Podcast Selection

Breton out, Séjourné in: What triggered the resignation?

Thierry Breton, the EU’s Internal Market Commissioner, announced his resignation from the European Commission on 16 September, citing tensions with President Ursula von der Leyen. In a public letter, Breton accused von der Leyen of…

Ukraine seeks Western ammunition as Putin threatens NATO-Russia war

NATO’s Military Committee met in Prague on Friday and Saturday to discuss stepping up NATO’s support package for Ukraine, after Russia warned NATO that a strike with Western-made missiles would be considered an act of…

EU antitrust chief Vestager to leave Commission with a bang

EU antitrust head Margrethe Vestager is wrapping up her tenure at the European Commission with two major victories as the European court of Justice ruled against Apple’s Irish tax arrangements and Google’s anti-competitive practices. These…

The EU’s €13bn bite into Apple

The EU’s top court orders Apple to pay €13bn in back taxes, and the Federal Reserve halves its proposed capital requirement increase for the largest US banks. Plus, we talk to the FT’s Benjamin Parkin…

Trump v Harris: The debate that defined the US presidential race

Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump met in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening (10 September) for their first – and likely their only – confrontation before the presidential election. With eight weeks to go, polls show candidates are running a neck-and-neck race that could easily…

France’s looming deadline

Apple launches the iPhone 16 with generative AI features, and France’s new PM needs more time to submit the country’s debt plans. Kamala Harris is under pressure to perform in tonight’s debate against Donald Trump.…

Draghi: The EU to consider report’s proposals or face ‘slow agony’

Mario Draghi handed his highly anticipated report on European competitiveness to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, outlining the urgent need to boost productivity to achieve the EU’s political and economic goals. Without significant…

All the President’s Women: the candidates competing for the next EU Commission

As Brussels raises concerns about the next European Commission resembling a ‘men’s club’, President Ursula von der Leyen stands firm on the need for gender balance among the nominees. While nine women have been proposed…

Why Macron chose Barnier as France’s new prime minister

After months of political deadlock, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister on Thursday (5 September). Barnier faces the challenge of forming a government in a fractured…

Malta’s and Hungary’s Commission nominees face ‘tough’ grilling in Parliament – EPP

Will the European Parliament approve the list of Commission nominees that von der Leyen will present next week? According to veteran German MEP Peter Liese (CDU/EPP), some nominees will struggle to secure their spot, with…

Unite, defend, grow: EU policy for the next five years

The Memos to the European Union leadership have been a Bruegel tradition since 2009. Every five years – after the European elections but before a new European Commission takes office – we take stock of…

Reforming the CAP? How the EU sees the future of its agriculture

Changing the rules on subsidising farmers is at the heart of a 100-page report on the future of agriculture set to feed a vision document due in the first 100 days of the Commission President…