So what the hell just happened? Two things: Ukraine will get 90 billion euros. And Orbán did not veto that even though he could have. How so? Short thread:

The European Council today is make-or-break for Ukraine’s financing. The bloc is racing to unlock a €210bn Ukraine reparations loan using frozen Russian assets.

D-Day for Europe to shore up Ukraine funding. As EU leaders huddle in Brussels, Stephen Paduano and I analyse the reparations loan in a new piece. This is not only a "There Is No Alternative" (TINA) moment—but the financial and legal risks are also manageable. 1/ www.cer.eu/insights/ukr...

Ukraine's security is Europe's security. Helping UA is not a burden for EU members, it's the necessary & urgent thing to do as they are protecting us by fighting Russia. Unbelievable that almost 4 years into full-blown conflict, consequences of European flip-flopping are not evident to EU leaders.

As some EU leaders lose sight of the big picture in Russia’s war of aggression, reminder of 2 of my pieces: this on consequences if Ukraine loses: www.cer.eu/publications... ; & this on what Europe must do to ensure it doesn't: www.cer.eu/publications.... Only change: funding UA is now more urgent.

@elisabettaco.bsky.social from the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social joins The Jolt @foresight-ce.bsky.social to discuss the new paper she's co-authored on Europe’s #cleantech sector. buff.ly/a9KoPG6

Great to talk to @kirataylor.bsky.social about our paper on the challenges for European clean tech: listen to our chat on the Foresight Jolt podcast (a must listen, always!): foresightmedia.com/story/srolvn...

News from the best EU economic policy collaboration in town with @bertelsmannst.bsky.social and @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social. This time @elisabettaco.bsky.social, @etiennehoera.d-64.social, @lucas-res-car.bsky.social and @ph-jaeg.bsky.social look into cleantech challenges and how to tackle them.

Europe’s clean tech industry is caught between US tariffs and Chinese overcapacity, and EU producers are in trouble. A new policy brief by @etiennehoera.d-64.social, @lucas-res-car.bsky.social, @elisabettaco.bsky.social, & @ph-jaeg.bsky.social plots a path forward ➡️ bst-europe.eu/competitiven...

If the EU doesn‘t want to become a (high-carbon) industrial museum, the time to act is now.There‘s a lot of pressure from tariffs and Chinese production, but EU clean tech has every chance to survive and thrive through this if supported by the right policies. We also show that this varies by sector.

EU clean tech is under pressure: in the US, the phaseout of green subsidies dampens EU exports and Trump's tariffs re-direct trade, while Chinese over-capacities create very tough price competition. Our new policy brief shows how these drivers interact - and what the EU should do in response (1/4)

New Policy Brief! A joint publication of @bst-europe.bsky.social , @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social , and @delorsberlin.bsky.social. We analyze how recent shifts in US trade and industrial policy are changing the prospects for Europe’s clean tech industry, which is getting squeezed from two sides:

Very interesting walk-through of the impact of Trump on clean tech

Faced with China's distortions, US tariffs, and the IRA rollback, should the EU stay in the clean tech race or throw in the towel? A hugely important paper - with a lot of novel data - tackles that question. By Elisabetta, @imlucascarvalho.bsky.social @etiennehoera.d-64.social and Philipp Jäger

The Trump administration's industrial policy U-turn and aggressive trade policy are reshaping global clean tech markets. For EU manufacturers, it's a tale of two shocks: falling US demand + surging Chinese competition. Our new policy brief discusses what's happening and what Europe needs to do 🧵

📅 JOIN US - 10/12/25: @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social /Swedish Enterprise discussion on 'Resilient Growth: Aligning Productivity and Security' with @aslak.bsky.social, @zach-meyers.bsky.social, Lotta Nymann-Lindegren, Maive Rute & Yannick Treige Email: [email protected] for info and registration

How has the far right in the European Parliament impacted EU climate policy so far? great work by my colleague @zecsaky.bsky.social

We talk so much about the rise of the far right -- it's time to look at how that is translating into policy change. That's what I did in this insight, focusing on climate policy and the green agenda 👇

It's been a rough year for European trade policy. The deal with the US, disputes with China and an overall sense of a worsening economic climate. My latest piece tries to draw out some lessons for Europe www.cer.eu/insights/thr...

Taking a look at EU enlargement reports, rule of law & democracy still remains an area where candidates are lagging. I made this chart last year to show how prepared each country is based on the reports' assessments... www.cer.eu/insights/enl...

