EU Confidential – July 4, 2025

Episode: "Boiling in Brussels: Climate Fights and Orbán vs. Pride"

Host: Sarah Wheaton, POLITICO
Guests: Louise Guyot (Climate Reporter), Nick Vinokur (Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent), Max Guerra (EU Politics Reporter), Aitor Hernandez Morales (Cities Expert)

Episode Overview

This EU Confidential episode dives into the intense political and literal heat sweeping Europe. As record-breaking temperatures close landmarks and unleash wildfires, the European Commission unveils its ambitious 2040 climate target. The panel examines the mixed political reactions, Denmark's daunting EU Council presidency, the rise of Bjorn Seibert as the real power behind the Brussels curtain, and the latest front in the rule-of-law battle: Viktor Orbán’s attempted ban on Budapest Pride. The show closes with a report on how mayors across Europe are turning to Brussels for help on housing and climate as national governments retreat.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Europe in Crisis: Heatwave and Wildfires

• Extreme heat led to closures of the Eiffel Tower, Atomium, and wildfires across Southern and even parts of Northern Europe.
• Climate experts are attributing the frequency and intensity of these events to climate change, intensifying pressure for meaningful EU action.

2. The Commission’s 2040 Climate Target: Bold Ambition or Hollow Commitment?

The New Target & Controversial “Flexibilities”

• Louise Guyot ([05:07]): The Commission proposes a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040 compared to 1990, but with significant “flexibilities”—notably, allowing member states to offset emissions by purchasing carbon credits from non-EU countries.
  • “Some people call them loopholes. The Commission says it's flexibilities.” ([05:08] Louise Guyot)
  • This mechanism lets wealthier countries pay developing nations to reduce their emissions, which critics liken to "cheating" as it diverts investment away from domestic decarbonization ([06:47]).
• Political Rationale: Guyot explains this is a compromise engineered by the center-right, especially Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, to win over a more right-leaning Parliament and member states post-election ([07:19]).

The Danish Presidency’s Challenge

• Nick Vinokur reports from Denmark as it begins its EU Council presidency—tasked with forging consensus on both the 2040 and upcoming 2035 emission targets under a tight September deadline ([08:20]).
  • Denmark is seen as a climate ‘champion’ but its presidency will be fraught and brief.

3. Denmark's EU Council Presidency Priorities

• Nick Vinokur outlines priorities heard in meetings with Danish ministers: security (especially defense collaboration), competitiveness (with a focus on creating a Savings and Investment Union), and tough new action on migration, particularly an easier “Returns Directive” (deportations) process ([09:59], [10:47]).
  • “Returns is a nice way of saying deportations.” ([10:51] Nick Vinokur)
• There is skepticism in Brussels about passing such controversial legislation with existing majorities, raising questions about potential alliances with the far right ([11:28]).

4. Who Really Runs Brussels? The Rise of Bjorn Seibert

• Bjorn Seibert, Ursula von der Leyen’s chief of staff, emerges as a central power broker—nicknamed “the informal co-president” for his control over Commission decisions ([12:06]).
  • “Almost nothing happens in the commission without his sign off.” ([12:54] Nick Vinokur)

Centralization and Criticism

• Seibert signs off on key cabinet and policy appointments, drawing concern from even former Commission heavyweights like Michel Barnier about an "authoritarian drift" ([13:04]).
• Delays in the 2040 climate package rollout were partly to align with member state consultations, an example of his “pre-engineering” legislative proposals ([14:32] Louise Guyot).

Parliamentary Perspective

• In Parliament, Seibert is both respected for his intelligence and effectiveness, and criticized for becoming increasingly “determined to get his way” and averse to opposition ([16:29] Max Guerra).
• Seibert refused to engage with POLITICO for the profile, maintaining his “gatekeeper” mystique ([17:09]).

5. Budapest Pride: Hungary’s Culture War Test Case

Orbán’s Attempted Ban and Backlash

• Max Guerra recounts Hungary’s government’s last-minute attempt to ban the 30th Budapest Pride, leveraging anti-LGBT laws but challenged by “the green mayor” of Budapest, who registered the march as a city event to skirt the ban ([17:58]).
  • Attendance swelled to 200,000—a record for both Pride and anti-government protests ([18:46]).
  • “Even though it was a pride, it was clearly also an anti government protest.” ([19:34] Max Guerra)

Brussels’ Muted Response

• The Commission, and von der Leyen personally, only addressed the issue with a public statement shortly before the march, leading to criticism for “treading lightly” and failing to challenge Hungary more forcefully ([19:50], [21:02]).
  • National and EU politicians faced conflicting pressure: Major opposition leaders in Hungary urged MEPs not to attend to avoid fueling Orbán's “Brussels imposition” narrative ([21:18]).
  • “Look, they're coming from Brussels to really impose their woke culture, quote unquote, on us.” ([22:18] Max Guerra)

EU Strategy: Wait for Elections

• EU leadership essentially “stopped short” of sanctioning Hungary, betting on upcoming elections to change the political landscape ([22:24] Nick Vinokur).

