POLITICO's EU Confidential

Fears of a coronavirus second wave, a campaign for gender equality at the top of the EU, and the U.S. presidential election all feature in this week's episode. After weeks of intense debate over the economic response to the pandemic, the focus in Europe is shifting back to the worrying health situation. POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Rym Momtaz are joined by Senior Health Reporter Sarah Wheaton to discuss the growing number of cases around the Continent and new restrictions being imposed as a result. They also talk about how the EU is faring in the worldwide race for a vaccine. Our special guest is Austrian MEP Evelyn Regner, who spoke with POLITICO's Cristina Gonzalez and Maïa de La Baume about her push for gender parity among candidates to run the European Banking Authority. Regner argues that structural changes in how candidates are selected are necessary, and that gender quotas are the only solution to ensure women get a fair shot. We also check in with POLITICO's Ryan Heath to hear about his new series coming to your EU Confidential feed in August: Campaign Confidential will cover the U.S. elections in November, combining POLITICO's insider knowledge with our global take on an election that is sure to have a big impact on Europe and the world. EU Confidential is taking a break for the next two weeks, and the podcast team hopes all our listeners are also getting some well-earned rest over the summer. We'll be back on August 18 with the first episode of Campaign Confidential and your regular EU Confidential returns on Thursday, August 20.

The POLITICO  team breaks down the details — and the drama — behind the deal struck by EU leaders on a €1.82 trillion financial package during a historic five-day summit in Brussels. Using audio clips from key players and drawing on behind-the-scenes reporting, POLITICO's Lili Bayer, Andrew Gray, David M. Herszenhorn and Rym Momtaz talk through the deals within the deal and the tensions among the leaders as they struggled to agree on an EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund. It's a must-listen episode for anyone wanting the inside scoop on how history was made.

The EU's budget and recovery plan, the Polish election outcome and the "tribalization" of Europe are all up for debate in this week's episode. POLITICO's Lili Bayer has the latest take on where things stand as EU leaders gather at the negotiating table to wrangle over the budget and recovery package. It's an unusual summit with no reporters, no handshakes and some €1.8 trillion at stake. If a deal is struck, we'll bring you a special extra edition of the podcast to break down exactly what it all means. Polish President Andrzej Duda won reelection by a slim margin on Sunday. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig debate what his victory means for Poland and the EU. Marlene Wind, professor of politics at the University of Copenhagen, is our special guest to discuss her new book "The Tribalization of Europe." The book explores movements across the Continent that have "pulled up the drawbridge" in recent years, according to Wind, leaving the European project in jeopardy. Wind argues the EU needs to get tougher on upholding basic principles — which, she says, means leaders must get serious about linking EU cash to respect for the rule of law. Wind makes the case for academics, journalists and citizens to be more vocal in speaking up in defense of liberal values — while resisting the temptation to form an inward-looking tribe themselves. She also previews what her home country of Denmark wants from the budget negotiations.

Emmanuel Macron's reshuffle, Angela Merkel's Brussels trip and Europe's approach to China all feature in this week's episode, as well as an interview with the EU's first chief prosecutor. POLITICO's France Correspondent Rym Momtaz analyzes Macron's government rejig and explains why it has been met with more shrugs than smiles. The podcast crew discusses Merkel's address to the European Parliament and her meetings with top EU officials as they push for a recovery fund deal at next week's summit. We also look at where the EU and U.K. are heading on China, as they face pressure to react to Beijing's growing power over Hong Kong. Laura Codruța Kövesi, the head of the new European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), is this week's special guest. Kövesi talks to POLITICO's Lili Bayer about the role of the new organization and her previous job as the top prosecutor at Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate.

A Green wave in France, the speaking styles of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić all feature in this week's podcast. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz in Paris explains what Green wins in local polls mean for Macron, while Matthew Karnitschnig gives us the perspective from Berlin on the Continent's Green shift in recent elections. A joint press conference from Merkel and Macron this week highlighted their contrasting approaches to communication. Merkel kept things concise while Macron, the guest, hogged the clock with a 9-minute opening speech. The podcast panel debates whether it's all down to cultural differences, personal preferences, or just bad manners. Vučić spoke to POLITICO's Andrew Gray and Jacopo Barigazzi during a recent visit to Brussels. The Serbian president discussed thwarted plans for a White House meeting with leaders from Kosovo and prospects for further peace talks. He also responded to criticism of last month's parliamentary election in Serbia, in which his party claimed 60 percent of the vote. Also on the agenda: Vučić's praise for China and criticism of the EU when it came to solidarity during the coronavirus crisis, and Serbia's s hopes for EU membership.

The podcast crew marks your political calendar with previews of elections in France and Poland as well as Germany's presidency of the EU Council. Rym Momtaz in Paris looks ahead to Sunday's second round of French local elections and discusses the stakes for President Emmanuel Macron. Zosia Wanat gives us the lowdown on Polish President Andrzej Duda's re-election bid, hot on the heels of his visit to the White House, and brings us some audio treats from the campaign. From Berlin, Matthew Karnitschnig sets out Germany's aims as it takes over the EU's rotating presidency on July 1, seeking deals on the bloc's recovery fund and long-term budget as well as on future relations with the U.K. The EU's Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean is our special guest, interviewed by POLITICO mobility reporters Joshua Posaner and Hanne Cokelaere. Vălean has been at the forefront of some big coronavirus battles in Brussels lately, including over whether customers should get vouchers or refunds for canceled flights. Vălean also reveals how she had to change her mindset when she became a commissioner after many years as a member of the European Parliament. Oh, and if you're wondering about the twins — they're here: https://youtu.be/BiKG-2Tl6mo

Peter Mandelson, former EU trade commissioner and British Cabinet minister, throws his hat into the ring to be the next boss of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He makes his pitch as to why he could pull the WTO out of crisis — and why Britain's Conservative government might back him. He also discusses tensions with China and the path he foresees for a deal between the EU and the U.K. The POLITICO podcast crew — Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Matthew Karnitschnig — review the state of play as EU leaders hold a virtual summit on economic recovery plans and the bloc's long-term budget. They also discuss Emmanuel Macron's visit to London and ask how the U.S. outmaneuvered the EU in its own neighborhood with Kosovo peace talks.