The sun is shining in Brussels on this enlargement day! ☀️🗒️The Commission is presenting today enlargement progress reports on EU candidate countries. A good occasion for a thread on my recent work on the implications of enlargement on EU climate and energy agenda:

Does the rise of populism have economic roots, and more protectionist and anti-immigration policies help? Quick thread on my latest piece here buff.ly/O2SoUok

Lack of market integration and poor interconnections mean that #electricity prices vary wildly in the EU. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social policy brief by @aslak.bsky.social, @elisabettaco.bsky.social, @zach-meyers.bsky.social & @sandertordoir.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Rb9hOiI

As it prepares for another wave of enlargement, bringing in candidate countries from the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, Brussels faces a critical challenge: how to expand while maintaining its climate ambitions, writes @elisabettaco.bsky.social for @encompasseurope.bsky.social

#Czechia’s elections mark a populist shift, but Babiš now faces a hard path to form a government. The further he’s pulled to the right, the greater the risk of EU fragmentation. Quick @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social reaction from @zecsaky.bsky.social Read here:

The US is pursuing "energy dominance" and forcing allies to buy US oil and gas. And, yet, China is beating the US on energy exports. Surprised? Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

@aslak.bsky.social, @elisabettaco.bsky.social and @sandertordoir.bsky.social discuss where the EU stands one year after the landmark #Draghi report in the latest #CERpodcast. Listen to the episode here: buff.ly/OQj4J9S

📅 JOIN US - 29/9/25 - Brussels: @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ Kreab breakfast on 'The European agrifood sector: Sustainability, competitiveness and global trade' with @christophehansen.bsky.social Email: [email protected] for info and registration

🎙️ Where does the EU stand one year after the #Draghi report? @aslak.bsky.social, @elisabettaco.bsky.social and @sandertordoir.bsky.social discussed this and much more on the latest episode of the #CERpodcast.🎙️ Listen here:

@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social is looking for a technology fellow to join its research team. Please see the #job description and details on how to apply below 👇 LAST WEEK for applications - deadline 19/09/25 buff.ly/fzZIO6z

It was a pleasure to dissect the energy and climate bits in Ursula von der Leyen's State of the EU speech with @kirataylor.bsky.social. My main points 🧵

The EU long championed the idea of "responsibility to protect": that bystander countries should act to prevent atrocities such as genocide happening elsewhere. It instructed its diplomats on what to watch for and what to do. So what went wrong? My piece: www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

A great opportunity to join our excellent team. If you've come back from your summer holidays feeling that you want a new challenge, this job at @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social could be just what you're looking for.

"In 1st-best world of free trade and market competition, the dynamism of the US approach should win every time. In the current 2nd-best world of protectionism and economic statecraft, China’s planned approach still carries significant costs, but the benefits are also easier to discern."

Great article: "the fires we’re seeing are the result of decades of rural exodus and the absence of forest management". And: "Prevention ... means creating diverse landscapes, felling trees to create fire breaks, and developing a rural policy that ensures farmers and shepherds can make a living."

It seems that in MAGA America, some clean techs - linear generators, geothermal energy, fuel cells, nuclear power - are more appealing than others: "A new wave of clean-energy innovation is building. Donald Trump’s attacks on wind and solar will not stop it" www.economist.com/business/202...

The CER economics team is hiring a tech expert. If you EU tech policy is your bread and butter, and you want to shape the debate from a leading European think tank, apply and join us! Deadline: September 19.

Since 1990, carbon intensity of industry in EU candidate countries has come down, but in 2022 it remains well above the EU-27 average in most candidate countries. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @elisabettaco.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Y8tFQy9

Great story from Nepal electrifying its car fleet. Also file under: Chinese EVs as a source of geopolitical might. The Country Where 76% of Cars Sold Are Electric www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/b...

Coal-reliant power generation makes the power industry the main source of greenhouse gas emissions in the vast majority of EU candidate countries. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @elisabettaco.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Y8tFQy9

Implementing a gradually increasing national or regional carbon price in candidate countries would be a stepping stone towards joining the EU #ETS. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @elisabettaco.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Y8tFQy9

Carbon pricing is a work-in-progress among EU candidate countries: few have already implemented it, and progress in establishing the regulatory framework to join the EU ETS is slow. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @elisabettaco.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Y8tFQy9

Integrating EU candidate countries into the EU ETS would incentivise them to decarbonise their emissions-intensive electricity mix and heavy industries. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @elisabettaco.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Y8tFQy9

This promises to be an excellent discussion with @cerianbond.bsky.social and @armida.bsky.social !

Integrating candidate countries in the energy union means bringing into the EU electricity market a region with great potential for renewable energy. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @elisabettaco.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/pnzWUnR

Candidate countries must align with the EU acquis in three main areas: liberalisation of the energy market, security of supply & renewable energy & energy efficiency. @elisabettaco.bsky.social discusses their progress in a new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight. Read here: buff.ly/pnzWUnR

Coal-fired power plants remain the main generators of electricity in much of the Western Balkans. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @elisabettaco.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/pnzWUnR

New article out today, where I take stock of where EU candidate countries are in terms of energy policy, and argue that allowing them into the energy union sooner rather than later would benefit both them and the EU.

85% of EU citizens polled in #Eurobarometer consider climate change a serious global problem. 81% support the EU’s goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. So this ample support deserves policies that deliver on climate targets. What do those policies look like?

Military and financial support for Ukraine in the Donald Trump era. The numbers speak for themselves.