Are the #EU27 really serious about enlargement & internal EU reform? Will they be able to pass this major test of our times? If you're interested in these questions join our online event on 10/11 between 14:00-15:00 Register here: www.epc.eu/events/enlar... Read here: www.epc.eu/publication/...

The Commission's 2025 Enlargement Package testifies that a good number of candidates have progressed on their path towards #EU accession. But the Commission has again postponed the presentation of its pre-enlargement policy reviews and reforms. This is a wrong political message.

It is no surprise that there's so much criticism towards COM's 2028-2034 #MFF proposal. But this time there's also almost no support for it - neither in MS nor EP. Council's Negotiating Box will most likely counter/tear down many of COM's innovations - including on new own resources.

The COM's proposal for the 2028-2034 #MFF point in right direction. Yet, two key questions remain: (1) Will the proposed increase of the budget to €2 trillion suffice for new era? (2) What will remain of COM‘s proposal once an agreement among member states (#EUCO) will (not) be reached in 2027?

6/ @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu hat die EU-Erweiterung & Reform auf Standby gestellt. Die Juni-2025-Schlussfolgerungen liefern keine Roadmap – anders als 2024 angekündigt. Der Realitätstest für EU & Mitgliedstaaten bleibt bestehen. bsky.app/profile/jaem...

At #EUCO Zelenskyy warned that delays with the accession could “create a global precedent” and erode trust in the EU. Zelenskyy is right, given that there are many indicators that there is an increasing contrast between the #EU27's words & deeds.

How to match Sunday declarations & speeches into Monday's reality? Read more here: epc-web-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/content/Enla...

The draft #EUCO Conlcusions do not include a roadmap for the future work on internal reforms, as #EU leaders had promised in June 2024. All this shows that #EU & member states are not adequately responding to the "Test of Times" when it comes to enlargement & reform.

The Commission did not publish in-depth pre-enlargement reviews, as #EUCO had called for & UvdL had promised. The Council did not present a follow-up report on future of enlargement & internal reform, as #EUCO had indicated in June 2024.

The Commission did not publish in-depth pre-enlargement reviews, as #EUCO had called for & UvdL had promised. The Council did not present a follow-up report on future of enlargement & internal reform, as #EUCO had indicated in June 2024.

Looking forward to hear the speech of Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos & to discuss our report - "A Test of Times" - with my colleagues next Wednesday. Parallel progress on enlargement & internal #EU reform needs to starts now. Register here: www.epc.eu/events/a-tes...

“These imperatives could be pursued through a bold use of the treaties. But there is little political will to vest such power in the EU. A supra-governmental avantgarde outside the treaties – without sidelining the EU – may thus be the least bad option.” @jaemmanouilidis.bsky.social

For those who missed it: here the link to the video of the newest edition of our #EU Democracy Reform Conversation. youtu.be/phif5TIAcZo?... We presented & discussed our new @epc-official.bsky.social paper linking enlargement & internal EU reform - A TEST OF TIMES

Looking forward to discussing our new publication on enlargement & internal #EU reform at tomorrow's edition of our online EU Democracy Reform Conversation. Register here: epc.eu/en/events/A-... #EUCO

Many references to geopolitical imperative of enlargement in Sunday speeches & declarations. But which strategic enlargement options are there & how can they be linked to internal #EU reform? Read more here in new @epc-official.bsky.social paper: www.epc.eu/content/Enla... #EUCO

Many references to geopolitical imperative of enlargement in Sunday speeches & declarations. But which strategic enlargement options are there & how can they be linked to internal #EU reform? Read more here in new @epc-official.bsky.social paper: www.epc.eu/content/Enla... #EUCO

📢 Event | A Test of Times: Permachange through enlargement and EU reform 🗓️ Tuesday, 29 April 2025 | 11:30 – 12:45 📍 Online Can the EU survive the era of permacrisis without expanding? Join us for a discussion on the future of #EUenlargement and #EUreform Register here 👇 epc.eu/en/events/A-...

"The ‘willing and able’ should intensify their level of cooperation in the context of an Open Supra-Governmental Avantgarde (OSGA)." How should 'coalitions of the willing' organize their cooperation inside/outside #EU? Read #EU reform recommendation #4 here: www.epc.eu/content/Enla...

Two Imperatives | Nine Strategic #EU Enlargement & Reform Options | 12 Recommendations This new @epc-official.bsky.social paper aims to inspire, promote & link the debates on how to widen & deepen European integration in the coming years. Read more here: epc.eu/content/Enla...

📄 A Test of Times: Permachange through enlargement and EU reform Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Corina Stratulat, Johannes Greubel and Berta López Domènech explore options for #EU reform & enlargement. @jaemmanouilidis.bsky.social Read here 👇 epc.eu/en/Publicati...

"An independent authority should be mandated by the European Council to elaborate an #EU Governance Reform Report." The EU's operating system needs to be made enlargement-, future- & crisis-proof. Read EU reform recommendation #2 in new @epc-official.bsky.social report: www.epc.eu/en/Publicati...

