Podcast Summary: Brussels Playbook Podcast

Episode Title: Europe edges toward a multi-speed future
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Zoya Sheftalovich (POLITICO’s chief EU correspondent)
Guest: Nick Vinicour (POLITICO’s chief foreign affairs correspondent)
Theme:
This episode explores Europe’s increasingly fragmented trajectory as a “multi-speed” union, the nuances behind EU-US relations following the Munich Security Conference, the formation of an ambitious group of six major EU economies (the “E6” or “S Club 6”), and a look at Brussels’ political breakthrough with its new regional government.

Main Topics and Insights

1. The Munich Security Conference: EU Skepticism over US Outreach

• Key Segment: [01:05] – [04:41]
  • Overview:
    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio replaced the absent Vice President at Munich, delivering a speech heavy on shared history and calls for a revitalized transatlantic friendship. Despite a warm reception in the room, European diplomats and politicians remained unconvinced of a genuine reset.
  • Insight:
    The apparent olive branch masked consistent US expectations that Europe “needs saving” from progressive policies and immigration, reinforcing an ongoing split.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “This was an early valentine for Europe. Marco Rubio peppered his speech with references to a shared history. He said he wants to see a stronger Europe, to revitalize the friendship. The tone was far softer than what Vance has said, but the underlying message was still pretty similar. The west is facing civilizational decline…”
      – Nick Vinicour [01:48]
    • “There might have been a standing O in the room, but that's not what I was getting in my WhatsApp messages… loads of diplomats coming through and saying: ‘Hey, actually this is more of the same.’”
      – Zoya Sheftalovich [02:20]
    • “Ursula von der Leyen praised Rubio, saying she was reassured by the speech. But you also had Finnish president Alexander Stubb saying the substance hadn't changed and pointing to MAGA ideology as a big divider…”
      – Nick Vinicour [03:17]
    • “Kaia Kallas...pushing back on the idea that Europe needs saving. She said, ‘contrary to what some may say, woke decadent Europe is not facing civilizational erasure...’”
      – Nick Vinicour [03:45]
  • Memorable Moment:
    Rubio’s immediate trip to Budapest, interpreted as support for Viktor Orbán, highlighted US engagement with “troublesome” segments of Europe.

2. Strategic Questions: Europe’s Nuclear Deterrent and China

• Key Segment: [04:14] – [07:05]
  • Overview:
    The specter of European security autonomy is rising, with Germany’s Friedrich Merz proposing discussions on France sharing its nuclear deterrent—a move Latvia, Estonia, and Sweden are open to; but Spain remains resistant. Simultaneously, anxiety mounts over China’s growing impact on European industry.
  • Insight:
    There’s a serious possibility that the EU may pursue an independent nuclear deterrence, especially if US reliability continues to waver. Economic fears, notably job losses from Chinese competition, are pushing a more hawkish stance.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “France, which is the only nuclear power in the European Union, could share its nuclear deterrent with other European countries… that would be a very big shift indeed.”
      – Nick Vinicour [04:41]
    • “Clement Boon...gave me a very hawkish interview about China… He cited the number of 10,000 industrial job losses per month in Germany that are being lost due to increasingly high quality exports from China.”
      – Nick Vinicour [06:06]
  • Memorable Moment:
    Clement Boon’s proposal of a 30% tariff on some Chinese imports—“the first time I'd heard that spoken on the record”—signals the possibility of much tougher EU economic policies ahead.

3. The Emergence of the E6 (“S Club 6”): Toward a Multi-Speed EU

• Key Segment: [07:05] – [11:12]
  • Overview:
    As the Eurogroup meets in Brussels, an informal bloc of six major economies (France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Netherlands) is forming to drive forward reforms, especially the long-stalled Capital Markets Union.
  • Insight:
    This “tugboat” approach, aiming to draw the rest of the EU along, illustrates the practicality of a “coalition of the willing.” Ursula von der Leyen and others are supportive, suggesting the EU should “not be moving at the pace of the slowest.” However, procedural hurdles remain: enhanced cooperation requires nine countries, not six.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “The idea...was to be a kind of tugboat for Europe pulling the tanker, the tanker being the other 21 countries of the European Union…”
      – Nick Vinicour [07:44]
    • “S Club 6, Seal Team 6, whatever you might want to call it… One of [the reforms] is the Capital Markets Union. This is something that has been attempted again and again in E27 format, and it's always failed…”
      – Nick Vinicour [08:42]
    • “The idea being that the people who want to move faster and be ambitious can move faster and be ambitious. Everyone else can watch and then maybe they'll join, maybe they won't.”
      – Zoya Sheftalovich [09:29]
  • Memorable Moment:
    Zoya’s analogy between the “tugboat” group and Rotterdam’s “hot tugs” brings levity to a technical topic—“Turn on your family filter!” [08:40]
  • Caveats:
    • Enhanced cooperation under EU rules requires nine countries, so six is insufficient.
    • Fears from excluded states that decisions are being “pre-cooked.”

