Antoaneta Dimitrova
@antoanetadl.bsky.social
Political scientist @Leiden University
European politics, institutions, Central and Eastern Europe, democracy, authoritarianism, governance, EU enlargement, public administration reform
European politics, institutions, Central and Eastern Europe, democracy, authoritarianism, governance, EU enlargement, public administration reform
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
🗣️ Debates Section:
🗨️ @leuffen.bsky.social, @antoanetadl.bsky.social , Ulrich Sedelmeier, Sandra Lavenex, Thomas Risse & Frank Schimmelfennig: Rhetorical action in a liberal international order in crisis: theorising EU and NATO enlargements post-2022 🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🗨️ @leuffen.bsky.social, @antoanetadl.bsky.social , Ulrich Sedelmeier, Sandra Lavenex, Thomas Risse & Frank Schimmelfennig: Rhetorical action in a liberal international order in crisis: theorising EU and NATO enlargements post-2022 🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
🗣️ Debates Section:
🗨️ @leuffen.bsky.social, @antoanetadl.bsky.social , Ulrich Sedelmeier, Sandra Lavenex, Thomas Risse & Frank Schimmelfennig: Rhetorical action in a liberal international order in crisis: theorising EU and NATO enlargements post-2022 🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🗨️ @leuffen.bsky.social, @antoanetadl.bsky.social , Ulrich Sedelmeier, Sandra Lavenex, Thomas Risse & Frank Schimmelfennig: Rhetorical action in a liberal international order in crisis: theorising EU and NATO enlargements post-2022 🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Thousands protest in Bulgaria ahead of final parliamentary vote on controversial new budget plan
Thousands of protesters staged a major demonstration outside the parliament building in the capital, Sofia, to denounce the steep taxes announced in next year’s budget draft. Protesters formed a human…
Thousands of protesters staged a major demonstration outside the parliament building in the capital, Sofia, to denounce the steep taxes announced in next year’s budget draft. Protesters formed a human…
Thousands protest in Bulgaria ahead of final parliamentary vote on controversial new budget plan
Thousands of protesters staged a major demonstration outside the parliament building in the capital, Sofia, to denounce the steep taxes announced in next year’s budget draft. Protesters formed a human chain around the building to prevent MPs from exiting.
www.xn--mustafaeker-xgc.com.tr
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Thousands protest in Bulgaria ahead of final parliamentary vote on controversial new budget plan
Thousands of protesters staged a major demonstration outside the parliament building in the capital, Sofia, to denounce the steep taxes announced in next year’s budget draft. Protesters formed a human…
Thousands of protesters staged a major demonstration outside the parliament building in the capital, Sofia, to denounce the steep taxes announced in next year’s budget draft. Protesters formed a human…
This!
Sofia, Bulgaria tonight – thousands protest against the government’s budget for 2026
https://www.europesays.com/2595311/
Sofia, Bulgaria tonight – thousands protest against the government’s budget for 2026 https://i.redd.it/g374xy0dhn3g1.jpeg by MartinBP
https://www.europesays.com/2595311/
Sofia, Bulgaria tonight – thousands protest against the government’s budget for 2026 https://i.redd.it/g374xy0dhn3g1.jpeg by MartinBP
Sofia, Bulgaria tonight - thousands protest against the government's budget for 2026 - EUROPE SAYS
Sofia, Bulgaria tonight - thousands protest against the government's budget for 2026 https://i.redd.it/g374xy0dhn3g1.jpeg by MartinBP
www.europesays.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM
This!
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Top Stanford economists:
By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report: siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report: siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 26, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Top Stanford economists:
By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report: siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report: siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
To those who say defence investment isn’t what our workers need:
Do you want to be occupied without resistance? Is it the future you want for workers?
To those who do not want to support Ukraine:
Are you for a Europe where the big have the right to occupy the smaller?
Do you want to be occupied without resistance? Is it the future you want for workers?
To those who do not want to support Ukraine:
Are you for a Europe where the big have the right to occupy the smaller?
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
To those who say defence investment isn’t what our workers need:
Do you want to be occupied without resistance? Is it the future you want for workers?
To those who do not want to support Ukraine:
Are you for a Europe where the big have the right to occupy the smaller?
Do you want to be occupied without resistance? Is it the future you want for workers?
To those who do not want to support Ukraine:
Are you for a Europe where the big have the right to occupy the smaller?
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Keep in mind that these talks now in Geneva do not include russia and therefore are quite meaningless. The moment something reasonable emerges out of them, Ru will cry out that it opposes it vehemently. They've been largely silent the past few days for a reason.
November 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Keep in mind that these talks now in Geneva do not include russia and therefore are quite meaningless. The moment something reasonable emerges out of them, Ru will cry out that it opposes it vehemently. They've been largely silent the past few days for a reason.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
1) Start the worst European war since 1945 and commit every imaginable war crime
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
November 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
1) Start the worst European war since 1945 and commit every imaginable war crime
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
A few experts going right now: "hear me out, Budapest Memorandum, keeping Ukraine out of NATO, telling it to accept loss of Crimea, and pretending the Minsk Accords meant to save Ukraine's sovereignty were all mistakes, but if we now combine all this idiocy into a 28-point plan, it might work!"
November 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A few experts going right now: "hear me out, Budapest Memorandum, keeping Ukraine out of NATO, telling it to accept loss of Crimea, and pretending the Minsk Accords meant to save Ukraine's sovereignty were all mistakes, but if we now combine all this idiocy into a 28-point plan, it might work!"