Two Imperatives | Nine Strategic #EU Enlargement & Reform Options | 12 Recommendations This new @epc-official.bsky.social paper aims to inspire, promote & link the debates on how to widen & deepen European integration in the coming years. Read more here: epc.eu/content/Enla...

Tomorrow this large report will be published. Finally! Looking forward to engage in & push the much needed debate on the future of enlargement & internal EU reform. Will present & discuss the main findings & recommendations at the next EU Democracy Reform Conversation on 29 April. Please join us.

Putting final touches on paper related to enlargement & internal #EU reform. Will be published after Easter. Aspiring to promote & link debates on future of EU widening & deepening. Enlargement & Reform Imperative | Strategic Options | 12 Key Recommendations @epc-official.bsky.social #EUCO

President of the European Council António Costa @epc-official.bsky.social: "Best security guarantee for Ukraine is #EU accession." #EUCO

After today, even the last ones should be convinced that Trump 2.0 motivated by ideology - when it comes to the future of liberal democracy. And this ideology also shows itself in the support of Trump & Vance for Putin and other so-called 'strongmen'.

Another day when those who still had some hopes & illusions were disappointed. Very unfortunate - but true.

Given the very difficult geopolitical environment, I expect that next German federal coalition government will be formed faster than many expect - especially in view of developments regarding Ukraine & given very good result of AfD.

German federal election result important for #EU. Important to get stronger leadership from Berlin & improved relations with Warsaw, Paris & other pro-EU national capitals.

Even if CDU/CSU result clearly strongest party in the German federal elections. But it is historically still the second worst federal election result for the CDU/CSU ever.

Most German voters don’t think that SPD has strong social competence. Lowest level ever. This explains also why the SPD has done badly in federal German elections. But negative appreciation of Scholz & SPD-led federal government was other key reason.

Friedrich Merz yesterday in Munich spoke of „grüne und linke Spinner“ ("green and left idiots") This Trump 2.0 rhetoric is not the best way to start a federal coalition with the SPD.

Important point in case FDP & BSW not in Bundestag, AfD & Die Linke could block constitutional changes, which require 2/3 majority in Bundestag.

If BSW and/or FDP reach 5% the debate about a potential minority federal government might come back. Was already discussed in 2021 But Germany has no experience with minority government & CDU/CSU representatives have always said that they aspire to form stable federal majority coalition government

If BSW and/or FDP reach 5%, the debate about a potential minority federal government might come back. Was already discussed in 2021. But Germany has no experience with minority governments & CDU/CSU representatives have always said that they aspire to form stable federal majority coalition gov't.

Structural trend of AfD since 2013 shown in figures… 👇 This is why next German federal elections could be key. If AfD ever at around 30% or even higher at federal level, 'Brandmauer' extremely difficult to defend.

Important point in case FDP & BSW not in Bundestag, AfD & Die Linke could block constitutional changes, which require 2/3 majority in Bundestag.

If CDU/CSU & SPD coalition will form next German federal coalition government, Merz | Söder | Pistorius will be the key political figures. Unclear whether this trio will be able to deliver stable & effective coalitions.

It is still too early to be sure, but I assume that neither FDP nor BSW will make it into the next Bundestag. In this case one should assume that CDU/CSU & SPD most likely next German federal coalition.

Friedrich Merz yesterday in Munich spoke of „grüne und linke Spinner“ ("green and left idiots") This Trump 2.0 rhetoric is not the best way to start a federal coalition with the SPD.

CDU/CSU around 28% | SPD around 16% No longer GroKo but ExGroKo

Let us not forget: AfD got around 20% at #BTW25 - but around 80% did NOT vote for them. However: their result still worrisome & much better than last time. Another structural increase since they were created in 2013.

Most German voters don’t think that SPD has strong social competence. Lowest level ever. This explains also why the SPD has done badly in federal German elections. But negative appreciation of Scholz & SPD-led federal government was other key reason.

Biggest winner among young voters in German federal elections is Die Linke.

Even if CDU/CSU result clearly strongest party in the German federal elections. But it is historically still the second worst federal election result for the CDU/CSU ever.

German federal election result important for #EU. Important to get stronger leadership from Berlin & improved relations with Warsaw, Paris & other pro-EU national capitals.

Very remarkable result of Die Linke in German federal elections. In recent weeks they moved from below 5% to around 9%. One key factor: very strong social media presence. #BTW25

Let us not forget: AfD got around 20% at #BTW25 - but around 80% did NOT vote for them. However: their result still worrisome & much better than last time. Another structural increase since they were created in 2013.

Given the very difficult geopolitical environment, I expect that next German federal coalition government will be formed faster than many expect - especially in view of developments regarding Ukraine & given very good result of AfD.

Remarkable result for BSW: from 0 to (almost) 5%