The Board of Peace, EU edition

The Board of Peace, EU edition

From Brussels Playbook Podcast by POLITICO

April 20, 2026 · 13 min · Episode 39

About this episode

The episode discusses high-level EU summits focusing on foreign affairs, particularly the situation in Gaza and its implications for EU-Israel relations.

This week's agenda is brimming with high-level summits and meetings on foreign affairs. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, kicks it all off by focusing minds on Gaza. Today Kallas hosts back-to-back events to promote a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. Ian and Nick discuss how the EU is using the occasion to position itself as an authority on the future of Gaza and present an alternative worldview to Donald Trump's. Plus, they explain how Viktor Orbán's defeat in the recent Hungarian election could impact EU-Israel relations. Later, we unpack the key issues to be discussed at this week’s summit of EU leaders in Cyprus, and the potential knock-on effect it could have on the beleaguered tourism industry. Last, the EU is celebrating its birthday on the wrong day, according to some. Nick sets the record straight. Does your country have a culinary delicacy whose name resembles that of one of our hosts? If so, contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Ian, Nick

Topics covered

  • EU foreign affairs
  • Gaza
  • two-state solution
  • EU-Israel relations
  • Hungarian election
  • EU leaders summit
  • tourism industry

Keywords

  • EU
  • Gaza
  • Kaja Kallas
  • Viktor Orbán
  • two-state solution
  • Hungary
  • Cyprus
  • tourism

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian territories, Hungary, Cyprus

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