Moldova’s parliamentary election will steer the country towards either the EU or Russia. Whatever the outcome, it is a chance for Europeans to understand Putin’s disinformation playbook, write Leo Litra and @gvalodskaite.bsky.social @ecfreuropeansec.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4mxkXQ3

J.D. Vance is shaping up to be America’s most influential vice president since Dick Cheney—but that’s where the similarities between them end, writes Majda Ruge https://bit.ly/47TZxsQ

Today, Moldova is gearing up to elect its next parliament in September that will see it through until 2029—the eve of the country’s possible EU accession, writes Andrew Wilson @ecfreuropeansec.bsky.social https://bit.ly/46FJ9K8

🎤 Join us! 📆 29 Sep, 12:00 CEST 📍 Online Africa’s critical mineral reserves have become central to a new era of geopolitical competition. Our panel will explore the risks and opportunities for investment and climate alignment @ecfrafrica.bsky.social 🔗 👇 https://bit.ly/48wt4cg

🎧 Why does Europe’s changing geopolitical role appeal to New Delhi? Why is non-alignment and multi-alignment crucial in understanding India’s foreign policy? And are India-US relations wrecked for the foreseeable future? Listen to our new podcast episode 👇 https://bit.ly/4my7PKE

Moldova votes tomorrow! The research conducted by re-Engage revealed a few valuable insights: 1️⃣ Moldovans perceive the EU very positively 2️⃣ However, they are unaware of the EU's reform projects and funds 3️⃣ It is unsure if their support for the EU will translate to the support of Maia Sandu's party

Europe has explicitly committed to supporting more mineral processing and value addition taking place in African mineral-rich countries. Join our webinar to learn what Europe offers compared to other powers seeking access to African critical minerals 👇 @ecfrasia.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4mhMCEE

European leaders face conflicting pressures. But once they accept this is all part of the culture war—and the target is “Europe”—they will find a few new options open up, writes @pawelzerka.bsky.social @ecfrpower.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3It7gns

Considering the scale of the challenge facing Moldova’s democracy, more will be needed to ensure Russian interference has minimal impact, writes Andrew Wilson @ecfreuropeansec.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4ly0B9s

Clément Beaune, Chief Commissioner, Haut-commissariat à la Stratégie et au Plan, France, on the challenges underlying NATO members' pledges to increase defence spending. Click to watch the full panel 'Boosting European security through coalitions of the willing' #ACM25: https://bit.ly/3Uvd4z2

While European politicians are busy trading smears around green policy, Beijing has consistently viewed climate not as ideology, but as a lever of industrial power, writes @byfordt.bsky.social @ecfrasia.bsky.social https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ

🎧 On Friday, Mark Leonard, together with his guests, examined how India’s changing foreign policy sees it balancing its position between China, Russia and the US, while discovering new opportunities in Europe. https://bit.ly/4my7PKE

With less (or no) American capability and capacity, the costs and trade-offs Europeans face are exacerbated, writes @rafaelloss.bsky.social @ecfreuropeansec.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4nl9m7P

Europe should view Moldova as a testing ground for its own resilience, with the election offering Brussels valuable insight into the tactics, tools and impact of Moscow’s operations, write Leo Litra and @gvalodskaite.bsky.social @ecfreuropeansec.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4mxkXQ3

#UNGA80 🧵 1/ Iran and European powers are deadlocked at UNGA in last-ditch efforts to prevent snapback of UN sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear program. Here are some key takeaways from our senior policy fellow Ellie Geranmayeh from @ecfrmena.bsky.social 📸picture alliance / SIPA | JEANNE ACCORSINI

European luxury brands have lost their pull among Chinese consumers—and the change is not just down to economics, writes Sonia Li @ecfrasia.bsky.social https://bit.ly/481DIrt

China's new climate target is inadequate. But as the EU mulls over their own climate goals, it'd be a mistake to view China’s low target as a sign Beijing is de-prioritising climate and clean tech.

Ivan Krastev, Chairman, Centre for Liberal Strategies Sofia, at ECFR's Annual Council Meeting 2025 #ACM25 on the evolving role of social media and messaging platforms. Watch the full talk here: https://bit.ly/4lJG01s

Europeans should understand that China views climate policy not as ideology—but as a lever of industrial power, writes @byfordt.bsky.social @ecfrasia.bsky.social https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ

Going into today's Moldovan election, PAS wants an absolute majority to be able to pass the non-stop legislation required for EU accession. If they can achieve this, it would be possible to finalise the EU negotiating process in 2028, writes Andrew Wilson @ECFREuropeanSec https://bit.ly/46pfCUX

As advocated by @hugodixon.bsky.social, @nathalieloiseau.bsky.social and Lee Buchheit for @ecfr.eu back in July! ecfr.eu/article/ukra...

Moldova’s parliamentary election is a barometer of regional democracy. Its outcome could reshape EU enlargement, regional security, and the balance of power with Russia, writes Jessica Hendrick in re-Engage https://bit.ly/4pHZ9UA

🎧 New week, new episode of our podcast This week, Mark Leonard welcomes @jamescrabtree.bsky.social and Suhasini Haidar to explore India’s foreign policy and its emerging relations with Europe https://bit.ly/4my7PKE

🚨Emergency podcast🚨 Mark Leonard was joined by @rikefranke.bsky.social to unpack the recent wave of drone incursions across European airspace, and discuss what these hybrid threats reveal about Russian tactics and NATO’s readiness ecfr.eu/podcasts/epi...

Interview with me in @spiegel.de www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft...

