The Eurofile

Max sits down with David Marsh, co-founder and chairman of the OMFIF economic research group and former Financial Times Europe editor, to discuss his new book Can Europe Survive? The Story of a Continent in a Fractured World. They discuss how the European project, the Euro, and Brexit have affected transatlantic relations, and what it would mean for Europe to prosper, not just survive, as a global...

Max and Donatienne discuss the World Cup kickoff, the G7 summit, European Council meeting, and the early steps of Hungary's new government under Péter Magyar. This is Donatienne’s final episode as a co-host of The Eurofile, marking her transition away from CSIS to a new position in Washington. We will miss her dearly and thank her for three incredible years with the team! Keep up with Donatienne v...

Max and Donatienne sit down with Tom McTague, Editor in Chief at the New Statesman and author of Between the Waves: The Hidden History of a Very British Revolution 1945–2016, to discuss how the history of EU-UK relations set up this split, the state of British-EU relations today, and what has or has not changed in politics since 2016.Mentioned: Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of...

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 erep@csis.org  If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscri...

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 b...

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) ...

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 Steinbe...

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: erep@csis.org   X: @csiserep   Bluesky: @erep.csis.org Learn more: Russian R...

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)...

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...

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)...

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 Blanch...

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 R...

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 Lea...

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) Greenla...

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, Act...

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 f...

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 an...

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 Steinbe...

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 distinguis...

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...