The Eurofile

Episodi

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  Germany's China Problem: What Can Europe Do About It? 30.07.2026 39min

  Max sits down with Sander Tordoir, Chief Economist at the Centre for European Reform and Senior Associate (Non-resident) with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program to discuss his latest report: China shock 2.0: The cost of Germany's complacency – which argues that surging Chinese exports are hurting Germany's auto and machinery sectors and threatening Europe's economic model. They dig into whether Brussels has the tools and political will to push back on Beijing, and how one October deadline could force the bloc to confront these issues head-on. Mentioned: China Shock 2.0: The Cost of Germany's Complacency by Sander Tordoir and Brad Setser Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org. If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts. Check out our sister podcast, Russian Roulette.
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  Burnham Takes the Wheel in Westminster, Le Pen Is on the Ballot Again, and Max Reflects on Budapest 27.07.2026 19min

  Max sits down with guest-host Lexi Linafelter, Program Coordinator and Research Assistant with the CSIS Europe, Russia and Eurasia program to discuss Max's recent trip to Budapest and new leadership across the Atlantic. They discuss key takeaways from the NATO Summit in Ankara, old challenges facing new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in British politics, and Marine Le Pen's announcement launching her fourth campaign for the presidency in France.  Mentioned: The Eurofile LIVE: German Rearmament and Reflections on NATO's Ankara Summit The NATO Ankara Summit: Delivery over Drama, Commentary by Jonathan Burchell Make the Ankara Summit About European Defense Autonomy, Commentary by Max Bergmann and Otto Svendsen The Magyar revolution: Hungary’s new era, by Ben Hall and Marton Dunai Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org. If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts. Check out our sister podcast, Russian Roulette.
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  The Eurofile LIVE: German Rearmament and Reflections on NATO's Ankara Summit 14.07.2026 53min

  Dr. Liana Fix, a senior fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Max on The Eurofile for a bonus episode focused on key takeaways from this week's NATO summit in Ankara. They discuss the summit's outcomes and what they reveal about the shifting balance of responsibility between the U.S. and Europe, including a look at Germany's historic rearmament and resulting tensions within Europe. They also examine the implications of the U.S. stepping back faster than Europe can build up, which may make the coming years a particularly dangerous window for Russia to test the alliance. Mentioned: Germany Rearmed: The Return of War and the End of Illusions by Liana Fix  Do you have any questions about the EU, NATO, or the latest news in European politics? Please share them with us! X: @csiserep    Bluesky: @erep.csis.org  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org. If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts. Check out our sister podcast, Russian Roulette.
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  Europe Will Survive; But Will It Prosper? feat. David Marsh 02.07.2026 38min

  Max sits down with David Marsh, co-founder and chairman of the OMFIF economic research group and former Financial Times Europe editor, to discuss his new book Can Europe Survive? The Story of a Continent in a Fractured World. They discuss how the European project, the Euro, and Brexit have affected transatlantic relations, and what it would mean for Europe to prosper, not just survive, as a global geopolitical actor. Mentioned: Can Europe Survive? The Story of a Continent in a Fractured World by David Marsh Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org. If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts. Check out our sister podcast, Russian Roulette.
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  The World Cup Kicks off, a Busy Week in Europe, and Farewell, Donatienne! 22.06.2026 28min

  Max and Donatienne discuss the World Cup kickoff, the G7 summit, European Council meeting, and the early steps of Hungary's new government under Péter Magyar. This is Donatienne’s final episode as a co-host of The Eurofile, marking her transition away from CSIS to a new position in Washington. We will miss her dearly and thank her for three incredible years with the team! Keep up with Donatienne via LinkedIn @Donatienne Ruy, and stay tuned as we begin a new era of The Eurofile. Please email your feedback to EREP@csis.org with ideas for future guests, structure, and corrections for Max’s mispronunciations of European names. If you love the show, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more:Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts
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  10 Years of Brexit feat. Tom McTague 19.06.2026 43min

  Max and Donatienne sit down with Tom McTague, Editor in Chief at the New Statesman and author of Between the Waves: The Hidden History of a Very British Revolution 1945–2016, to discuss how the history of EU-UK relations set up this split, the state of British-EU relations today, and what has or has not changed in politics since 2016.Mentioned: Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus – by Rick Perlstein  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.
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  100 Episodes: What We Got Right (and Wrong) 04.06.2026 36min

  Max and Donatienne celebrate 100 episodes of The Eurofile by looking back at the key questions that have defined the show — from European defense and transatlantic tensions to trade, migration, and economic competitiveness. How well did they call it? And what did they miss?  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org  If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more:Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts
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  Reflections from Ukraine, Crisis in the UK, and the EU's Corruption-Fighting Toolkit ft. Kövesi 22.05.2026 51min

  Max and Donatienne discuss returns from Ukraine with fresh observations on the war and reflects on EU treaty reform and Ukraine's accession prospects. We also look at the political crisis engulfing Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the UK. Later, we sit down with European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi on the fight against corruption in the EU.
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  U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Germany and EU Takeaways from the Orbán Era 07.05.2026 50min

  Max and Donatienne talk about the Trump administration’s announced withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany while simultaneously delaying a planned deployment of long-range Tomahawk missiles. They then turn to a conversation with Dan Kelemen, McCourt Chair at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, on what the Orbán era in Hungary tells us about how the EU handles democratic backsliding. (00:00) Intro (01:25) U.S. troop withdrawal from Germany (14:45) Dan Kelemen
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  The End of Orbán and Europe's Energy Crunch 24.04.2026 50min