6. Mayors to Brussels: Help on Housing and Climate!

Pan-European Urban Concerns Escalate

• Aitor Hernandez Morales details the results of the Euro Cities Pulse survey: climate change and housing are now the top two priorities of over 80 European mayors, displacing other issues ([25:04], [26:07]).
  • “Housing was the last priority. Now it is the number two priority for mayors. The only thing they are more concerned about is climate change.” ([25:26] Aitor Hernandez Morales)

Housing Crisis: Causes and Political Blame Game

• Many cities (e.g., Barcelona, Lisbon) are experimenting with bold restrictions on short-term tourist rentals to curb gentrification and spiraling local costs ([26:10]).
• Migration is often blamed for the housing crunch, but studies show it’s a red herring; the real problem is the lack of affordable housing, not a shortage of housing in general ([27:52]).
  • “Houses continue to be built across Europe... but because it's in the hands of the private sector and they're looking for the most economically lucrative options, they are catering to an upper echelon of home buyers.” ([28:13] Aitor Hernandez Morales)
• Mayors are pushing EU officials for “affordable housing” support, noting that even middle classes are being priced out ([28:54]).

Brussels Steps Up—Cautiously

• Due to EU treaty limitations, the Commission can’t directly build housing but is increasing flexibility on regional funding (up to €15 billion) for affordable housing and strengthening coordination ([29:39]).
• Dan Jørgensen (Denmark) is now the first dedicated EU Housing Commissioner, with plans for policy rollout expected next year ([29:42]).

Mayors Trust Brussels More Than Nationals

• Mayors increasingly see Brussels as a more trustworthy partner than national governments, whom they accuse of centralizing power and ignoring local needs ([32:38], [32:51]).
  • “The mayors... want the commission to see them as trusted partners, because that's the way that they see Brussels.” ([34:15] Aitor Hernandez Morales)
• Despite goodwill, direct access to EU funds remains an “impossible dream” given national governments’ control over EU budgets ([36:07]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's unbearable... yes, I'm indeed Spanish, but that doesn't mean we tolerate this crazy heat.” ([03:46] Max Guerra)
• "It's like I keep doing what I've been doing, you, third country, not in the EU—I will pay you to work even harder, and I don't have to make as big of changes." ([06:47] Nick Vinokur)
• "Bjorn Seibert is the best known person in Brussels who's incredibly influential...sometimes referred to even as the kind of informal co-president of the European Union." ([12:06] Nick Vinokur)
• “More and more, as time passes, Bjorn likes to be contradicted less and how he gets more, I wouldn't say aggressive, but perhaps more determined to get his way.” ([16:29] Max Guerra)
• “Even though it was a pride, it was clearly also an anti government protest... You would see Orbán's face everywhere and everyone was protesting against him.” ([19:34] Max Guerra)
• “Migration seems to be a bit of a red herring... It's not the case that they're actually being used either by tourists or they're being purchased as investments by sovereign wealth funds...” ([27:52] Aitor Hernandez Morales)
• “The issue is that right now it's no longer a low income issue, it's now even the middle class can't afford the houses that are being built.” ([28:54] Aitor Hernandez Morales)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Extreme Heat Crisis Intro: [00:59]–[03:46]
• 2040 Climate Target & Flexibilities Explained: [05:07]–[08:08]
• Danish Presidency’s Priorities & Migration Policy: [09:39]–[11:28]
• Inside Power: Bjorn Seibert Profile: [12:06]–[17:09]
• Budapest Pride, Orbán’s Ban, and EU’s Response: [17:58]–[22:57]
• Mayoral Urban Priorities: Housing & Climate: [25:04]–[32:38]
• Mayors’ Trust in EU > Nationals & Structural Limits: [32:38]–[37:10]

Conclusion

This episode paints a picture of a Europe under pressure—by climate, politics, and shifting power structures. It spotlights the Commission’s struggle to advance ambitious climate policy in a more right-leaning EU, the stealth influence of unelected powerbrokers like Bjorn Seibert, and the adaptive, sometimes subversive, resistance of cities and civil society in the face of authoritarian drift from Budapest to Brussels. Mayors’ urgent pleas on housing and climate underscore a growing disconnect between local needs and national priorities, raising the stakes for the EU’s future—and for everyday Europeans seeking relief from both the heat and political gridlock.