The Eurofile

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 [email protected] 

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Learn more:
Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

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.

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

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?

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?

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?

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! 

Learn more:

Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

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

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

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