The Eurofile

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!  Email: [email protected]   X: @csiserep   Bluesky: @erep.csis.org 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: [email protected]     X:   @csiserep       Bluesky: @erep.csis.org

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

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

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

Max Bergmann is joined by Federico Steinberg and Nicolas Véron for a conversation about Europe's economic future. The discussion covers the Euro’s evolving international role, the rise of stable coins and the digital Euro, and how Europe can chart a fiscally sustainable future.  Federico Steinberg is a visiting fellow with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, Prince of Asturias distinguished visiting professor at Georgetown University, and senior analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute. Nicolas Véron is senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Learn more:  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

On the latest episode of The Eurofile, Max and Donatienne discuss the recent Dutch elections, where centrist-liberal party, D66, narrowly secured victory over the far-right Party for Freedom, while EU "big wig," Frans Timmermans, and his GreenLeft-Labor ticket suffered a disappointing defeat. Then, they turn to a conversation with Zsolt Darvas, Senior Fellow at Bruegel, to discuss whether the EU’s long-term budget, also known as the Multiannual Financial Framework, is fit for purpose.

Max and Donatienne discuss the ongoing negotiations over the EU’s next long-term budget and a recent call from the German government to establish a common European stock market. Then, they turn to a conversation with Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss how European leaders have approached Trump. Have they avoided the worst-case scenario or is appeasement backfiring already?      (00:00) Intro  (00:52) EU Budget Fight  (11:40) Berlin Calls for European Stock Market  (17:11) Interview with Jeremy Shapiro    Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne discuss the recent Czech parliamentary election in which billionaire businessman and former prime minister Andrej Babis and his ANO party roared to a victory (01:00). They also cover last week’s informal European Council summit in Copenhagen, where leaders met to discuss how to bolster the continent’s security (07:33). Finally, they turn to a conversation with Ben McWilliams, affiliate fellow in the field of energy and climate policy with Bruegel, to discuss the European Union’s energy and climate agenda (15:47).  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America

Max and Donatienne answer listener questions (0:44) before talking with Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director and columnist at Le Monde, about France’s political turmoil (22:40).  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne are back from summer vacation with a preview of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address to European Parliament this week. Then, Sander Tordoir and Federico Steinberg came back on The Eurofile to break down the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, the latest moves in EU trade, and what progress has been made in the past year to implement the The Draghi Report. Sander Tordoir is Chief Economist at the Centre for European Reform Senior Associate (non-resident) with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program. Federico Steinberg is a Visiting Fellow with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Prince of Asturias Distinguished Visiting Professor at Georgetown University. Note: this episode was recorded on September 5, 2025. We want to hear from YOU on The Eurofile! Please submit your questions or feedback to ⁠[email protected]⁠ with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line. Or, find us on social media: X: @csiserep Bluesky: erep.csis.org Learn more:   ⁠Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts⁠

In a special crossover episode with CSIS’s State of Play, Max Bergmann joins Will Todman and Victor Cha to discuss what East Asian and European allies are learning about summits with President Trump and what patterns are emerging about how President Trump engages with autocrats.Learn more:⁠State of Play | CSIS Podcasts⁠Statesmen’s Forum: His Excellency Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea | CSIS⁠⁠Max and Maria on the Alaska and White House Peace Summits⁠⁠ | CSIS Russian Roulette

Max sat down with Matthew Kaminski—co-founder of Politico Europe, former editor-in-chief and former editor-at-large of Politico—to discuss the ethos of Politico Europe, why it’s been successful, and how it fits into the political journalism landscape in Brussels. Please submit your questions or feedback to ⁠[email protected]⁠ with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line.  Learn more:   ⁠Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts⁠

Max and Donatienne talk to David Leonhardt, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and editorial director for The New York Times, about the politics of migration in Europe and the United States.   Please submit your questions or feedback to [email protected] with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  In an Age of Right-Wing Populism, Why Are Denmark’s Liberals Winning?

Max and Donatienne discuss last week’s EU-US trade deal announcement, where European allies agreed to a 15 percent tariff rate on most U.S. imports. Max talks with Lykke Friis, director of the Copenhagen-based think tank Europa, about Denmark’s presidency of the European Union. Please submit your questions or feedback to [email protected] with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line. Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Heart of the matter: How Denmark’s focus on Ukraine and enlargement will define its EU presidency

Max and Otto discuss President Trump’s latest tariff threats and the timid European response. Max talks to Noah Barkin, Senior Advisor with Rhodium Group's China practice, to preview next week’s EU-China summit. Learn more:  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  Watching China in Europe—July 2025

Max and Otto discuss last week’s NATO summit in The Hague, where European allies signed up to a massive new spending pledge. Donatienne talks with Sarah Hall, 1931 Professor of Geography and Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge University and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe, about the state of the UK economy and Labour’s economic agenda.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  NATO’s “Brain Death” in The Hague

Max and Donatienne discuss this week’s G7 Summit in Canada and the latest round of EU sanctions against Russia. Then, they turn to a conversation with Dr. Daniel Fiott, Head of the Defence and Statecraft Programme at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG), to discuss the state of European defense and Europe’s rearmament.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  How the European Union and Germany Can Leverage Their Monetary Power

Max and Donatienne discuss the second round of the Polish presidential election and its implications for Europe. Then they discuss Max’s recent Europe trip and his impressions from meetings with European officials and experts. Learn more:  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts The Implications of Poland’s Presidential Election

