avoiding a Donald Trump blow-up. To placate the U.S. president, they’re keeping the meeting short and focusing on big spending numbers.

Finally, the EU’s Entry/Exit System has been causing a bit of a fiasco at the bloc’s borders ... and it seems the Commission is finally willing to admit it. So what now?

Have you experienced long queues while traveling because of the new Entry/Exit System? Send us a message or voice note to our WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.
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On today’s episode, we take a closer look at the busy life of António Costa’s right-hand man, Pedro Lourtie.

The European Council President’s head of cabinet was recently thrust into the limelight for opening backchannels with Moscow on his boss’s behalf. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur dig deeper into who this man is and how he does his job.

Also on the show: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is asking lawmakers to vote again on a bill to fight child sexual abuse material — even though it was rejected by MEPs in March. To do this, she’s relying on a rarely used EU procedure.

Finally: The allegations that a Hungarian spy ring was operating out of the country’s embassy in Brussels was big news in town last year. We’ve gotten our hands on a document from the investigation.

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Today, we’re bringing you a special bonus episode from our colleagues at WELT.

Originally released in German, Ernstfall is now available in English.

What if Russia attacked NATO? How would Germany respond? And where are our weaknesses?We wanted answers. In a wargame, we simulate an attack on NATO’s eastern flank. Politicians, former military officials, and experts take on the roles of the German government for a day. A second team plays the Kremlin.The wargame triggered an international debate. It's the reason we decided to publish our results in English as well. In this five-part podcast, you'll hear a simulation of a crisis that many European leaders hope will never happen.

Script and Storytelling: Antonia Beckermann, Carolina DrütenProduction: Marvin Schwarz

Listen to the full five-part series on WELT’s website.

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

Sharp differences ​over burden-sharing and defense spending, and U.S. complaints about its allies’ lack of ​involvement in re-opening the Strait of Hormuz, are likely to come to the fore.  

EU leaders hope the summit will help steady transatlantic relations, but will President Trump be in listening mode when he arrives in Turkey?

On this week’s Brussels Playbook Week Ender podcast, Peter Snowdon talks to Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, who is rapidly increasing his country’s defense budget and capabilities, while Anne McElvoy catches up with POLITICO’s NATO reporter Victor Jack, who has been finding out what’s happening behind the scenes at NATO headquarters.

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