Kaja Kallas takes another hit
Summary
Kaja Kallas faces a major setback as her new EU defense expert group collapses at the last minute, fueling tensions between the Commission and the EAS. Meanwhile, Antonio Costa’s budget tour hits key capitals like Berlin and Warsaw, where friction over new EU taxes like the CBAM and e-waste fees is intensifying. The episode also explores Ukraine and Poland’s potential joint bid to host the 2040 World Cup, highlighting post-war diplomatic ambitions. Host Zoya Scaflovich and Ian Wishart discuss these developments alongside an announcement for an upcoming live podcast event.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Anthropic and Claude
Intro: Kaja Kallas, EU budget, and World Cup
Kaja Kallas' defense group launch collapses
Turf wars: Von der Leyen vs. Kallas and EAS
Political fallout: Italy, France, and Germany
Antonio Costa's tour: Berlin, Warsaw, Madrid
EU budget funding: CBAM and e-waste taxes
Contentious taxes: ETS and corporate tax
Ukraine and Poland joint World Cup bid
Brussels Playbook Live event and ratings
Sponsor: Blinds.com Labor Day sale
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