Max and Otto discuss the recent reforms of the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact and what it portends for the European Union in 2024. Then, Max is joined by Jim Townsend, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for European and NATO Policy and current adjunct senior fellow in the Transatlantic Security Program with the Center for a New American Security, for a conversation about European defense and next year’s NATO summit in Washington, DC.    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS...

Max and Donatienne recap the recent European Council meeting, where EU leaders agreed to open accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova but failed to agree on a $55 billion aid package. Then, they discuss some key events and developments from the past year and what they may portend for the year ahead.    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

Max and Donatienne recap the recent elections in the Netherlands where the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) secured a surprising victory. Then, they cover the latest turmoil following the German constitutional court’s decision to strike down the government’s attempt to repurpose COVID funds. Finally, Max is joined by R. Dan Kelemen, Senior Associate with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the McCourt Chair at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. Max and...

Max and Donatienne discuss a recent major blow to Germany’s environmental strategy, Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez officially forming a new government, the resignation of Portuguese PM Antonio Costa, and the EU’s artillery promise to Ukraine falling flat. Then, Max is joined for a conversation with Rym Momtaz, consultant research fellow for European foreign policy and security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), on Emmanuel Macron and French foreign...

Max and Donatienne first discuss Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Kyiv and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s call for bold EU reforms. Then, they are joined for an ‘exit interview’ with Stavros Lambrinidis, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, as his time in Washington, DC comes to a close.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

Max and Donatienne first discuss the Polish election results and their broader implications for Europe. Then, they review the recent EU-US summit in Washington, D.C. Lastly, Max is joined for a conversation with David Lammy, the UK Shadow Foreign Secretary and Labour MP for Tottenham.     Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts   Poland’s Election Could Transform the European Union  The Future of British Foreign Policy: A Conversation with UK Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP 

Max and Donatienne discuss the upcoming elections in Poland, the EU’s uncoordinated first reaction to the ongoing crisis in Israel, and how turbulence on Capitol Hill affects the future of security assistance to Ukraine. Then, they are joined for a conversation with Tara Varma, a visiting fellow in the Center of the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, for a conversation on the state of French foreign policy in a European context.    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS...

Max and Donatienne first look back at Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union speech and what it portends for her vision of Europe’s future. Then, they are joined for a conversation with Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European Studies at Oxford University, to discuss the history of contemporary Europe and his new book, Homelands: A Personal History of Europe.    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Beyond the Battlefield: Global Implications of Russia’s War in Ukraine 

Max and Donatienne are first joined by Caitlin Chin, fellow with the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program, to discuss the impact of the EU’s Digital Services Act, as very large online platforms will now have to comply with Brussels’ online content rulebook. Then, they are joined for a conversation with Federico Steinberg, visiting fellow with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, to discuss the state of Europe’s economy.    Learn more:     Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts    Beyond the...

Max and Donatienne first recap their summer vacations in Europe, including an assessment of Irish neutrality in the current European political climate. Then, they are joined by Mujtaba (Mij) Rahman, managing director for Europe at political risk research and consulting firm Eurasia Group, for a conversation about the current state of European politics and Europe’s future geopolitical trajectory.    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Germany's New China Strategy: A Conversation...

Max and Donatienne first discuss the state of Europe’s far right following Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent visit to Washington. Then, Max is joined for a conversation with Charles Powell, director of the Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid, about the Spanish election results and their implications for the future of European politics.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Whither Spain? The July 2023 General Election Results and Beyond | CSIS Commentary  Spanish...

Max and Donatienne first discuss the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, the resignation of PM Mark Rutte’s government in the Netherlands, and the European Union’s ongoing migration problem, after EU leaders recently agreed to a new pact on asylum policy. Then, they are joined for a conversation with political analyst, activist, and media writer Agon Maliqi about the ongoing tensions in Kosovo. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS...

Max and Donatienne are first joined by Federico Steinberg, visiting fellow at CSIS, to discuss the European Union’s new economic security strategy. Then, Max sits down with the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador David Quarrey to preview the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Germany's Financial Attack on NATO | CSIS 

Max and Donatienne recently sat down with Marie Jourdain and Sean Monaghan to discuss a new CSIS report dissecting the state of European defense. The report calls for a critical role for the European Union to play in integrating and coordinating efforts to rebuild European militaries from the bottom-up. You can read the full report here and watch the webcast from the live event here.

