There is a great sense of urgency for the EU to become more competitive in the digital sector and boost AI innovation. In a new policy brief, I argue that the Commission’s Digital and AI Omnibus proposals are, however, unlikely to achieve any of those goals. 🧵⬇️ www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...

📅 Deadline extended to 30 March 2026! Apply for the 5th Henrik Enderlein Prize, honouring our founding director’s legacy of European engagement & academic excellence. €10,000 award by @hertieschool.bsky.social, @sciencespo.bsky.social, @diplo.de & the French Ministry for Europe & Foreign Affairs ⬇️

Kommunalwahlen, Endergebnisse: Frankreich ist mehrheitlich mitte-rechts in der Fläche, links in den Großstädten, und es gab Trostpreise für die Ränder und Renaissance. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse und ihre Folgen: 🧵 www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeur...

After months of wrangling and an epic list of delays, the Commission has finally released its Industrial Accelerator Act. This could turn into one of the EU’s most consequential industrial policy files in years - and the proposal is honestly not a bad place to start. Some quick thoughts:

IAA (finally) out FDI conditions are lex China pure, covering investments >100m from countries with >40% global production share in i) batteries ii) EVs iii) solar iv) critical raw materials

Ich durfte heute einen Gastbeitrag für den Tagesspiegel beisteuern: es geht um Macrons verbleibende Macht in seinem letzten Amtsjahr, und wo er noch etwas bewegen kann. Spoiler: Vieles ist noch möglich, aber bei Weitem nicht mehr alles. Details im Artikel: www.tagesspiegel.de/internationa...

Tomorrow’s summit is a chance for EU leaders to stop chasing the wrong fixes — and finally sketch a response that matches the scale of Europe’s economic challenge. Here, lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @sandertordoir.bsky.social and I lay out what that could look like. www.politico.eu/article/euro...

For the FES, I wrote a short brief about how mainstream party strategies have fueled far-right success. They move toward more anti-immigration positions to win voters back. This does not work, but shifts public opinion to the right. Parties then react to shifts in public opinion. A vicious cycle.

Great intervention by @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social on reactionary centrism, anti-wokeness, and the tendency to interpret the success of the right as backlash instead of as its own political project www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

You may have missed it amidst the chaos of the last few days, but there is a new high-level EU report in town: A Franco-German task force led by Jörg Kukies and Christian Noyer presented recommendations to tackle the scale-up financing gap. Here is what it says and why you should care about it.

🧵 Trump’s Greenland brinkmanship puts the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument back on the table. Few cases fit economic coercion more cleanly. But the ACI is often misunderstood. It’s not a bazooka, but a slow-loading cannon, able to fire anything from heavy shells to hot air. Here’s how it works ⬇️

📰 Issue 33:2 out! 👉 Special Issue: European Democracy in Action? The 2024 European Parliament Elections, guest edited by @sarahobolt.bsky.social, Sebastian-Adrian Popa, and Wouter van der Brug Read the whole issue: www.tandfonline.com/toc/rjpp20/3... 📸 © European Union 2024 - Source : EP

Wir suchen Verstärkung für unser Presse- und Kommunikationsteam bei @delorsberlin.bsky.social! Deadline am 1. Februar, früher bewerben lohnt sich: hertie-school.dvinci-easy.com/en/p/en/jobs...

📣 #JobAlert: Communicating #EU policy has become more important than ever. We're looking for a new Communication Associate (gn) to start in March or earlier. Apply now and join a lovely #ThinkTank team! More information here. 👉 hertie-school.dvinci-easy.com/en/p/en/jobs... #OpenPosition #Vacancy

Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

📣 #NewPaper: Quietly hollowing out the #GreenDeal by weakening policies meant to deliver on climate targets undermines Europe's #competitiveness, energy security and global credibility, write @jannikjansen.bsky.social & @ph-jaeg.bsky.social in a new #OpEd. 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...

