Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com
🇺🇸🇪🇺American by birth, European by choice
Brussels-based journalist www.DaveKeating.net
Find me on Substack: https://davekeating.substack.com/
Brussels-based journalist www.DaveKeating.net
Find me on Substack: https://davekeating.substack.com/
Pinned
Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com
· Oct 23
The agenda item at today's 🇪🇺#EUCO summit on 'climate & competitiveness' is chiefly about undoing some of the climate legislation that was passed during the 2019-2024 term (partly due to a 🇺🇸command).
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
The latest in this year of EU surrender to Trump.
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
Brussels is done being the world’s digital policeman
The “Brussels Effect” is dead. Now Washington is setting the pace on deregulation in Europe.
www.politico.eu
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The latest in this year of EU surrender to Trump.
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
Reposted by Dave Keating
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Usually, residency isn't required to obtain a marriage license in an EU country.
So what today's EU's supreme court ruling does is put Eastern EU (and 🇮🇹) in the same gay marriage category as 🇮🇱.
All explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
So what today's EU's supreme court ruling does is put Eastern EU (and 🇮🇹) in the same gay marriage category as 🇮🇱.
All explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Usually, residency isn't required to obtain a marriage license in an EU country.
So what today's EU's supreme court ruling does is put Eastern EU (and 🇮🇹) in the same gay marriage category as 🇮🇱.
All explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
So what today's EU's supreme court ruling does is put Eastern EU (and 🇮🇹) in the same gay marriage category as 🇮🇱.
All explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
After spending years declining to rule on this issue for fear of sparking an intense backlash from the EU's East, the ECJ just ruled that EU countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
The EU just de facto legalised gay marriage
In a ruling similar to the 2015 US Supreme Court decision granting same-sex marriage in all states, the EU Court of Justice says EU countries must recognise all marriages from other member states.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
After spending years declining to rule on this issue for fear of sparking an intense backlash from the EU's East, the ECJ just ruled that EU countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
It is actually that simple. You do not need to be resident in Germany to obtain a marriage license there, and that is true for most EU countries.
Marriage in Germany for foreigners | Beglaubigung24
Marriage for foreigners in Germany – these are the documents you need for the registry office! With checklist ✓ Order online ✓
en.beglaubigung24.de
November 25, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It is actually that simple. You do not need to be resident in Germany to obtain a marriage license there, and that is true for most EU countries.
Then they face infringement procedures from the European Commission involving massive fines.
November 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Then they face infringement procedures from the European Commission involving massive fines.
This is a de facto legalisation because gay couples can simply cross over the internal EU border, get married, come back and it must be recognised in their county. It's the same situation as has existed in Israel for some time.
This does not only apply to people moving residence.
This does not only apply to people moving residence.
Marriage in Germany for foreigners | Beglaubigung24
Marriage for foreigners in Germany – these are the documents you need for the registry office! With checklist ✓ Order online ✓
en.beglaubigung24.de
November 25, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This is a de facto legalisation because gay couples can simply cross over the internal EU border, get married, come back and it must be recognised in their county. It's the same situation as has existed in Israel for some time.
This does not only apply to people moving residence.
This does not only apply to people moving residence.
They can get married in Poland simply by crossing the border to Germany and getting the marriage license there.
It's the same situation as in Israel. It de-facto grants gay marriage.
It's the same situation as in Israel. It de-facto grants gay marriage.
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
They can get married in Poland simply by crossing the border to Germany and getting the marriage license there.
It's the same situation as in Israel. It de-facto grants gay marriage.
It's the same situation as in Israel. It de-facto grants gay marriage.
Until now, the gay marriage situation in the European Union has been the same as in the United before 2015: some states have it, some states don't.
While in the US the divide was North-South, in the EU the divide was West-East.
davekeating.substack.com/p/a-rainbow-...
While in the US the divide was North-South, in the EU the divide was West-East.
davekeating.substack.com/p/a-rainbow-...
A rainbow curtain has descended across Europe
Greece has become the first Orthodox nation to adopt gay marriage. Italy is now the only country on the Western side of the old Iron Curtain without equal marriage rights.
davekeating.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Until now, the gay marriage situation in the European Union has been the same as in the United before 2015: some states have it, some states don't.
While in the US the divide was North-South, in the EU the divide was West-East.
davekeating.substack.com/p/a-rainbow-...
While in the US the divide was North-South, in the EU the divide was West-East.
davekeating.substack.com/p/a-rainbow-...