Max and Donatienne first discuss a new CSIS report about European defense integration and the EU’s role in rebuilding European militaries. They then cover Germany’s first ever national security strategy and a recent meeting between the leaders of France, Germany, and Poland ahead of the NATO summit in July. Lastly, Max and Donatienne turn to a conversation with Mathieu Droin about European naval capabilities and why they matter to the broader European defense landscape.    Learn...

Max and Donatienne discuss French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech at the GLOBSEC Bratislava Global Security Forum where he called for tangible and credible security guarantees for Ukraine. They then cover the recent European Political Community summit in Moldova and discuss the EPC in relation to EU enlargement. Lastly, Max and Donatienne turn to a conversation with John Christianson about European strategic air enabling capabilities – a critical gap in European defense. John is an...

Max and Donatienne discuss the recent 1.2B euro fine levied at Meta, the U.S. tech giant controlling Facebook, for breaching the EU’s GDPR rulebook – the largest such fine in the 5-year history of the privacy regulation. They then cover the recent first round of the Turkish elections, where President Erdogan outperformed polling figures and is now heavily favored to retain power after the second round of voting on May 28. Lastly, Max and Donatienne turn to a conversation with Dan Keleman on...

Max and Donatienne discuss the Tories’ resounding defeat in local UK elections, renewed debates about the Stability and Growth Pact, and European Commissioner Thierry Breton’s push to ramp up Europe’s artillery production. They then turn to a conversation with Jude Blanchette, who holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS, to discuss Sino-European relations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Pekingology | CSIS Podcasts 

Max and Donatienne discuss the recent dispute over European blockages of grain imports from Ukraine and the state of media freedom and democracy in Greece. They then turn to a conversation with Ilke Toygür, non-resident senior associate with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program, to preview Turkey’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections three weeks out from voting day.  Read More: Transatlantic allies in action: Unpacking EU-US cooperation on Turkey ahead of elections , by...

Max and Donatienne discuss French president Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to China and Finland’s long-awaited formal accession to NATO. They then turn to a conversation with Emily Benson to discuss the latest transatlantic tension stemming from the Inflation Reduction Act.  Learn More: Analyzing the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (csis.org)  Green Industrial Strategies: Takeaways for Transatlantic Trade (csis.org) 

Max and Donatienne discuss the recent protests in France following President Macron’s controversial pension reform. They then cover the spat over the European Union’s e-fuels regulation, which roiled a recent European Council summit in Stockholm. Finally, they preview upcoming elections in Finland and Bulgaria, which could have implications for continued support to Ukraine, EU enlargement, and the bloc’s future democratic resilience.  Learn more: Finland | 2023 Elections | CSIS

In this week’s episode of The Eurofile, Max and Donatienne discuss Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Washington, D.C. and the prospect of closer transatlantic cooperation in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Following their conversation, they sit down with Kakha Gogolashvili, Senior Fellow and Director of EU Studies at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, to discuss the recently abandoned foreign agents law in Georgia, Russia’s presence in the South...

In this week’s episode of The Eurofile, Max and Donatienne discuss the recent post-Brexit EU-U.K. deal and takeaways from the Munich Security Conference. Following their conversation, they sit down with Sean Monaghan, visiting fellow with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and an expert on European defense, to discuss the current state of European defense cooperation.  Read more: Solving Europe’s Defense Dilemma: Overcoming the Challenges to European Defense Cooperation...

In this week’s special episode of The Eurofile marking the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Max and Donatienne discuss Europe’s response to the war. They are joined by Dr. Kathleen McInnis, Senior Fellow with the CSIS International Security Program and Director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative, as well as Jim Townsend, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for Europe and NATO Policy, and current Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Security...

In this week’s episode of The Eurofile, Max and Donatienne discuss the recent special meeting of the European Council and the key takeaways for Ukraine’s EU candidacy, weapons deliveries, and Europe’s migration policy. Following their conversation, they sit down with Jan Philipp Albrecht, former MEP and Co-President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, to discuss the state of the transatlantic relationship from a German perspective, the European response to the Inflation Reduction Act, the German...