Don't bogart that joint position, my friend (A case being ruled at the ECJ next week)

In France, they don't say "medical problem", they say "fashion opportunity"

Hard to imagine another scenario in which this would not lead to an immediate recall of ambassadors

Once you have paid him the Dane-geld // You never get rid of the Dane

In today's energy briefing: 📅 Brussels' packed energy agenda 🇺🇸 IRENA's budget hole 👨‍⚖️ Nord Stream goes to court www.contexte.com/briefing/202...

When it comes to phasing out Russian energy, most of the EU's focus (and financial bill) has been on gas. @annahbrt.bsky.social unpicks what might happen when Brussels comes for Russian uranium. In @energy.contexte.com today: www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

Your honour, I did not mug him, I merely asked for money after implying there might be violence www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Lads I just saw the best sign ever

Quiz - Jouez à Bioguess, le cadeau de Noël de Contexte ✍️ Yann Guégan

Already finished off the Ferrero Rocher? Run out of excuses for hiding from the in-laws? Worried your EU nerdiness will wear off over the holidays? Play BioGuess, a Christmas game by Contexte: www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

I also want to say thank you to the person who introduced me to the French word 'beaucoup' this year. It means a lot.

Contexte is hiring! For an English-language EU energy reporter, based in Brussels. If you're a scoop-hungry, teamworky, sharp storyteller, with knowledge of the EU and/or energy policy, apply within: lhttps://www.welcometothejungle.com/fr/companies/contexte/jobs/energy-policy-reporter_bruxelles

In today's Contexte EU energy briefing: 🔌 Full analysis of the the EU's leaked grids package 🛣️ The 8 "energy highways" the Commission will prioritise 🐼 Leaked "environment omnibus" plans to streamline permits 🇺🇦 The final legislative text banning Russian gas www.contexte.com/briefing/202...

They did it via a shell company

Rule number one of crisis comms: put everything out there. Yet it's hard not to conclude that one of these two people, Commission senior official Sannino or anonymous spokesperson, is being deliberately misleading here. (from @eddywax.bsky.social and @nicolettaionta.bsky.social)

The Commission will propose something to the Commission? Now that's what I call a #circulareconomy

My Charles and Di wedding mug (age 41) has outlasted my Charles coronation mug (age 2 and a half). Not sure what to make of this fact

The cosmetics store round the corner is offering astonishingly bad advice

Who wore it better?

Two bangers published today by @energy.contexte.com: 🇧🇷 COP30: A post mortem of a disappointing summit. @genicotd.bsky.social & @vrg.bsky.social, from Belém, unpick why the EU — diverted by internal squabbles and colliding with a BRIC wall — failed to deliver. www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

After the environment council negotiated for roughly 20 hours on Tuesday/Wednesday, now it's the Parliament's turn to figure out its position on a planned 90% emissions cut for 2040. I'm not saying MEPs are copying the member states' homework, but they've even reproduced their typos

There was once a chap named Ozymandias Whose fate tragically came to a sandy pass His vast legs of stone Just stood all alone Reaching up to his absent candy-ass

Top marks to the European Commission here; this was indeed the first question on which I was seeking an answer in relation to the 2026 fishing opportunities for EU-managed stocks in the Atlantic and Skagerrak-Kattegat waters

Went to see Bob Dylan live and thereby learned I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight is not, in fact, by UB40. I’m furious

The EU is close to agreeing an ambitious plan to ban all Russian gas imports within years. Close - but not quite. @sunderjourno.bsky.social unpicks what’s left to debate, in lightning talks over the next few weeks: www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

Ah yes, that longstanding Grauniad contirbutor, Goerge Monbiot

EU leaders gather in Brussels today to discuss the bloc's climate goals. @genicotd.bsky.social lifts the lid on talks that will range from cars to nuclear. No paywall, it's as free as ETS allowances in sectors subject to carbon leakage: www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

I would give a substantial amount of money to have access to Mark Rutte’s internal monologue here

In today's @energy.contexte.com briefing: 🥊 Brussels fights to save its 2040 climate targets 🏢 Hoekstra (sort of) unveils his last-minute reforms to ETS2 🇷🇺 The leaked timeline for talks on banning Russian gas www.contexte.com/briefing/202...

TIL there is a piece of EU law called the “new legislative framework.” Like, that’s its name. NLF for short. It dates from 2008. www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...

In today's @energy.contexte.com briefing: 🇨🇳 EU raises bar for India, China, Turkey for their Russian oil trade ☢️ Russian nuclear phaseout plans out in coming weeks, official says 🥳 The slimmed-down carbon border levy, CBAM, enters into force today www.contexte.com/briefing/202...

Somewhere, somehow, the ghost of Bertrand Russell raises an eyebrow

In today’s Contexte energy briefing: 🚌 What’s in the energy omnibus 🎈 How MEPs plan to vote hydrogen rules - and the secret assurances the commission gave them ⚡️ 200 cross-border energy projects Brussels is lining up for faster funding 🏭 Commission concedes on ETS www.contexte.com/briefing/202...

In today's @energy.contexte.com briefing: 🇬🇧 The leaked mandate for linking up UK, EU carbon markets 🚗 MEPs prepare to vote on 2040 emissions targets 🔥 Inside the EU's €1bn auction on industrial heat www.contexte.com/briefing/202...

Many congratulations to the multiple MEPs, including the Italian left and Polish conservatives, who voted to censure von der Leyen simultaneously for proposing the Green Deal, and then for repealing it www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...

It’s quite a sad feature of British politics that you have to dress up a policy like this as “for growth”, rather than that “the existing rules are weird and dumb” www.theguardian.com/business/202...

"Protect the Love" is such an excellently off bit of euro-English

This morning, EU ambassadors meet to discuss a plan to phase out Russian gas, while deputy EU ambassadors, in a separate meeting in the same building, meet to discuss a different plan to phase out Russian gas If you’re confused, I am too

French politics right now involves a LOT of talking about people called Bruno www.brut.media/fr/articles/...

Sébastien Lecornu 🇫🇷 has resigned after serving 0.55 Liz Trusses in office

Scoop hunter? Sharp analyst? EU obsessive? Here’s a chance to work for one of the best outfits in Brussels 👇

Steel Safeguard Magnolias

4002: A Space Odyssey #AddATariffImproveAFilm

Carla Bruni pointlessly pinching the microphone cover (right after Sarkozy's hearing) is a thing of beauty. How do I get this made an Official Meme

L’Etranger (1942)

GROUND 157. President Trump was consistently and maliciously foiled by Defendant's Wordle despite getting ?ATCH on the first go

Lads the new French Prime Minister is called Sebastian Horny, pass it on

The absolute State of the European Union! Never mind the Strasbourg stemwinders; the real #SOTEU spectacular is on 8 November in Brussels: it's the annual Press Revue, aka #NerdPromEU, back again for another unforgettable night of comedy and music Reserve your tickets here: bit.ly/4lQKVh8

Belgians “have none of that painful wish to make a good impression typical of some small nations … their standards in certain respects - food and drink, for example are high ones …. Do not believe disobliging propaganda, chiefly French, about them.” A 1968 analysis that stood the test of time

A story about EU law AND crosswords? *rolls up sleeves*