France and Germany clash over Europe's industrial future
France and Germany disagree on how far the EU should go to shield European industry, while Brussels faces a fresh wave of shootings and Eurostar may soon get real competition on the Channel Tunnel route.
A recent Politico Europe podcast episode covers three developing European stories. The first examines a growing rift between France and Germany over the EU's industrial strategy. Paris is pushing for tougher "Made in Europe" rules to protect the bloc's manufacturers, while Berlin is wary that such measures could spark new trade disputes with other global economies. Hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss how this disagreement reflects a broader challenge facing Europe: trying to pursue a green transition, remain competitive, and keep markets open all at once.
Shootings unsettle Brussels
The second segment turns to a new wave of shootings that has unsettled Brussels. The discussion looks at the drug trade widely seen as driving much of the violence, along with links to the port of Antwerp, a known hub for drug trafficking into Europe. It also addresses the political debate over whether the Belgian capital has adequate police resources, or whether the country's fragmented policing structure — split across multiple forces — is contributing to the problem.
Possible competition for Eurostar
On a lighter note, the episode reports that Eurostar, long the sole passenger operator through the Channel Tunnel, could soon face genuine competition. Several new operators are reportedly preparing to launch services through the tunnel, a development that could bring more train frequencies and potentially cheaper fares on the Brussels-London route.
The podcast's hosts have invited listeners who witnessed the recent shootings in Brussels, or whose feelings about the city have shifted amid rising gun violence, to share their experiences via message or voice note.