Max and Donatienne discuss the second round of the Romanian presidential election, Portugal’s parliamentary election, and a new EU-UK deal on post-Brexit relations. Then they turn to a conversation with Jana Puglierin, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and head of its Berlin office, to discuss the priorities of the new German government. Learn more:  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

On this episode, Max and Donatienne cover the first round of the Romanian presidential election, where George Simion, a hard-right candidate, soared to a first-place finish ahead of the second round on May 18. Since recording this episode on May 5th, major developments, including the resignation and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and rapid capital flight, have sparked a political crisis. This story is still developing. The hosts then break down British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s attempt to reset relations with the European Union ahead of a May 19 Brexit summit, and welcome Abe Newman, professor in the School of Foreign Service and Government Departments at Georgetown University and Director of the BMW Center for German and European Studies, for a conversation about coming collisions in transatlantic tech.

In this week's episode, Max and Donatienne cover Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Washington and the state of transatlantic relations as we approach the 100-day mark of the second Trump presidency. Then, they are joined by Janka Oertel, director of the Asia programme and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), to break down how big changes in US trade policy and rising transatlantic tensions affect the EU-China trade and diplomatic relationship.

Following announcements from President Donald Trump of sweeping new tariffs, Max and Donatienne discuss the fallout from last week’s “Liberation Day” with economist and international trade expert, Federico Steinberg: a Visiting Fellow with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Prince of Asturias Distinguished Visiting Professor at Georgetown University. This episode dives deeply into the impact of these tariffs and what may come next for Europe.

This week, Max and Donatienne discuss the state of Turkey’s democracy after the jailing of Istanbul’s mayor days before becoming presidential candidate, the latest European Council meeting and a new EU white paper for European defense. Then, our hosts turn to a conversation with Tom Wright, senior fellow at Brookings and former Senior Director for Strategic Planning at the United States National Security Council (NSC) in the Biden administration, to discuss his recent article in Foreign Affairs outlining a U.S. strategy for Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts The Right U.S. Strategy for Russia-Ukraine Negotiations | Foreign Affairs

In this week's episode, Max and Donatienne discuss the state of Germany’s post-election politics, including the future of the debt brake and upcoming coalition talks, and highlight the latest European Council meeting, European security, and Ukraine. Then, Max shares his key takeaways from a visit to Brussels before turning to a conversation with Phil Luck, director of the CSIS Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business, to discuss a looming transatlantic trade fight. Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

In a special crossover episode with CSIS's The Truth of the Matter, Max Bergmann joins Andrew Schwartz to debrief his recent trip to meet with European diplomats in Brussels and Paris and discuss a possible United States divorce from our allies in Europe. Economic disputes, defense spending disagreements, and differing approaches to Russia and China have further widened the gap between the transatlantic allies. This episode dives into new developments as European leaders question the long-term reliability of U.S. commitments to NATO and regional security, as well as the impact on European allies as Washington shifts its strategic focus toward the Indo-Pacific.

Max and Donatienne break down the results of German election and discuss what a new government could mean for the Germany's economic trajectory. They then welcome Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, to discuss Germany’s economic malaise and preview how a new German government may impact the European economy. Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

In this crossover episode with the Truth of the Matter, Max Bergmann joins Host Andrew Schwartz to discuss the current state of European security, the potential for a U.S.-Europe tech war, how Ukraine negotiations might evolve, and more.

Max and Donatienne discuss how the EU can respond to Trump’s tariffs and whether EU doomerism is overstated. They then turn to a conversation with Anu Bradford, Professor of Law and International Organization at Columbia Law School, to discuss how Washington and Brussels might clash over tech regulation in the second Trump administration.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne recap Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen’s speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos before previewing European tech regulation during Trump’s second term. Then, they turn to a conversation with Federico Rampini, Global Columnist for Corriere della Sera, to discuss Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s tenure, the state of the Italian economy, and what the second Trump administration means for Italy and the EU.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max, Donatienne, and Otto discuss Trump’s recent statements about Greenland and the reactions to Elon Musk’s interjections into European politics. They are then joined by Jeremy Cliffe, editorial director and senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, to preview the upcoming German elections and Europe’s approach to Trump’s return to the White House.  Learn more:  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  The Merz doctrine: What a CDU-led government would mean for German foreign policy | ECFR  Searching for Deutschland Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Max and Donatienne recap the major stories that shaped 2024 and look ahead at the coming year. They are then joined by Georgina Wright, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director for International Studies at Institut Montaigne, for a discussion on the political turmoil currently roiling France. Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne are joined by Dan Kelemen and Federico Steinberg to discuss the implications of Trump’s return to the White House for US-EU relations, including the transatlantic economy and Europe’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law. Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne are joined by Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend, hosts of the Brussels Sprouts podcast at the Center for a New American Security, to discuss the implications of Trump’s return to the White House for European security, Ukraine, and US-Europe relations. Learn more: Brussels Sprouts  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne discuss the implications for Europe from Trump’s imminent return to the White House. Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne are joined by Cecilia Malmström, former European commissioner for trade (from 2014 to 2019) and European commissioner for home affairs (from 2010 to 2014), to discuss the evolution of the EU’s trade policy, EU-China ties on trade, and the state of transatlantic economic and trade relations.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne discuss the latest European Council meeting and Biden’s ‘farewell’ trip to Germany (00.43). Then, they turn to a conversation with Mij Rahman, the managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, to discuss priorities and challenges facing the new European Commission, and the current state of French politics (14.35).  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts