Brussels Playbook Podcast

On today's show, Ian is in the sunny Mediterranean nation of Cyprus for the biggest gathering of EU leaders on the island for many, many years. 

Sarah joins from Brussels and Nick dials in from Greece, where he’s attending the Delphi Economic Forum.

Expect the agenda of the leaders' summit today and tomorrow to be heavy on geopolitics. High on the list of topics to discuss are the Iran crisis, high energy prices, the EU’s long-term budget and how the bloc can defend itself. So, pretty high stakes, then.

Over in Greece, Nick points out that — much to his surprise — several high-profile MAGA figures have shown up in force at the Delphi Economic Forum. With Hungarian leader and Trump ally Viktor Orbán on the way out, it seems the movement aligned with the U.S. president is looking for new friends.

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Brussels faces a narrowing window to strike a deal on its next long-term budget.

EU leaders gather in Cyprus this week for a potential clash over the bloc’s €1.8 trillion plan — already dividing north and south, farmers and reformers, capitals and Brussels. Council President Antonio Costa wants momentum. But with proposed new EU taxes, debt repayments and looming elections on the table, compromise looks distant.

On today’s episode, Ian Wishart and Ryan Heath break down what’s at stake — and why this battle is only just beginning.

They also dig into the Commission’s new emergency energy package, as fears of a new crisis grow — driven by the war in Iran and disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Plus: A rekindled Paris–Brussels romance raises awkward questions about power, politics and conflicts of interest.

Got a question or a comment? Contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Further reading:

Magyar wants to put the Austro-Hungarian Empire back on the map

Germany spearheads effort to weaken EU's AI rules 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does your country have a culinary delicacy whose name resembles that of one of our hosts? If so, contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.
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