End of year reflections on EU climate policy: it’s really not looking good for the Green Deal. @jannikjansen.bsky.social and I wrote a short piece on why we're far from "staying the course" - and why that's a strategic mistake for Europe (1/12) tinyurl.com/jdc-green-deal

🎧 Kritischer Rohstoff für die Ohren: Zum Wochenende bespricht @onethuthree.bsky.social in einer neuen Folge des EU to go-Podcast mit @aleichthammer.bsky.social die wirtschaftlichen Abhängigkeiten der #EU und das Potential der #ReSourceEU Initiative. Jetzt reinhören 👉 open.spotify.com/episode/72Ih...

1/ This year revealed how the EU's critical raw materials dependence has become an economic security vulnerability. ReSourceEU is the EU’s most serious attempt yet to remedy this. To end the year, I dive into what it does and whether it can shift the trajectory: www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...

Lots to criticise in yesterday’s cars package - but one point deserves credit. The COM plans to limit support for corporate cars to EVs and tie it to European preferences. Exactly what @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @sandertordoir.bsky.social, and I called for and a genuinely meaningful step forward

Ob ihr mit dem Auto kommt, per Rad oder Bahn: Wir freuen uns auf euch, beim letzten EU to go-Frühstück des Jahre. Heute nehmen @nilsredeker.bsky.social und @jannikjansen.bsky.social das neue EU-Autopaket unter die Lupe und diskutieren über die Zukunft der Autoindustrie. Bis gleich!

How do the German government's clean competitiveness policies fit with the agenda in Brussels? I shared a few thoughts in this short interview with Clean Energy Wire on the priorities of the German coalition, and what they imply for the EU's initiatives scheduled for 2026👇

The Commission’s new Democracy Shield🛡️raised high expectations but proposes mostly additions to existing frameworks rather than attempt innovation. 👇In my new policy brief out today, I analyse the Commission’s newest democracy strategy. 1/🧵 www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...

🥐 Das letzte EU to go-Frühstück des Jahres steht an! Am Mi., 17.12. um 8:30 Uhr geht es um das EU-Autopaket und die europäische Autoindustrie. Mit dabei: Unser Co-Direktor @nilsredeker.bsky.social & Senior Policy Fellow @jannikjansen.bsky.social. Jetzt anmelden 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/en/events-at...

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)

I think the reinterpretation of the ECHR they seek has been clarified elsewhere: less protection for "the wrong people" (sic!), incl. a limitation of the scope of protection under art. 8 (right to private and family life) and art. 3 (prohibition of torture and degrading treatment). It's dystopian.

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:

Find out what has been discussed at our public online panel next Wednesday (10 Dec) at 2 pm - register here: www.delorscentre.eu/en/events-at...

White smoke from Berlin: the coalition has agreed to tie new car purchase incentives to European preference rules - and work to align them across the EU. A very smart move as @sandertordoir.bsky.social, @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social and I have argued here: www.delorscentre.eu/fileadmin/2_...

Im EU-Parlament wurde letzte Woche erstmals ein relevantes Gesetz mit den Stimmen der extremen Rechten beschlossen. Das ist ein guter Anlass, sich diese Woche dieses unheimlich kluge Gespräch zwischen @tabouchadi.bsky.social und @emcke.bsky.social anzuhören. www.sueddeutsche.de/meinung/podc...

Once a leader on climate action, the EU has given in to the right’s green-bashing. From deforestation to carbon pricing, vital policies are being watered down in the name of ‘competitiveness’. But Europe is shooting itself in the foot. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Die EVP hat heute im Europaparlament das wichtige Omnibus-Gesetz mit den Rechtsaußen-Fraktionen beschlossen. Abgeordnete der CDU/CSU haben heute, sehenden Auges und mit Ansage, mit Abgeordneten der AfD abgestimmt. Damit ist die Brandmauer im EU-Parlament eingerissen.

Great primer on today's breakdown of the cordon sanitaire in the EP including the prehistory of the vote and its implications.