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
🇺🇸🇺🇦‼️Washington's pressure on Kyiv is now at a record high and much tougher than during all previous attempts to negotiate peace, — The Sun
November 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
🇺🇸🇺🇦‼️Washington's pressure on Kyiv is now at a record high and much tougher than during all previous attempts to negotiate peace, — The Sun
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
A multi-country investigation led to arrests and the recovery of priceless cultural treasures from across the Balkans, including masks, jewelry, and ceremonial items dating back to 2000 B.C., worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
www.occrp.org/en/news/bulg...
www.occrp.org/en/news/bulg...
Bulgaria Seizes Thousands of Looted Artifacts in Balkan Antiquities Bust
A multi-country investigation led to arrests and the recovery of priceless cultural treasures from across the Balkans, including masks, jewelry, and ceremonial items dating back to 2000 B.C., worth hundreds...
www.occrp.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A multi-country investigation led to arrests and the recovery of priceless cultural treasures from across the Balkans, including masks, jewelry, and ceremonial items dating back to 2000 B.C., worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
www.occrp.org/en/news/bulg...
www.occrp.org/en/news/bulg...
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Bless @sophiegilbert.bsky.social @theatlantic.com: "The past decade has been a gloomy lesson in how limited a proportion of men actually see women as equal human beings...The fish rots from the head. The pig is in the Oval Office." www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025...
The Pig Is in the White House
This is what consequence-free misogyny looks like.
www.theatlantic.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Bless @sophiegilbert.bsky.social @theatlantic.com: "The past decade has been a gloomy lesson in how limited a proportion of men actually see women as equal human beings...The fish rots from the head. The pig is in the Oval Office." www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025...
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
👀❗️Every fourth Russian company is no longer paying on loans. In total, there are 714 thousand businesses in Russia with loans, of which 24% have defaulted. This has become a record figure in recent times.
November 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
👀❗️Every fourth Russian company is no longer paying on loans. In total, there are 714 thousand businesses in Russia with loans, of which 24% have defaulted. This has become a record figure in recent times.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos: Russia has thrown hundreds of millions of euros into malign interference in Moldova in the recent elections but for the fifth time since 2020, they failed. And Moldova won
November 18, 2025 at 9:02 AM
EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos: Russia has thrown hundreds of millions of euros into malign interference in Moldova in the recent elections but for the fifth time since 2020, they failed. And Moldova won
EU enlargement progresses with some candidates, but the overall policy still remains stuck on the stairway of change open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
The EU on the stairway of change
or why enlargement and security and defense policies work but not quite
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
EU enlargement progresses with some candidates, but the overall policy still remains stuck on the stairway of change open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Albanian PM Edi Rama at public session @clingendael.bsky.social: I have no problem with a EU-membership for #Albania without a veto right or a commissioner. We can share the Italian commissioner. We need one Europe. I dream of a Dutch minister of Finance.
November 17, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Albanian PM Edi Rama at public session @clingendael.bsky.social: I have no problem with a EU-membership for #Albania without a veto right or a commissioner. We can share the Italian commissioner. We need one Europe. I dream of a Dutch minister of Finance.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Albanian PM Edi Rama at public session @clingendael.bsky.social: Albanians are very nice to foreigners, not so much to each other. If you need someone to be killed, ask an Albanian. By the way, is this on the record?
Moderator: it is.
Moderator: it is.
November 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Albanian PM Edi Rama at public session @clingendael.bsky.social: Albanians are very nice to foreigners, not so much to each other. If you need someone to be killed, ask an Albanian. By the way, is this on the record?
Moderator: it is.
Moderator: it is.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
"I cannot be more concrete than that in my office," the EU's top judge said repeatedly. Yet, he was quite concrete – referring indirectly to Hungary as an ‘oligarchy’ and suggesting it shouldn't receive EU funds until it joins the EU's joint prosecutor.
Europe’s chief justice slams Orbán
Europe’s chief justice slams Orbán
In thinly veiled attack, ECJ chief decries Hungarian ‘oligarchy’
dlvr.it
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 AM
"I cannot be more concrete than that in my office," the EU's top judge said repeatedly. Yet, he was quite concrete – referring indirectly to Hungary as an ‘oligarchy’ and suggesting it shouldn't receive EU funds until it joins the EU's joint prosecutor.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Candidate countries waiting to enter the EU must make geopolitical choices and align with the bloc on fundamental questions before joining the bloc, Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of EU enlargement, has told Euronews.
EU candidate countries must choose sides before joining bloc, Commissioner Kos tells Euronews
Candidate countries waiting to enter the EU must make geopolitical choices and align with the bloc on fundamental questions before joining the bloc, Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of EU enlargement, has told Euronews.
l.euronews.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Candidate countries waiting to enter the EU must make geopolitical choices and align with the bloc on fundamental questions before joining the bloc, Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of EU enlargement, has told Euronews.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
👇👇
Today's crazy world, data point #473: My mom helps out in a food pantry in rural Germany. And they now got contacted by American soldiers and civil servants from a nearby US-army base, because people have not received salaries for months because of the government shutdown...
November 6, 2025 at 10:26 AM
👇👇
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Former Foreign Minister of Lithuania, said it plainly:
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇
November 6, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Former Foreign Minister of Lithuania, said it plainly:
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