In this special live edition of the podcast Café Europa, Annette van Soest and Stefan de Vries, together with their guests, dive into the turning points of this turbulent European year. While the U.S., China, and Russia battle for political, economic, and military power, Brussels watches from the sidelines. Will we remain a plaything of the great powers? Or will Europe finally dare to take matters into its own hands? And is that even possible, now that we are becoming increasingly divided?
CAFÉ EUROPA EINDEJAARSSHOW
Thursday 11 December 2025
The grinding war in Ukraine, a trade war with Trump, and governments in crisis over the divisions surrounding Gaza. Europe coaxed, twisted, and became paralyzed in 2025: can we still hold our ground amid the growing geopolitical chaos?
Together with Ukraine expert Bob Deen, political commentator Arjan Noorlander, VVD Member of the European Parliament Malik Azmani, and Volt MEP Anna Strolenberg, we also look ahead to 2026. Should we prepare for a direct confrontation with Putin? And what does a new Dutch government want with Europe?
-
Annette van Soest is host of Café Europa and presenter for, among others, Haagsch College and Follow the Money
-
Stefan de Vries is a Europe correspondent for BNR Nieuwsradio and a freelance journalist for, among others, Haagsch College
-
Bob Deen is Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute and specializes in Defense and Eastern Europe
-
Arjan Noorlander is a political commentator for Nieuwsuur and former correspondent in Brussels
-
Malik Azmani is the VVD’s leader in the European Parliament and part of the liberal group (Renew Europe)
-
Anna Strolenberg is a Member of the European Parliament for Volt and part of the Greens/European Free Alliance group
The podcast Café Europa is an initiative of Haagsch College and Studio Europa Maastricht. This live edition is made possible with the support of the European Parliament.
