Brussels Playbook Podcast

A rare outbreak of cross-party unity has interrupted months of infighting surrounding Friedrich Merz’s embattled coalition in Berlin. His nomination of Ilse Aigner — a respected conservative from Bavaria — has united his own party and received support from the Social Democrats and the Greens. She is all but certain to become the country's first female president in January.

A largely ceremonial role, the presidency of the Federal Republic represents the country abroad. The significance of a woman taking the highest office in the land has not gone unnoticed in other European capitals. In Berlin this week, Anne McElvoy talks to Gordon Repinski, chief political analyst for POLITICO, WELT and Business Insider. He's been following the rise of Isle Aigner closely.

Berlin Freedom Week makes the connection between the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and geopolitics today. As part of this week's events, Anne attended the Freedom and Security Women Summit in the Bundestag, where she chaired panels of brave women who’ve been challenging autocratic regimes on Europe’s borders and beyond — and are calling on the EU to support their cause. Among them is Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader, who has been forced to carry on her fight in Lithuania — despite defeating President Alexander Lukashenko in the country’s election six years ago. Anne also speaks with Hannah Neumann, a prominent Green MEP and campaigner for women's rights, who supports Ilse Aigner’s nomination.
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Over 50 leaders are descending on Dublin today for the European Political Community summit — but it's not a popular one.

Today on the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson discuss why insiders don't find the forum particularly useful, and some even hope it will end once French President Emmanuel Macron — who spearheaded the initiative — leaves office.

One meeting leaders are more eager to attend, however, is Friday's informal European Council, also taking place in Dublin. High on the agenda is the thorny question of who should represent Europe in future Ukraine peace talks, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ups the pressure with a November deadline. Plus, AI will be a crucial topic: from Europe's place in the global AI race to cybersecurity concerns.

Finally, Finland’s embassy in Canberra is going viral ... and no one quite knows why.

Questions? Comments? Message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

US to seek Putin’s ‘blessing’ for Europe to join Ukraine talks.

Zelenskyy tells Europe to hurry up and pick a rep for peace talks with Russia.

Finland’s embassy in Canberra is going viral — and no one knows why.

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The European Parliament has figured out how to pass controversial legislation ... just bypass the full vote of all 720 MEPs.

Today on the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss how cross-party leaders are worried that the plenary’s shifting alliances — particularly with the rise of the far right — could blow up legislation that expert lawmakers have already negotiated at the committee stage. The bypass method could come in handy for the EU’s next long-term budget.

Next, NATO allies are considering the biggest overhaul of their military planning in at least two decades — by prioritizing Russia and deprioritizing conflicts further away. We go inside the ongoing talks.

Finally, the EU today unveils its new Digital Fairness Act, which aims to help consumers online. But NGO Finance Watch says the proposal falls short when it comes to protecting people from fin-fluencers.

Have you ever fallen for an online get-rich-quick scheme? Let us know! Message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

NATO seeks to prioritize fighting Russia and shrink forces for missions abroad.

This episode was produced by Saga Ringmar.
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The EU wants to be a heavyweight at U.N. climate summits. But upcoming elections across the bloc could upend those efforts.

As COP31 kicks off this week, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss how the populist surge across the continent could undermine the EU’s goal to take a stronger leadership role in climate talks like these. Zoya and Ian discuss how domestic politics in France and Spain spell a problem for the bloc's climate aspirations.

Next, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Bulgaria and Romania to show solidarity following deadly attacks in the Black Sea that have been attributed to Russia. But can the EU actually make a difference in the region?

Finally, while cyber experts were looking towards Russia last week, the French government is now blaming Iran for the cyberattacks targeting supermarket fridges.

Questions? Comments? Message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

Why COP31 may be the EU’s last great climate hurrah.

Spain’s election favorites say Madrid must avoid ‘impossible’ climate timeline.

Von der Leyen visits Black Sea states amid talk of shipping deal.

Who’s who for Europe at the Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi

This episode was produced by Saga Ringmar.
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Precision oncology and digitally enabled cancer care are transforming what it means to live with cancer. The number of people in Europe alive more than five years after a cancer diagnosis grew 41 percent between 2010 and 2020, to nearly 15 million. As science progresses, a growing number of advanced cancers could be managed as chronic diseases, like diabetes or hypertension.

But many patients are only able to access innovative treatments as part of a clinical trial, and Europe’s share of global commercial trials has almost halved in a decade. Access to screening and advanced diagnostics also varies widely across the bloc.

In the first of two special podcast episodes produced by POLITICO Studio, experts in oncology, clinical research and drug development explore how precision oncology works, how artificial intelligence can draw on vast pools of health data to develop new treatments and where science is heading next.

Guest speakers include: Fatima Cardoso, head of clinical trials, scientific affairs and international development in breast oncology at the Centre Antoine Lacassagne in Nice, France, and president of the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance; Giuseppe Curigliano, professor of medical oncology at the University of Milan and head of the Division of Early Drug Development at the European Institute of Oncology; and Johanna Bendell, chief development officer, oncology for Pfizer.



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