With a slowing economy, soaring energy costs and mounting pressure on defense spending, PM Giorgia Meloni faces an uphill battle in next year’s Italian election.

Amid all this, Zoya and Ian discuss how a recent European Commission decision to exempt certain green investments from its public-spending rules is a small win for the Italian leader. They dig deeper into the thought process behind this move from the EU executive.

Also on the show, we break down some of the recent developments as Brussels tightens the screws on Moscow. One of the updates is that ministers from 11 countries are calling for restrictions on the number of EU tourist visas issued to Russian nationals.

And finally: What on earth is a Spritz Misto? We uncover the mystery of a cocktail that has Brussels scratching its head — and an MEP up in arms.

Do you have a favorite cocktail and a preferred place in Brussels to order it? Let us know on our WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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