  Max and Donatienne cover two seismic European election results: Hungary's stunning rejection of Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power, and Bulgaria's eighth election in five years. Then, they turn to Max’s conversation with Ben McWilliams, affiliate fellow at Bruegel, on the energy fallout from the Iran war. (00:00) Intro (00:53) Hungary election results  (15:31) Bulgaria election results  (18:22) Ben McWilliams    Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts Europe Needs Bold Economic Action in the Face of the Iran Shock What Is at Stake in Hungary’s Election?
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  Iran War Fallout and Hungary's Pivotal Election 09.04.2026 41min

  Max and Donatienne discuss the fallout from the Iran war and this week’s Hungarian election. Then, Max is joined by Federico Steinberg, Prince of Asturias distinguished visiting professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and visiting fellow at CSIS, on the war's economic costs for Europe.  (00:00) Intro (00:45) Iran war fallout  (14:43) Hungary election (22:38) Federico Steinberg   Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts Europe Needs Bold Economic Action in the Face of the Iran Shock What Is at Stake in Hungary’s Election?
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  Previewing Hungary’s Election: Will Orbán Be Defeated? 02.04.2026 30min

  Max and Donatienne are joined by Zselyke Csaky, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, to preview the Hungarian election on April 12.  Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts What Is at Stake in Hungary’s Election?
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  Competitiveness, Climate, and Transatlantic Tensions feat. Teresa Ribera 30.03.2026 26min

  Max and Donatienne are joined by Teresa Ribera—Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition—for a conversation on the EU's economic and climate agenda. Questions about the EU, NATO, or the latest news in Europe through a Washington lens? We want to hear from you!  Email: erep@csis.org   X: @csiserep   Bluesky: @erep.csis.org Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts
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  Incumbents Emerge Bruised from Elections and Europe’s Place in the World with Nathalie Tocci 26.03.2026 45min

  Max and Donatienne discuss recent elections in Slovenia and Denmark, a referendum on judicial reforms in Italy, and Mark Rutte’s recent statements on the war in Iran. Then, they turn to a conversation with Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), for a conversation on Europe’s place in the world. (00:00) Intro (00:50) Slovenia election (04:40) Denmark election (10:20) Italy judicial reform referendum (15:58) Mark Rutte’s Sunday show appearances (22:03) Nathalie Tocci   Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts Europe Needs an ASAP Program for Air Defense
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  Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur on European Defense and the Eastern Flank 20.03.2026 44min

  Max is joined by Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Estonia, for a discussion about Estonia’s role in European security. (00:00) Intro (01:40) The war in Iran (04:32) Impact of rising energy prices for Russia (06:49) Impact of Iran war on air defense interceptor stockpiles (10:39) Outlook for Ukraine’s military (14:31) State of the transatlantic alliance (18:39) European support for Ukraine (22:10) Ukrainian deep strikes in Russia (24:22) Concerns over Russia’s military adaptation (27:15) European contributions to NATO (31:21) European views on Russian threat (34:25) European Union’s role in defense procurement (39:30) U.S. burden-shifting agenda for European defense Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts
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  Von der Leyen’s Foreign Policy Power Struggle and the Iran War with Mona Yacoubian 13.03.2026 45min

  Max and Donatienne discuss the internal power struggle between Ursula von der Leyen and EU member states over who should speak for Europe on foreign policy. They then turn to a conversation with Mona Yacoubian, director and senior adviser of the Middle East Program at CSIS, to discuss the Iran war and Europe’s role in it. (00:00) Intro (01:05) Von der Leyen’s foreign policy power struggle  (19:07) Mona Yacoubian  Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Would Regime Change Solve the Iran Challenge?  The Regional Reverberations of the U.S. and Israeli Strikes on Iran 
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  Four Years of War in Ukraine, New Dutch Government, and Europe's China Challenge 26.02.2026 48min

  Max and Donatienne discuss the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a new Dutch government. They then turn to a conversation with Jude Blanchette, Distinguished Tang Chair in China Research and Director of the RAND China Research Center, to discuss the state of play in Europe’s China policy. (00:00) Intro (00:45) Russia-Ukraine war (09:11) New Dutch government (14:39) Jude Blanchette    Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts Russia-Ukraine War in 10 Charts
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  MSC Preview and Europe’s Electoral Outlook 12.02.2026 45min

  Max and Donatienne preview this week’s Munich Security Forum before turning to Max's conversation with Marcus Roberts, CEO of Mandate, to discuss European polling trends and what they portend for the year ahead. (00:00) Intro  (01:03) MSC Preview  (14:24) Marcus Roberts    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 
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  Davos, Greenland, and the EU-India Deal 29.01.2026 43min

  Max and Donatienne discuss last week's World Economic Forum in Davos, which was dominated by President Trump's tariff threats over Greenland. They then turn to a conversation with Rick Rossow, senior adviser and Chair in India and Emerging Asia Economics at CSIS, about the newly announced EU-India free trade agreement.   (00:00) Intro (00:51) Davos recap (20:22) Rick Rossow   Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 
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  Can Europe Keep Ukraine’s Military Afloat without the U.S.? 15.01.2026 54min

  Max and Donatienne discuss recent comments by EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius about the creation of a European standing army. Then, they turn to a conversation with Michael Kofman, senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about Europe’s role in the war in Ukraine.   (00:00) Intro (00:49) European standing army (09:45) Greenland Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts