Podcast Selection

Why is the far-right growing in Europe?

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss how the far right is growing, as Giorgia Meloni’s leadership and the rapid rise of far-right governments in Europe create concern amongst leftist parties and…

How Europe Helped Normalise Giorgia Meloni

Georgia Meloni was 19 and speaking to French TV when she praised Italian dictator and Hitler-ally Benito Mussolini. Back then the likely next prime minister of Italy was dressed all in black and flanked by…

Assessing the State of the Union 2022

In this episode, we look at the State of the Union address delivered by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. On 14 September 2022 Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European…

Italy’s right-wing nationalists on the rise

Italians go to the polls on 25 September after the collapse of the country’s 69th government in just 77 years. Polls suggest a conservative coalition - likely led by the right wing nationalist Brothers of…

Why Do Italian Governments Collapse So Often?

The country has had 67 governments in the past 75 years. Why are Italian politics so chronically unstable, and what does the economy have to do with it?

The NATO Summit and the future of European Defence

Mark Leonard is joined by Nick Witney, Jana Puglierin, and Tara Varma, to evaluate the outcomes of the NATO Summit in Madrid, especially regarding European defence. NATO members emerged from their summit in Madrid this…

The European Sovereignty Index

This week, ECFR launched its European Sovereignty Index. The index scores the EU and its member states on their contribution to European sovereignty, highlighting strengths and weaknesses, and uncovering regional divisions. Hosting this week's episode,…

Germany’s Zeitenwende: what does it mean for Europe?

German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is facing criticism for not meeting the expectations he created with his Zeitenwende speech. But how fair is this criticism? Mark Leonard ponders this question and others with some of his…

How Putin’s war is shaping France’s election

Mark Leonard and senior policy fellow and head of ECFR´s Paris Office, Tara Varma, sat down in Paris to talk about how Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine is affecting France and the French presidential race.…

War in Ukraine sparks Germany’s defence policy transformation

How is Ukraine managing to keep electricity and heating supplies during the war? Government and industry chiefs address a World Economic Forum online event to explain the challenges and ask for help. As well as…

Europe’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Matthias Matthijs

Matthias Matthijs, senior fellow for Europe at CFR and associate professor of international political economy at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how European capitals…

Can Europe have its own military power?

"How can Europe protect itself from Russian blackmail? The European Union and other major economies have imposed swift, broad and devastating sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But given Europe’s energy dependence on…