Brussels Playbook Podcast: "Europe Braces for an Energy Crisis"

Date: March 10, 2026
Host: Zoya Sheftalovich (B), with Nick Vinocur (C), POLITICO’s Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Overview

In this episode, Zoya Sheftalovich and guest Nick Vinocur delve into Europe’s escalating energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran and discuss whether EU leaders have absorbed the lessons from the 2022 crisis. The episode also features a scoop on an attempted political reconciliation between two of the European Parliament’s biggest factions, and a lighter segment on which Belgian city is now officially the country’s “happiest.” The engaging, conversational tone offers clarity and wit on the major issues moving Brussels today.

1. Europe’s Energy Crisis Redux (00:35–06:51)

Context:

The war in Iran has sent energy prices surging, eliciting memories of the 2022 crisis post-Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Key Points & Insights:

• Impact of War in Iran:
  • The Strait of Hormuz, critical for 20% of the world's oil, is essentially closed due to Tehran’s threats.
  • Oil and gas production in the Gulf is disrupted by missile and drone attacks, drastically impacting European energy prices. (02:02)
• Price Surge:
  • Oil surpassed $100/barrel; gas price increased above €60 per megawatt hour—levels not seen since the 2022 crisis, though not yet at its peak. (02:28)
  • 67% of the EU’s energy is still fossil fuel-based and most of it is imported, leaving the bloc notably vulnerable. (02:57)

Notable Quotes:

• “Despite the fact we've had four years to prepare for another crisis like this, leaders are scrambling to respond.” — Zoya Sheftalovich (01:58)
• “Oil being driven up is actually giving [Putin] way more money to continue waging war on Ukraine. So this is really bad news for Europe.” — Zoya (03:05)

The European Response:

• G7 countries are prepared to release emergency oil reserves (03:26).
• President Macron plans to send naval escorts to the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels—signaling high-level prioritization.
• The European Commission may invoke solidarity measures, such as joint gas purchases and financial support post-disasters, but practical challenges persist: "Countries don’t buy gas, companies do." — Zoya (04:19)

Strategic & Political Fallout:

• Energy crisis has recharged (pun intended) calls for rapid renewable energy deployment, even as political divides (notably from the EPP) threaten the Green Deal’s future. (05:02)
  • "The new chair of the Parliament’s Environment Committee told our colleague Zia Visa that the Iran war shows the Green Deal is fundamental to EU security." — Nick (05:20)
• Ursula von der Leyen is set to unveil a plan to tackle energy prices at the next European Council summit. (05:48)
• High living costs are empowering both far-left and far-right parties across the EU. Viktor Orbán is leveraging the crisis to argue against quitting Russian energy, while the U.S. (under Trump) considers sanction relief on Russian oil via India to stabilize markets. (06:31–06:51)

2. EU Political “Dinner Diplomacy” (07:08–10:49)

Context:

Efforts are underway to mend the frayed relationship between Manfred Weber (EPP) and Iraqa Garcia (S&D)—the Parliament’s top center-right and center-left leaders.

Key Points:

• Unlikely Dinner Date:
  • Weber and Garcia, with 10 deputies, dined at Strasbourg’s Leonor Hotel to patch things up after a year of public disputes and “cordon sanitaire” breaches by the EPP. (07:13)
  • "When do you not bring 10 people for an intimate dinner date?" — Nick (07:43)
• Deep Political Rift:
  • Disputes date back to 2019, when Garcia and the Liberals blocked Weber’s bid for Commission president, souring trust.
  • They've clashed over working with the far-right to pass legislation—an "original sin" for the S&D. (08:24)
• Consequences for Ursula von der Leyen:
  • If the S&D pulls support, von der Leyen’s Commission presidency could be at risk. “If the S&D swings against her, that could happen. And that would be an earthquake in political terms.” — Nick (09:54)
  • Both parties admit trust likely won’t be restored—residual “toxic exes” vibes linger. (08:18–10:14)

3. Brussels Named Belgium’s “Happiest” City (10:57–11:58)

Context:

A surprising result from Belgium’s National Happiness Survey for 2026.

Key Details:

• Brussels, with a score of 6.62/10, tops the national list, though “doesn’t seem that happy.” (11:17)
  • “It’s pretty mediocre. So I’m wondering…how miserable [other cities] are. They must be really in bad shape.” — Nick (11:25)
• Flanders outscored Wallonia—no surprise to locals.
• Overall, happiness scores have declined since 2020, post-COVID optimism having faded.

4. Listeners’ Idiom Hall of Fame (12:01–14:10)

Community Segment:

The hosts share favorite multicultural idioms submitted by listeners:

Highlights:

• “Now the boiled pig is fried” (Swedish): Shared by listener Eric; means “when something’s gone terribly wrong”—though even Swedish Nick hasn’t heard it! (12:27–12:42)
• Italian & Russian idioms about tastes: From Nicola in Italy: Italians say, “there are those who like to go smashing their butts on cliffs” (colorfully meaning “different strokes for different folks”), with a Russian equivalent “for taste and color, there are no friends.” (13:07–13:38)

Zoya: “Frankly, it sounds like it’s gone terribly right to me because I would always rather a fried pig than a boiled one.” (12:42)

5. Closing Banter & Listener Call-Outs (13:38–14:38)

• Hosts encourage listeners (especially from Malta) to send in local idioms via WhatsApp.
• Zoya: “The word of mouth is the best way to get people to listen to our podcast. Nick, have you been telling your friends?”
  Nick: “Everyone. They’ve asked me to stop telling them.” (14:10)
• Ends with upbeat rapport, inviting continued audience engagement.

Most Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Zoya on déjà vu:
  "It's all starting to feel a bit like 2022. But the question is, have we learned any lessons from that Russian invasion of Ukraine?" (00:30)
• Nick on the “intimate” dinner:
  “When do you not bring 10 people for an intimate dinner date?” (07:43)
• Survey skepticism:
  “It’s pretty mediocre. So I’m wondering about the other cities and how miserable they are." — Nick (11:25)
• Idiom breakdown:
  “Now the boiled pig is fried… Frankly, it sounds like it’s gone terribly right to me.” — Zoya (12:42)

Key Takeaways

• Europe faces a renewed energy crisis driven by external conflict, with political, economic, and diplomatic reverberations.
• EU parliamentary politics remain fractious, risking high-level instability if alliances fracture.
• Cost-of-living pressures and energy insecurity are stoking populist movements.
• Belgian happiness is… relative. And idioms, as always, delight.

For more listener idioms or to contact the hosts, find the Brussels Playbook Podcast on WhatsApp (number in show notes).