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In this edition, we ask if Poland’s Donald Tusk can steer Europe to safety as he takes on the rotating presidency of the EU’s Council; and whether the extraordinary interventions of Elon Musk make him the king of free speech — or a threat to democracy.
We are joined by Antonios Nestoras, founder of think tank EPIC, Dorota Bawolek, Brussels correspondent for Poland’s TVP and Euronews senior reporter Jack Schickler. In the first ‘Brussels, my love?’ episode of 2025, we look ahead to the challenges likely to be faced this year in Europe and the world.The panel looks at the implications of a new Presidency for the EU’s Council, after Warsaw took over the reins chairing ministerial meetings as of 1 January. Dorota Bawolek says the EU will be in safe hands with Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the helm.”The Polish government at the moment is the most stable one in Europe,” she said, citing a governing coalition of social democrats, liberals and the centre-right. “Europe is lucky to have Poland driving her for the next six months.”Antonios Nestoras said he’s happy to see Poland take over from Hungary, and welcomes Warsaw’s pledge to “make Europe strong again”.”If the EU cannot provide security, then what the hell are we doing here?”, he said. The panel also reacted to Elon Musk’s fervent support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in upcoming elections, and his attacks on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Jack Schickler called it an “extraordinary intervention”. “Russia isn’t the only place with oligarchs: the US has some of its own,” he said, though “I doubt that we’ll see sanctions”.Antonios Nestoras says Elon Musk has a brilliant mind but should stay out of politics. “He is really naïve if he thinks that the twentieth century divisive politics that AfD stands for is the solution for the future that can save Germany,” he said. “None of the European countries can be saved by themselves: we need Europe”. Watch ‘Brussels, my love?’ in the player above.
