The EU's energy dilemma

Brussels Playbook Podcast

POLITICO

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.4 • 204 Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Energy markets are on edge as Iran tensions disrupt shipping and threaten supply shocks. EU foreign ministers and energy ministers meet in Brussels to discuss what the bloc can actually do to protect global energy flows — and whether it has the tools to act. Meanwhile, Norway is positioning itself as a reliable energy lifeline as the geopolitical turmoil puts security of supply back in focus. And the U.K.'s Brexit minister is in town as the EU asks Britain to lower the tuition fees it charges students from the bloc before Brussels and London can move forward with a "Brexit reset." Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson break it all down. If you have questions for us, or want to share your thoughts on the show, you can reach us on our WhatsApp at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	What I've dedicated my life to is revenge.
0:04.7	A brand new drama based on the best-selling novel.
0:07.5	They think they're better than us?
0:08.5	Who do you think you are?
0:09.8	I'm going to prove to them that they're wrong.
0:11.5	She's punishing me.
0:13.0	You destroyed my family.
0:14.3	I will not rest until I've destroyed yours.
0:17.0	A woman of substance on Channel 4 starts tonight at 9.
0:20.4	Good morning. It's Monday, March 16, and this is the Brussels Playbook podcast.
0:30.9	The vibe in town today is shaky, with EU foreign and energy ministers meeting in Brussels
0:36.8	as tension around the war in Iran
0:38.7	and the strait of home was rattle energy markets and global shipping. Can Europe keep those
0:44.0	sea lanes open or is this going to be another crisis where the EU is just watching from the
0:47.8	sidelines? Also on the pod today, Norway campaigns to be Europe's energy lifeline, and the UK's Brexit
0:55.6	minister is in town as a dispute over tuition fees casts a poll over the Brexit reset.
1:03.0	I'm Zoya Shadolovic, and with me today is Catherine Carson, our senior finance reporter.
1:07.2	Hey, Katie.
1:08.1	Hi, Zoya. Did you have a nice weekend?
1:09.7	I did. I was in snowy, lovely Oslo,
1:12.4	where, well, okay, to be fair, fact check, it didn't literally snow, but there was snow on the
1:17.5	ground. What about you? Did you have a nice weekend? I did have a nice weekend. I was in Rome.
	...

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