He means it. While his flattery is over the top, he passionately dislikes the EU, and believes US domination is the natural state of things.

Er zijn veel zaken ‘ethisch onverantwoord’, maar kinderen die hier zijn opgegroeid een toekomst bieden is er daar niet een van, Henri. Jezelf ‘schikken’ naar de harteloosheid van de VVD en CDA, zoals D66 doet, valt er wel onder. Ethisch leiderschap doet niet mee met onrecht, maar bestrijdt het.

More pressure on the Greek government. Their claim to have nothing to do with #PredatorGate is untenable. The truth will emerge. @eppgroup.bsky.social feverish attempts to shield Mitsotakis are MAGA methods, a total betrayal of the democratic values it used to represent.

The @eppgroup.bsky.social was against an inquiry committee, until revelations about spyware abuse by the Polish PiS government against the Polish EPP, then in opposition. @eppgroup.bsky.social always fiercely opposed any scrutiny of Greek spyware abuse, despite the mountain of evidence.

Accountability becoming inescapable for the Greek government party ND (member of @eppgroup.bsky.social).

Former 🇬🇷PM Antonis Samaras has filed a motion with the country's Supreme Court prosecutor requesting a full investigation into how he was targeted with Predator #spyware. www.tovima.com/politics/for...

Dnews on 🇬🇷Greece and NSO Group: www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/new...

@jeroenlenaers.bsky.social also never responded to my media enquiry about why he allegedly met with Intellexa (& Israeli law firm Meitar) on 30 March 2023, during the final phase of negotiating and drafting PEGA's final report and recommendations. [Source: www.integritywatch.eu ]

Very good question. The same question can be put to @hennavirkkunen.wsocial.eu. it is clear that @eppgroup.bsky.social politicians want to expose spyware abuse of other parties, but cover up spyware abuse by EPP members or allies

Whatever the outcome, Belgium wins! Hup Rode Duivels! Allez Les Diables Rouges! Go Red Devils! 🇧🇪

🍿

@citizenlab.ca's Pegasus revelations show the EU's spyware crisis is far from over. CDT Europe, alongside 38 CSOs, is calling for an independent investigation, implementation of the PEGA recommendations, remedies for victims, stronger enforcement, and an end to EU support for spyware companies.

“Als regeringen allemaal spyware kunnen gebruiken tegen hun tegenstanders en critici, dan werkt je democratie niet meer”. @nieuwsuur.nl bericht vanavond over nieuwe onthulling van misbruik van spyware tegen een oud-Europarlementariër.

Grappig dat hij dat zegt. Burgers willen namelijk juist wel een sterk Europa.👇Rutte had altijd al een hekel aan de EU (hij heeft meer op met de VS). Net zoals hij onlangs fulmineerde tegen een sterke Europese defensie. Maar in de wereld van nu is dat riedeltje achterhaald.

Bruxelles a besoin d’un nouveau projet institutionnel, à la hauteur de la métropole de demain. Y-inclus le droit de vote pour les 400.000 Bruxellois non-Belges. Bruxelles peut passer du statut de capitale de l’Europe à celui de capitale des Européens. Ma tribune dans @lesoir.be tinyurl.com/mpcr39mv

The targeting of Kouloglou is not an isolated incident but rather “part of a system”. The @ec.europa.eu claim that it is “working to address the illegal use of spyware from various angles of EU law” is hollow. It will take no action to regulate the use of spyware by national governments.

En Europe aucun journaliste, élu, avocat, activiste ou autre citoyen critiquant ou opposant le gouvernment est protégé contre l'abus de spyware. Nouvelles révélations par @citizenlab.ca: "Un eurodéputé chargé d’enquêter sur Pegasus lui-même visé par le logiciel espion" @lemonde.fr 👇

@citizenlab.ca: "We are not attributing these infections to a particular government at this time, and found no indications that the 🇬🇷Greek Government is responsible." citizenlab.ca/research/mem...

Politiker, Journalisten, Anwälte oder Mitglieder der Zivilgesellschaft sind Spyware Angriffe ausgesetzt. Nicht von irgendwelche ferne Feinde, sondern von unseren eigenen Regierungen die kein Lust haben auf Kritik oder demokratische Kontrolle. Neue Enthüllungen von @citizenlab.ca uA in @heise.de

🕵️Το κινητό του πρώην ευρωβουλευτή και ιδρυτή της ιστοσελίδας @tvxsgr.bsky.social Στέλιου Κούλογλου χακαρίστηκε τουλάχιστον δύο φορές από άγνωστη κρατική οντότητα με το spyware Pegasus της NSO. Της @etriantafillou.bsky.social insidestory.gr/article/stoh...

‼️ Breaking! New revelations by @citizenlab.ca: a member of the @europarl.europa.eu "PEGA" inquiry committee into the abuse of spyware was himself targeted with #Pegasus spyware. That is a direct attack on democracy, aiming to eliminate scrutiny. @ec.europa.eu allows it to happen 🧵

Instead of the disgraceful silence the Belgian government, and the leaders of the EU Commission, Parliament and Council should firmly condemn this attack on press freedom. In addition there must be an investigation into the conduct of the police.

Excellent! Who is next? No place for Palantir and Thiel in Europe.