Today´s vote on the Sustainability Omnibus was a watershed moment in the European Parliament, as the EPP sides with far-right political groups to scratch climate transition plans and civil liability under the CSDDD, and reduce the scope of companies covered under the CSRD. Thread:

Today’s Omnibus vote has rolled over an already perforated cordon sanitaire in the European Parliament. For the first time, the EPP sided with far-right groups on a file key to the Commission’s agenda. Make no mistake: this was no accident and it’s unclear whether the centrist coalition can recover🧵

Today, the conservatives (EPP) passed a major piece of EU legislation with the far-right groups in the EU Parliament, marking the breakdown of the cordon sanitaire. The EPP, under Weber, has decided to sacrifice long-term principles and stability for short-term political gains. Thread:

The European Democracy Shield🛡️ is finally out today. Here is what it says (and what I think):🧵⬇️ commission.europa.eu/document/dow...

Die deutsche und europäische Automobilindustrie kriselt, gefühlt im Wochentakt kommen die Eilmeldungen über Stellenabbau bei Herstellern und Zulieferern. Wie ihr geholfen werden kann, habe ich mit @nilsredeker.bsky.social und @sandertordoir.bsky.social diskutiert: open.spotify.com/episode/15Nb...

The Commission is set to finally unveil the Democracy Shield 🛡️on 12 November! Here is what it will look like and what details will matter. 🧵

To be clear: the EP isn’t demanding changes - the message of this letter is simple: we don’t want reforms. At a time when the EU desperately needs a better budget, the Parliament should take a stance that goes beyond a pure defence of the status quo. www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

With all the caveats that the far right hasn't been weakened, only splintered in the Netherlands, it's still very good to see an election where liberal democracy is not on the line and a government with a pro-European outlook is back in sight

“The far right can only govern if the centre right cooperates”, @carolinedegruyter.bsky.social says. “Everyone claims the voters shift to the far right but it is a rightward shift of the political parties.”

Für die Zeit haben wir mit @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social und @sandertordoir.bsky.social aufgeschrieben, was das Problem der europäischen Autoindustrie ist, warum Denkmalschutz für Verbrenner die schlechtesten aller Antworten wäre - und was die EU stattdessen tun kann. www.zeit.de/mobilitaet/2...

The National and Regional Partnership Programmes 2028-34 are under attack, as many fear they neglect cohesion goals. Better regional targeting could be one way to improve the Commission's proposal. In a new Policy Brief, I outline how this could be done. 👉 www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...

Merz’ instinct to treat EU as intergovernmental forum clashed this week with Parliament. Calling EP’s failed omnibus vote an “unacceptable” mistake to be “corrected” didn’t land well and shows blindspot. EU is not an intergovernmental project where leaders decide and everyone else, incl. EP, follows

While the European Council in Brussels took the spotlight, this week's events in Strasbourg should set off alarm bells. The European Parliament slamming the brakes on the first “Omnibus” package isn’t just a hiccup – it’s a symptom of strain in the EU’s democratic engine. A thread 🧵

Metsola seems to suggest that, because the European Council has said so, Parliament will have no choice but to push through the omnibus with votes from the far right after Wednesday’s failed vote. This is a worrying stance and a puzzling view of the EP’s relationship with EU leaders

The car crisis tops today’s EU summit but leaders keep staring at the wrong problem The issue isn’t the 2035 engine ban - it’s demand falling off a cliff today With @sandertordoir.bsky.social and @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, we show why flipping regs won’t help - and what the EU can do instead.

Deeply worrying destabilization in EU Parliament. Three concerning points in this story: 1. EPP forcing S&D hand by threatening to vote with far-right 2. Far-right strategically pushing secret vote to allow for anonymous defections 3. No majority in centre/VdL coalition despite previous agreement

Should other EU countries copy Germany's Industriestrompreis? Germany is set to introduce this controversial subsidy soon, which will lower electricity prices for industry. 🧵on whether it is a model to follow & what it means for other EU countries, based on data in new policy brief (1/23)