VIP is the number one podcast on Central Europe from Central Europe. Hosted by editors of the Visegrad Insight – Res Publica Foundation, Warsaw, Poland. We are the main platform of debate and analysis on Central Europe. Questions, feedback and ideas: contact@visegradinsight.eu
Polish and Spanish Foreign Ministers on Migration, EU Borders and Solidarity
From Poland’s eastern frontier with Belarus to Spain’s borders in Ceuta and Melilla, solidarity is becoming a test of Europe’s ability to deter external threats and preserve freedom within the Schengen area.At the sidelines of Warsaw Security Forum, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and José Manuel Albares Bueno, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, about what European solidarity, migration and borders.Sikorski argues that states must retain the right to control their borders and determine who enters, while Albares stresses the need to combine firm action against irregular migration and human trafficking with legal migration, development cooperation and respect for asylum and human rights.How can Europe defend its borders while remaining consistent with international law? Listen to the episode.(00:00) Teaser(00:37) Introduction(01:25) Spain and Poland's common position toward EU borders(03:16) Albares on whether Spain is ready to die for Gdansk? (04:55) Sikorski on the EU's solidarity(05:46) Sikorski on Palestine, Ukraine and accusations of double standards(07:11) Albares on protecting international law(08:13) Sikorski on what Poland wants from the EU's migration policy(10:11) Albares on Israel, asylum and legal pathwaysThis interview is a co-production of Visegrad Insight and Agenda Pública. It was conducted in Warsaw by Wojciech Przybylski , editor-in-chief of Visegrad Insight , together with Marc López Plana, editor and director of Agenda Pública.
9 Oct 2026
How Can Europe Compete with China? Time Is Running Out
Europe is becoming a central battleground in the global contest over economic security. As the US and China de-risk from one another, the EU is under growing pressure to defend its market, reduce strategic dependencies and decide how far it is willing to go in confronting Beijing.
In this episode, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Camille Boullenois, Associate Director at Rhodium Group, who argues that Europe is far from powerless. Its market size and control over key high-tech inputs give it substantial leverage, but that leverage will matter only if European governments are prepared to use it.
How far should Europe go in de-risking from China? And is Europe ready to bear the political and economic costs of a more assertive strategy? Listen to the episode.
(00:00) Introduction
(02:00) Trump, Xi and the US–China relationship
(05:55) Economic warfare and Europe’s role
(08:35) Why Europe matters for global de-risking
(12:50) China’s real GDP, slowing economy and rising exports
(14:20) Did the SOTEU deliver on Europe’s China strategy?
(17:22) How can Europe protect its industries from China?
(19:00) Can economic tools change countries’ behaviour?
(20:20) Where should Europe start using its economic toolbox?
(23:03) Does Europe have the political will?
(24:28) What to expect from Šefčovič’s visit to Beijing
(28:23) Germany’s position on China
2 Oct 2026
Can Europe Protect Its Borders Without Dividing Itself?
Europe’s borders may be thousands of kilometres apart, but the challenges they face are increasingly connected.
In this episode, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Marc Lopez Plana, editor and director of Agenda Pública, about the recent migration crisis involving Spain and Morocco, the role of social media and disinformation in amplifying political tensions, and the parallels with migration pressures experienced by Poland, Lithuania and Latvia on their borders with Belarus.
López argues that the crisis has pushed migration to the centre of Spain’s political debate ahead of the 2027 elections, while forcing the country to reconsider the strategic importance of Ceuta and Melilla and its relationship with Morocco.
What can Europe learn from crises at its borders? How can governments respond without fuelling divisions within their own societies? Listen to the episode.
00:00 Introduction 01:34 Parallels between Spain and Eastern Flank's borders02:52 What happened on the Spain–Morocco border? 07:35 Comparing Spain–Morocco and Poland–Belarus 11:25 Social media, disinformation and political polarisation 17:22 Who benefits from division in Europe? 21:00 Migration and Europe’s 2027 elections 24:49 How could Europe defend its borders?
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
4,324
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.2 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
25 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 74 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
84
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
84
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