Schrems III coming up, and it will be a blast. (and a vindication of Latombe vs Commission, when the @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social in a rare lapse of judgement considered US oversight bodies to be independent when any 2-year old could see they were not)

De @vvjournalisten.bsky.social Eist opheldering over over het wegvoeren van twee journalisten van het VS feest in het Jubelpark. Intussen blijven de regering, politieke partijen en EU instellingen zwijgen. Sidderen voor Trump. www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20... @samuelcsdempsey.bsky.social

Any reaction yet from the Belgian government or the EU institutions? Inquiry into the actions of the police? (Rhetorical questions. We know the answers)

How much more of this disrespect are Europeans willing to put up with? Apparently quite a lot, judging from how many Brussels bubble types I saw proudly posting their selfies from Sunday's party 🤦‍♂️

The EU Commission must be frantic. Trump makes their stubborn “Pretense of compliance” strategy more and more difficult. Of course they ignored Trump’s dismissal of members of #PCLOB, which effectively made transatlantic data transfers unlawful. But this ruling will be much harder to ignore.

‼️⚖️ The US Supreme Court has declared all independent authorities unconsitutional – effectively blowing up the EU-US deal on data transfers. Click the link below for noyb's full assessment of the situation, and prepare for a Schrems III case! noyb.eu/en/us-suprem...

Van de NL-talige media bericht alleen @bruzzbe.bsky.social hoe twee journalisten onrechtmatig door de politie werden verwijderd op instigatie van US Amb Bill White, die hun kritische vragen niet kon smaken. Niks bij @demorgen.be @standaard.be @vrtnws.be. Waarom? @samuelcsdempsey.bsky.social

An uncovered email reveals new details about Tal Dilian's political ties in 🇨🇾Cyprus, showing he sought help from senior ruling-party figures years before Greece's Predator #spyware scandal erupted. www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/new...

Europe (that is: its political leadership) is in a toxic relationship with the US. Time for a reset. Not a separation, but a healthy relationship between equals seeing eye to eye. Time Europe drops the Dobby-the-House-Elf attitude and starts behaving like a mature superpower

Why do we allow the long arm of Trump on European soil? This behaviour by ANY other country would cause a diplomatic incident. Why are Belgian police officers taking instructions from the US Embassy? Are they allowed to ask people about their political preferences?

Agree with @davekeating.substack.com: the Saturday event in Brussels will be not a celebration of America, but of Donald Trump. No-one should go there.

Anyone lobbying against climate policies, and governments/EU bodies giving in to that lobby, do so in the full knowledge that their actions lead to thousands of preventable deaths.

No country is immune. Corruption and autocracy are not eastern European problem, indeed they are not even a European problem. (check out the US...) It is a problem of inadequate safeguards against backsliding, and EU govt leaders actively resisting change (cos they would be in trouble themselves)

Europe is an unwitting superpower. We see the world with the “national gaze” and we feel small, but in reality Europe is big and powerful. A new self-image is the first step towards change and reform of the EU. Time to think big. Read my blog open.substack.com/pub/sophiein...

That is not the point. The question is what mechanisms the EU has - and is willing to use - to ensure that the rule of law is upheld. The weakness is not the candidate countries, but the refusal of current member states to make the EU resilient.

Spyware is a danger to democracy and human rights. Regulation of the spyware market is urgent. And so is enforcement of the existing EU export rules. So what does the EU Commission do? Zero. Nada. Nothing.

Europe seems to have a hard time understanding who its real allies are. Grovelling to Trump but stringing Ukraine along. It should be the other way around: open the door to Ukraine and close the one to Trump.

Palantir is not just dangerous but it also does not live up to expectation. Europol found this already many years ago and terminated its contract with Palantir. So why do political leaders stubbornly continue to do business with Palantir?

As MEP on the PEGA inquiry committee @hennavirkkunen.wsocial.eu endorsed its findings and recommendations. As EU Commissioner she has the power to act on those recommendations, but she just sticks to hollow words from speaking notes. Does she actually think for herself or just follow instructions?

Can we also conclude now that the strategy of centrist parties for twenty years emulating the far right and adopting their anti-migration agenda with the aim to fight the far-right has FAILED SPECTACULARLY? It has on the contrary helped the rise of far-right parties

Join us to discuss next week with @carolecadwalla.bsky.social, @moonalice.com, @reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org & @sophieintveld.bsky.social Register to join: citizensreunited.substack.com/p/big-techs-...

Wat een beeld: de NL regering aan tafel met de Taliban, die het leven van vrouwen tot een levende hel maken. In deze onderhandelingen bepalen de Taliban de prijs. Het enige doel van deze beschamende vertoning: extreem rechts tevreden stellen. www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...

About the myth of “unnecessary regulation”: regulation is about the things we value: health, safety, privacy, consumer & workers rights, fair competition, public services. It is also about harmonisation, i.e. creating a level playing field, benefiting companies. We should cherish it, not attack it

Hoe diep kunnen we nog zinken? Nu zijn de Taliban al gewone gesprekspartners van Europa in de anti-migratiehysterie. Wie hieraan meewerkt verliest elk moreel gezag, elk recht om te spreken van waarden. En als dit verdedigbaar is, vanwaar dan de geheimzinnigheid? www.demorgen.be/snelnieuws/l...

Like the "the war on drugs" Deportation centres will be spectacularly ineffective, wasting insane amounts of public money, causing great human misery, boosting the income of traffickers, and doing nothing to stem the rise of the far right. There are a million better things to spend EU money on

What/whom does the 🇬🇷 government want to protect by blocking access for journalists to Ultimate Beneficial Ownership info? The EU law stipulates that journalists have access to UBO registers, acknowledging their role in fighting corruption. The 🇬🇷 gvt refuses. Will @ec.europa.eu act? @insidestory.gr

Super relevant case for the new deportation policies: how do EU member states have to verify if a third country is truly, effectively safe for a migrant to be returned? Is it enough that human rights are ensured on paper?