Reminder also that there is a clause in the German coalition agreement excluding cooperation by the coalition partners - SPD and CDU/CSU - with parties that are unconstitutional, undemocratic, and right-wing extremist "on all political levels". This would include the EU level.

Almost certain now EPP will rely on far-right groups, including Germany’s AfD, to push through amendments on #csddd #csrd, despite Manfred Weber’s promise never to collaborate with them. Will anybody in Berlin notice?

Today, 🇪🇺President von der Leyen's centre-right EPP group will ally with the far right in order to pass the 1st of her deregulation packages in the EU parliament. A Commission official said these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.

If today’s vote on Omnibus I passes with EPP+ECR+Patriots support, it establishes the operational majority for the rest of von der Leyen's term This will have major economic and societal consequences at the time these groups chose Trump over the EU thegoodlobby.eu/the-eu-far-r...

‘Het is de kern van populisme, een voortdurende opstand van winnaars in de slachtofferrol.’ www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

From the creeping integration of the far-right into the EPP seeking majorities on central EU policies with the far-right. bsky.app/profile/nvon...

Almost certain now EPP will rely on far-right groups, including Germany’s AfD, to push through amendments on #csddd #csrd, despite Manfred Weber’s promise never to collaborate with them. Will anybody in Berlin notice?

For the latest episode of @the-breakdown.bsky.social podcast (we're back!), I spoke to @sabrinafernandes.bsky.social about Brazilian ecological politics, developmentalism and her essay "Lula's Dilemma" Listen below / wherever you get your podcasts 🌳🍃 www.break-down.org/lulas-dilemm...

Unusually candid statement from VW on Nexperia: “How quickly and sustainably this system functions depends primarily on the stability of relations between the US and China,” Ralf Brandstatter, CEO of Volkswagen Group China www.scmp.com/economy/chin...

To all concerned with climate finance! In my article published in @climate-policy.bsky.social, I find that overlooking the influence of banks’ types of equity on sustainable lending narrows the scope of analysis and limits the tools available to reach Paris-aligned portfolios. See abstract for more!

"If the directive passes close to its current watered-down form, the legal experts warn it faces a "high risk of annulment" before the EU’s top court." See EUobserver story below Check out Deregulation Watch for more news on the Commission's Omnibuses... corporateeurope.org/en/deregulat...

Our coverage of a letter sent by 100+ law profs/experts to the EP legal committee today urging a pause on #CSDDD and #CSRD legislation, warning current proposals likely breach EU law and carry a "high risk of annulment," if adopted @alemanno.bsky.social et al

This is what deindustrialization in a carbon shock therapy setting looks like. If the state doesn’t do the planning and redistribute any remaining surpluses downward, private equity will do the planning and redistribute any remaining surpluses upward (and out of country). on.ft.com/3WNWnA9

“China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. This trend will continue simply because renewables are cheap.” Gift link: China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

In other words, the whole legal and political hassle of taking the money from Euroclear (via an EU bond), and handing the money to Ukraine could be avoided by just issuing an EU bond, handing *that* money to Ukraine, and servicing it from the returns on Euroclear's assets.

Trump admin silently removes memorials of two black WOII soldiers (added only in 2024) who died liberating the Netherlands, from US cemetery in Margraten.

Interesting figures from Philip Lane. The constant downward revision to real exports is quite telling.

In a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, US state attorneys demanded Meta defy EU sustainability and human rights directives — citing "European elites" and "bureaucrats in Brussels."

An EU official has warned the US not to interfere in the Brazil UN climate talks (COP30), citing aggressive personal tactics at last month’s International Maritime Organization meetings — while contrasting Washington’s approach with China’s constructive engagement.

Japan, Mexico, Canada, China — all tightening or mandating emissions trading. “It is a virus,” said one EU official. “We want to further enhance this virus.” Not sure this is the best word choice.

It literally warns about the threat of a “socially fair economy."

As a result of the US shutdown curtailing services, American soldiers garrisoned in Germany are being advised to visit local foodbanks. home.army.mil/bavaria/abou...

Tldr: lots of carbon credits and further “flexibility“ of fuel tax and 2035 combustion engine ban.

