A Discussion of European Leadership

Leadership dynamics in Europe are at a critical juncture. Following the recent European Parliament elections, both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have seen their influence wane, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have emerged stronger. At the same time, a new set of leaders is to set take the reins of the top jobs at the EU institutions in Brussels, adding to the current upheaval. Outside the European Union, the United Kingdom faces the prospect of a change to a Labour government following its upcoming elections, which could significantly reshape its role on the continent. Finally, the uncertainty surrounding U.S. leadership following this November’s election is creating doubts about the future of leadership in the transatlantic alliance more broadly. To explore these various developments and their implications, Sophie Pedder and Steven Erlanger join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.  Sophie Pedder is the Paris Bureau Chief for The Economist, where she writes about French politics and economics.    Steven Erlanger is the Chief Diplomatic Correspondent in Europe for The New York Times, with extensive experience in covering transatlantic relations and European affairs from various posts across the globe.