The OMFIF Podcast Can Europe Survive?: Light at the end of the tunnel
Oct 15, 2025
David Marsh, Chairman of OMFIF and author, dives deep into Europe’s precarious geopolitical landscape. He examines Germany's energy blunders with Russia and the evolution of Franco-German relations, highlighting rising tensions and electoral shifts. Marsh critiques the ECB's dual role of promoting unity and sowing division, while outlining Europe’s six structural challenges. He suggests that Europe must embrace a project-based approach to cooperation and reflects on the continent’s future resilience through potential US partnerships.
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Toilet Paper And A Joke At Brisbane
- Vladimir Putin brought his own toilet paper to the 2014 G20 in Brisbane because he feared poisoning.
- Jean-Claude Juncker joked about Luxembourg's army during talks, and Putin reportedly laughed.
German Dependence On Russian Gas
- Germany built deep energy dependence on Russia over decades with little risk management.
- Ending Russian gas imports pushed Germany to costlier sources, hurting industry competitiveness.
ECB's Hole At Europe's Heart
- The euro is a functioning monetary union inside an incomplete political and fiscal structure.
- The ECB will likely expand into quasi-fiscal roles to prop up states and transmission of policy.