Remarkable letter from 16 US state attorneys general demanding that Zuckerberg not comply with EU sustainability and human‑rights directives. #csddd #csrd

Very good read @JohnDelury: What China wants from Europe "First thing Europeans must keep in mind is that at the level of grand strategy Europe isn't a priority. US remains the unavoidable great power China confronts... Beijing in a funny way has an America First foreign policy"

"That's the paradox of the EU’s grand exercise in simplification & Green Deal backtracking. Driven by fear of de-industrialisation, it may instead turn Europe into China’s largest customer for [future tech]. Without legal certainty, the engine of investment stalls," via @davidcarretta.bsky.social

they went as themselves.

I'm pretty sure a majority of Europeans/Germans would prefer their leaders not to be such wimps and deal with the consequences.

EU leaders will proclaim the benefits of the bloc’s Global Gateway programme from the rooftops when they attend a joint summit with the African Union in Angola later this month. Privately, senior EU lawmakers have serious doubts.

Sounds awesome.

De NOS-post.

Favo stroman nu is: 'IEDEREEN zegt midden is winnaar, terwijl het extreem rechts is, en ik leg dat hier uit!' Terwijl letterlijk iedereen vrijwel meteen al zei dat extreemrechts is gegroeid

"Wordt ons land straks geregeerd door een premier die wil gaan trouwen met een man?....wordt de SGP gedwongen vrouwen op kieslijsten te plaatsen?" aldus de hoofdredactie van het reformatorisch dagblad. Met dit soort teksten zetten ze zichzelf, en hun medechristenen, volledig voor schut.

"Een gebrek aan waardengedreven, inhoudelijk conflict heeft de democratie klemgezet tussen technocratische depolitisering in het midden, en populisme aan de flank." www.groene.nl/artikel/de-p...

"I'll fuck you till you love me" the new European anthem? Witnessing Rutte with Trump perhaps "I'll let you fuck me until you love me" is more like it.

Mensen die niet willen zien dat dit gekleurde berichtgeving is houden zich van de domme. Het lijkt serieus wel een bericht van de Cuomocampagne.

The window to act on climate is rapidly closing. Our new 2025 State of the Climate report is just out. Read the full report here: doi.org/10.1093/bios... @michaelemann.bsky.social @dwallacewells.bsky.social @georgemonbiot.bsky.social @ecowarriorss.bsky.social

If a US–China deal ends the Nexperia impasse, it looks less like Dutch regulatory autonomy and more like great-power bargaining. Even if The Hague acted independently over CEO Wing's behaviour, the optics will not help bolster its claim of autonomy...

De oncomfortabele consequentie van deze redenering is dat de enige manier om de VVD uit deze machtspositie te krijgen samenwerking tussen radicaal rechts en links is. Zoals ook samenwerking tussen VVD en PvdA in 1994 het CDA uit die machtspositie duwde.

Ad Melkert vragen om het vertrek van Timmermans te duiden, hoe verzin je het? Waarom vraag je het niet aan mensen die relevant zijn voor de partij?

Living in Louisiana's so-called 'Cancer Alley' means that I have a message for the European Parliament as it continues to debate the EU’s flagship corporate accountability law: do not give in to the fossil-fuel industry.

Hear hear @lotfielhamidi.bsky.social

With the official prognosis giving one additional seat to PVV and one to FvD compared to the ext poll, the narrative should really not be that the Netherlands/Jetten has beaten the radical right. The far right bloc remains remarkably stable.

Niets zo pro-Europees als met Nederlandse vlaggen zwaaien.

Sterker nog, inmiddels kunnen we ook BBB wel tot het radicaalrechtse blok rekenen, en de VVD staat er ook met één teen, dan wel één been in. Het blok is gegroeid en het raam van Overton is een stuk naar rechts verschoven.

Again. Chef’s kiss.

Best description of Jetten 👍

‘The Dutch-language version of the pro-Kremlin “news site” Pravda mentions Forum for Democracy (FvD) by far the most often of all the parties participating in the 29 October 2025 parliamentary elections of the Netherlands.’