Europe is still reeling from recent drone strikes in Baltic airspace.
In a show of solidarity, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius are in Lithuania today following last week’s drone scare. Today on the Brussels Playbook Podcast, we explain the latest developments, including discussions about Baltic companies joining forces with Ukrainian companies to acquire their expertise in building bomb shelters.
Also in the discussion: Calls are growing for Europe to appoint its own mediator in the Ukraine-Russia peace talks, now that the US has backed down. Even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Europe to play a bigger role. But not everyone is convinced – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski have both raised concerns. Zoya and Nick break the discussion.
And finally, talks about the EU’s next long-term budget are heating up, with some countries protesting the proposed €1.8 trillion price tag. We explain what causes the relapse.
Should the EU spend more or less money in the next budget? Let us know what you think by messaging us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.
And don’t forget to check out the Paris Playbook Podcast. You can listen to the trailer and subscribe here.
