Europe’s Big Five meet in Berlin, EU pushes controversial migrant return plan
France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Poland gather today in Berlin to prepare for the NATO summit and discuss Ukraine support. Meanwhile, the EU moves forward with a contentious agreement to transfer rejected asylum seekers to detention centers outside the bloc.
Europe’s biggest military powers – France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland, known as the E5 (not to be confused with the E3) – are meeting today in Berlin. The aim is to prepare for next month’s NATO summit and discuss continued support for Ukraine. The hosts of the Brussels Playbook Podcast, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart, explore what such smaller meeting formats mean for the EU as a whole.
Separately, the EU has reached a new agreement on migrant return laws. Under the new rules, individuals ordered to leave EU territory could be transferred to detention centers in countries outside the bloc. The plan is highly contentious but moving forward quickly, with member states floating potential countries to house these so-called “return hubs.”
The episode also delves into the ongoing heatwave in Europe, with senior climate reporter Zia Weise explaining why temperatures are so high. Additionally, a message from Team Poland promotes the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdańsk, highlighting efforts to drive sustainable growth across Europe.