European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová joins us to discuss the EU executive's plan to crack down on disinformation related to the coronavirus. The document specifically accuses China and Russia,  as well as home-grown peddlers of disinformation, of using the crisis to spread fake news — and it calls on tech platforms to do more to tackle the problem. Jourová, whose portfolio includes the rule of law, also shares her latest assessments on Hungary and Poland. Our podcast panel this week comes from Brussels, Paris, Berlin and Warsaw. POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Jan Cienski analyze Donald Trump's plans to slash the number of U.S. troops in Germany and examine whether some of them might end up in Poland. They also debate EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's assertion that China does not pose a military threat.

The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police officers sparked protests in the United States, as well as in Europe. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and David M. Herszenhorn debate the reaction from European leaders, including the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell who called this "an abuse of power." The panel also examines the current state of transatlantic relations, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel declines President Donald Trump's invitation to attend a G7 summit in Washington citing the coronavirus pandemic. French MEP Manon Aubry (GUE/NGL) is this week's special guest to discuss her first year in the European Parliament as the youngest co-chair of a political group, the Commission's recovery package proposal and to highlight, what she views as, a systemic problem with corporate lobbying's influence on EU lawmakers and ethical violations which erode citizens' trust. And be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode: http://listen.politico.eu/_subscribe

The European Commission this week unveiled a sweeping €750 billion proposal to get the EU's economies back on track. POLITICO's budget guru Lili Bayer, along with Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig and Rym Momtaz break down the plan and preview the battles ahead. We assess the mood in Commission HQ and around the Continent, and ask whether Ursula von der Leyen and her team have emerged strengthened from the skirmishes so far. Noé Debré, the creator of "Parlement," a TV comedy set in the European Parliament, is our special guest. POLITICO's Cristina Gonzalez and Maïa de La Baume get the behind-the-scenes scoop on how the show came about, how it's been received inside the Parliament and what makes EU lawmaking funny.

As countries ease lockdowns and try to move toward normality, we take stock of Europe's response to the coronavirus so far. We pick out key themes and moments, offer a behind-the-scenes peek at our coverage and look at the challenges to come. POLITICO's Andrew Gray reviews the past few months and senior health care reporter Sarah Wheaton adds her insights in the last of our special coronavirus episodes — at least for now. Be sure to continue listening to our regular Thursday editions of EU Confidential, which will also focus largely on the coronavirus crisis in the weeks and months to come.

It was big and bold and came out of the blue — Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron took Europe by surprise with a plan for a €500 billion EU recovery fund. Was it a historic moment for Europe? How would the scheme work? And can the skeptics be won over? POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Andrew Gray break down the politics behind the plan and preview the battles ahead. To add an expert economist's view into the mix, Matt catches up with Lucas Guttenberg, deputy director of the Jacques Delors Centre at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.

How green will Europe's economic revival be? Pascal Canfin, the chair of the European Parliament's environment committee, outlines what MEPs want to see from the EU's recovery plan. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron outlined their vision for that plan this week but how does the Parliament think the money should be raised and spent, particularly to help the EU meet its climate goals? Children are heading back to school in parts of Europe. But their return to the classroom isn't without concern. POLITICO's U.K. health reporter Ashleigh Furlong walks us through the latest research on how the coronavirus impacts children and examines the political and parental dilemmas over the issue.

Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European studies in the University of Oxford, doesn't mince words about the challenges — and opportunities — facing the European Union as it tries to navigate its way out of the coronavirus crisis. His Europe’s Stories project is producing some surprising findings about what young people want from the Continent's politicians. Can they rise to the challenge? The renowned historian also talks about why this is a moment of "existential" danger for the EU, why he calls today's Hungary a dictatorship and how liberals mishandled the aftermath of the Cold War. Is Europe facing a second wave of the coronavirus? POLITICO's Matthew Karnitschnig and Carmen Paun join EU Editor Andrew Gray to look at possible triggers for a new spike in infections. They also discuss the response to the pandemic in Carmen's home country of Romania. And we debate the European Commission's new war on leaks. Does the Commission have any justification for threatening charges against those who pass on information about its plans?

We turn the spotlight on World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the man at the center of a global public health crisis and a geopolitical storm. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton talks about her recent profile of Tedros and the challenges he faces over COVID-19, written together with colleague Simon Marks, who is based in the WHO leader's home country of Ethiopia. Read their article here: https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-tedros-who-doctor-making-donald-trump-queasy/ We also hear from POLITICO's Charlie Duxbury in Sweden on why the Nordic country has taken such a light-touch approach to lockdown. What does it mean for everyday life? And how do officials explain a strategy so different from others around the world and what's been the reaction at home and abroad?