John Sawers, Former Head of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), on the future of European security and the importance of NATO in a renewed period of American isolationism at this year's Annual Council Meeting #ACM25 https://bit.ly/3Uvd4z2

The 2028 US election remains a long way off. But it is not too early for Europeans to start preparing for the possibility of a J.D. Vance presidency, writes Majda Ruge https://bit.ly/47TZxsQ

Join the livestream of our panel discussion @warsawforum.bsky.social next week. We will explore Africa's role in the global geoeconomic power play. 📌 Mon, 29 Sep, 12:00 CEST 🎤 Vera Songwe, Kayode Fayemi, @joaocravinho.bsky.social, James Kenny, Maddalena Procopio #WSF2025 @ecfr.eu

What exactly is a middle power? Is India a middle power? Why is India so important for Europe? 🎤 Join our webinar today to find the answers! 📆 25 Sep, 16:00 CEST 📍 Zoom 🔗 https://bit.ly/42yHhSd @ecfrasia.bsky.social @jamescrabtree.bsky.social

We will be in Warsaw next week for the @warsawforum.bsky.social. You can follow our panel discussion online via the livestream in the below link. 👇

🌏 What are the primary threats to undersea cables in today’s security environment and how can Europe & the Indo-Pacific work together to enhance monitoring & protection of this infrastructure? These questions were addressed at panel III of our Manilna conference. @ecfr.eu @jamescrabtree.bsky.social

📰 "[Recognition of a Palestinian state] should be seen as the trajectory of travel. We may not get there tomorrow, but the trajectory is clear" commented @hlovatt.bsky.social for Deutsche Welle 👇 buff.ly/rApxpIO

By uniting to stand up for their values and step out of America’s shadow, the EU and European countries can show they are not props on Trump’s soundstage, but autonomous actors in transatlantic and global politics, writes @pawelzerka.bsky.social @ecfrpower.bsky.social https://bit.ly/48xylAg

#UNGA80 🧵 1/ Today, Mahmoud Abbas virtually joins #UNGA80. On Sunday, Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal recognized a Palestinian state. What can we expect from Germany? 🔗https://www.dw.com/en/germany-uk-france-say-gaza-humanitarian-crisis-must-end/live-73407430

🎤 Join us! 📆 25 Sep, 16:00 CEST 📍 Zoom Donald Trump’s renewed attacks on India have prompted New Delhi to reassess its diplomatic strategy. Our webinar will explore how India’s hedging strategy is evolving, and what this means for Europe @ecfrasia.bsky.social 🔗 👇 https://bit.ly/42yHhSd

J.D. Vance is shaping up to be America’s most influential vice president since Dick Cheney—but that’s where the similarities between them end, writes Majda Ruge https://bit.ly/47TZxsQ

🇲🇩 #Moldova votes this weekend. What we’re watching for: How Moldovans weigh EU aspirations against domestic dissatisfaction.👇 #MoldovaElections #AlegeriMoldova #MoldovanElections #Moldova2025 #VoteMoldova

🎤 Join us! 📆 29 Sep, 12:00 CEST 📍 Online Africa’s critical mineral reserves have become central to a new era of geopolitical competition. Our panel will explore the risks and opportunities for investment and climate alignment @ecfrafrica.bsky.social 🔗 👇 https://bit.ly/48wt4cg

Yesterday, in Brussels, we launched the European Sentiment Compass 2025, an annual project by ECFR and the @euroculture.bsky.social . The event brought an insightful discussion on Trump's culture war in Europe, and gave directions on how to win it. 🔗 to the debate: shorturl.at/ki5Pe 📸Chris Marchal

Despite US tariffs, China's global exports are reaching record-high levels • Surge in exports to other markets than the US puts Beijing on track for record trade surplus of >US$1.2trn this year • Data show how Chinese exporters have swiftly managed to reroute shipments to other markets than America

This really is very good

🦛Hippos may look calm, but their unpredictable and ferocious charges make them the deadliest mammals alive. Trump’s 2nd term feels the same for Europe. @agathedemarais.bsky.social @ecfr.eu explains how the EU can channel its “inner naturalist” to manage it: foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/24/e...

Just like hippopotamuses, Trump's policies are unpredictable, fast-changing and baffling - in my latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com I argue that to try and manage Trump, EU leaders can channel their inner naturalists and draw five lessons from wild hippo encounters

Our fellows Maddalena Procopio and Corrado Čok argue that the #EU should focus on achieving what the #Gulf cannot: industrial development in #Africa that serves both African and European interests. @ecfr.eu Find their policy alert here 👇📢

1/ 🧵 #UNGA80 can be historic - if it brings together Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, writes Ellie Geranmayeh, Deputy Director of ECFR's MENA programme in Foreign Policy foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/03/s...

Europe is stuck in a Truman Show, and Trump’s America is in the director’s chair. Like Truman, Europe’s leaders now spend their days dealing with dramas largely not of their making, writes @pawelzerka.bsky.social @ecfrpower.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3VxF9X7

Will the EU ever have a drone wall on its eastern border? Tiago Antunes, ECFR's Associate Senior Fellow, discussed security during our online debate, aiming to unpack von der Leyen’s 2025 State of the Union speech. 🔗 https://bit.ly/41FGP4i

There are decisions to be made in Europe that cannot wait. There are major challenges we need to confront, such as digital security and energy, as well as showing assertivity to the current US administration, said @pawelzerka.bsky.social yesterday at the launch of ESC 2025 @euroculture.bsky.social

🎤Tune in! The panel discussion on how Trump's culture war is changing Europe starts shortly. Watch the debate to find out what would it take for Europe not just to fight this war — but to win it? m.youtube.com/@TheECFchannel