The Eurofile

Episódios

• 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
• 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.
• 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
• 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?
• 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?
• 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?
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 
• 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
• 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 
• 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 
• 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
• Europe’s Frantic Start to 2026 08.01.2026 32min

  Max and Donatienne discuss last month’s European Council meeting, where leaders failed to agree on the MERCOSUR trade deal but secured continued funding to Ukraine; the mounting US-EU tech fight after the EU fined X for breaching digital safety rules; and the Trump administration’s increasing pressure on Greenland. (00:00) Intro (01:18) December EUCO Review (14:11) US-EU Tech Fight (20:37) Greenland Learn more:  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 
• Europe’s Make-or-Break Summit 18.12.2025 35min

  Max and Donatienne discuss recent comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declaring the end of ‘Pax Americana’. Then, they preview a high-stakes European Council meeting, where leaders will discuss the Mercosur trade deal and the European Commission’s proposal to leverage frozen Russian assets to provide a crucial loan to Ukraine.  Finally, they turn to a conversation with Dr. Thu Nguyen, Acting Co-Director of the Jacques Delors Centre, to discuss the state of democracy in the EU.  (00:00) Intro (02:05) Friedrich Merz ‘Pax Americana’ Speech (05:19) Frozen Russian Assets Loan (13:13) Mercosur Trade Deal (19:00) Interview with Thu Nguyen   Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts
• Live Episode: Europe in the Wake of the 2025 NSS 10.12.2025 1h 1min

  Max Bergmann sits down with Abraham Newman and Kristine Berzina for a rapid-reaction conversation about the newly released U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS), its implications for the European security landscape, and the key clash at the forefront of transatlantic tech relations.  The live video episode was recorded on Monday, December 9, 2025. Abraham Newman is the director of the BMW Center for German and European Studies and John Powers Chair in International Business Diplomacy at Georgetown University. Kristine Berzina is a senior fellow for U.S. Defense and Transatlantic Security at the German Marshall Fund in Washington DC.   Watch the live event on demand here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFS5L81uzfA    Reach out to our team with any questions affecting Europe, or to share feedback on the show. We want to hear from you!   Email: erep@csis.org     X:   @csiserep       Bluesky: @erep.csis.org 
• Is Europe’s Trade Agenda Evolving? 04.12.2025 49min

  Max and Donatienne discuss the latest peace negotiations to secure an end to the war in Ukraine.  They also cover ongoing talks about implementation of the US–EU trade deal, after US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with their EU counterparts in Brussels. Then, they turn to a conversation with Cecilia Malmström, former EU Commissioner for Trade and Home Affairs, to discuss the European Union’s trade agenda.  (00:00) Intro  (00:56) Ukraine Peace Negotiations  (11:50) Lutnick and Greer in Brussels  (18:50) Interview with Cecilia Malmström    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 
• The Latest 28-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine 01.12.2025 26min

  Max speaks with Michael Kimmage about his immediate reactions to the new 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, and the rapid-fire diplomacy taking place in response to its release. This conversation was recorded on November 24, 2025. Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 
• Is the EU's Center-Right Ready to Work with the Far-Right? 20.11.2025 32min

  Max and Donatienne discuss a recent vote in the European Parliament where the center-right European People’s Party voted with the far right to approve cuts to EU green rules. Then, they turn to a conversation with Federico Steinberg and Nicolas Véron about the euro and Europe's economic future. (00:00) Intro (00:42) European Parliament vote on EU green rules (17:10) Interview with Federico Steinberg and Nicolas Véron Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Is a New Era Emerging for the Euro? | The Eurofile