4. Brussels Regional Government: Surprise Breakthrough

• Key Segment: [11:12] – [12:51]
  • Overview:
    After 613 days of negotiations, Brussels finally has a new regional coalition government, forcing Zoya to “eat her hat” after she previously dismissed the prospect (“maybe he was listening to the podcast and needed to prove me wrong”).
  • Details:
    • New Minister-President: Boris Dillies (Reformist Movement)
    • Core Challenge: Closing a €1 billion budget deficit by 2029, possibly via savings, merging administrative functions, and new taxes.
    • The government is also seeking EU funds for infrastructural renovations.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “They've got a coalition deal. It's pretty interesting because they're going to face some pretty significant challenges—the main one being a budget deficit of over a billion euro.”
      – Zoya Sheftalovich [11:44]
    • “Boris Dillies...his main task is going to be the budget. As you said, there's a deficit of over a billion euros.”
      – Nick Vinicour [12:01]

5. Community Engagement & European Calendar

• Key Segment: [13:07] – [14:05]
  • Engagement:
    Listener Valentine’s messages, including a charming note from Amelia about her boyfriend, a Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs intern ([13:07]).
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “This good looking intern happens to be my very own boyfriend...and is the only person I can think of for Valentine's Day.”
      – Amelia, listener [13:21]
  • Celebrations:
    • Birthday wishes for Portuguese PM Montenegro and Swedish MEP Tobias Tobé.
    • Note of Lithuania’s Restoration of the State Day, with Parliament President Roberta Metsola attending in Vilnius.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Transatlantic Relations:
  • “The west is facing civilizational decline due to ill designed policies from the climate cults in quote marks and mass migration and it needs saving from itself.” – Nick Vinicour [01:57]
• On European “Supergroups”:
  • “The idea...was to be a kind of tugboat for Europe pulling the tanker, the tanker being the other 21 countries of the European Union…” – Nick Vinicour [07:44]
• On Resistance to ‘Multi-speed’ Europe:
  • “The fear there is, well, you get together as this group of six big economies, you're going to pre-cook the decisions before we get a chance to discuss them at 27. That's not the spirit of the EU.” – Nick Vinicour [10:48]
• On Brussels Government Breakthrough:
  • “It took them 613 days. They've got a coalition deal. It's pretty interesting because they're going to face some pretty significant challenges.” – Zoya Sheftalovich [11:44]

Key Timestamps

• US-EU Frictions & Munich Recap: [01:05] – [04:41]
• European Security and China: [04:14] – [07:05]
• Rise of EU Big Six Bloc: [07:44] – [11:12]
• Brussels Regional Politics: [11:12] – [12:51]
• Listener Messages & Celebrations: [13:07] – [14:05]

Tone and Language

Conversational, lightly humorous, yet analytical. Zoya and Nick draw on inside reporting, political color, and relatable anecdotes (like “hot tugs” and eating hats) to keep the coverage vibrant and accessible.

Conclusion

This episode offers behind-the-scenes clarity on key junctions in European politics:

• The uneasy recalibration of EU-US relations as American rhetoric softens—but not fundamentally changes—with Secretary Rubio’s speech.
• The reality of a “multi-speed Europe” with the big economies forming their own vanguard group, challenging both EU unity and its decision processes.
• The ongoing anxiety about global economic competitiveness, especially regarding China—and Europe’s willingness, at least rhetorically, to play geopolitical hardball.
• Local color with the dramatic resolution of Brussels’ own coalition puzzle.

A must-listen for anyone tracking EU dynamics at both the continental and city level.