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 Dave Keating
Absolutely. On climate, you can’t deregulate your way to the future. You’re just reducing pressure to innovate in an world where the status quo is bad.
According to Oxford professor of energy Jan Rosenow, rapid electrification of Europe's industry, not rolling back the EU's Green Deal, will save European industry.
Why electrification, not repealing green laws, will save Europe's industry
According to Oxford professor of energy Jan Rosenow, rapid electrification of Europe's industry, not rolling back the EU's Green Deal, will save European industry.
euobserver.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Absolutely. On climate, you can’t deregulate your way to the future. You’re just reducing pressure to innovate in an world where the status quo is bad.
"Flattery of Donald Trump is an integral part of the EU's tactics, no matter how humiliating the exercise. Avoiding disaster takes precedence over everything else. But does 'Daddy diplomacy' actually work?"
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
Les limites de la “Daddy diplomacy” de l’UE
Bonjour !
lamatinaleeuropeenne.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
"Flattery of Donald Trump is an integral part of the EU's tactics, no matter how humiliating the exercise. Avoiding disaster takes precedence over everything else. But does 'Daddy diplomacy' actually work?"
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
Reposted by Dave Keating
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Nicolas Guillou, French ICC judge sanctioned by the US: 'You are effectively blacklisted by much of the world's banking system'
Six judges and three prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have been sanctioned by the Trump administration. In an interview with Le Monde, Guillou discusses the impact of these measures on ...
www.lemonde.fr
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Dave Keating
Lutnick on his meetings with EU leaders: "The idea is, 'Come on guys, embrace the ideas and the model of the Trump administration and you'll get a trillion of investment here.' So we're trying to teach them, encourage them to follow the Trump lead."
November 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Lutnick on his meetings with EU leaders: "The idea is, 'Come on guys, embrace the ideas and the model of the Trump administration and you'll get a trillion of investment here.' So we're trying to teach them, encourage them to follow the Trump lead."
#DigitalOmnibus
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
November 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
#DigitalOmnibus
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
Reposted by Dave Keating
Pleasure having @davekeating.substack.com swing by the studio during his Paris weekend break to talk about the uproar around the EU's planned tweaks to GDPR and the AI Act. Thanks Dave!
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
Brussels under fire for softening grip on Big Tech • FRANCE 24 English
YouTube video by FRANCE 24 English
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Pleasure having @davekeating.substack.com swing by the studio during his Paris weekend break to talk about the uproar around the EU's planned tweaks to GDPR and the AI Act. Thanks Dave!
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
🇪🇺President von der Leyen statement on the 28-point 🇷🇺🇺🇸 peace plan for 🇺🇦:
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
Statement by President von der Leyen on Peace Discussions for Ukraine
Ukraine has been at the heart of many discussions over the past days.\nAny credible and sustainable peace plan should first and foremost stop the killing and end the war, while not sowing the seeds fo...
ec.europa.eu
November 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
🇪🇺President von der Leyen statement on the 28-point 🇷🇺🇺🇸 peace plan for 🇺🇦:
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
Decision whether to exclude 🇮🇱 from #Eurovision2026 delayed till next month.
Host country Austria, and Germany, are fiercely resisting the exclusion.
🇦🇹foreign minister called the 🇮🇪🇮🇸🇳🇱🇪🇸 position "dumb and pointless" and 🇩🇪 said #Eurovision has a "historical responsibility" to put 🇮🇱 on stage.
Host country Austria, and Germany, are fiercely resisting the exclusion.
🇦🇹foreign minister called the 🇮🇪🇮🇸🇳🇱🇪🇸 position "dumb and pointless" and 🇩🇪 said #Eurovision has a "historical responsibility" to put 🇮🇱 on stage.
Host Austria seeks Eurovision compromise on Israel
Austria's public broadcaster ORF has said it is still hoping for a compromise over Israel's participation in next year's Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, as pressure grows from countries threatening...
www.rte.ie
November 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Decision whether to exclude 🇮🇱 from #Eurovision2026 delayed till next month.
Host country Austria, and Germany, are fiercely resisting the exclusion.
🇦🇹foreign minister called the 🇮🇪🇮🇸🇳🇱🇪🇸 position "dumb and pointless" and 🇩🇪 said #Eurovision has a "historical responsibility" to put 🇮🇱 on stage.
Host country Austria, and Germany, are fiercely resisting the exclusion.
🇦🇹foreign minister called the 🇮🇪🇮🇸🇳🇱🇪🇸 position "dumb and pointless" and 🇩🇪 said #Eurovision has a "historical responsibility" to put 🇮🇱 on stage.
Will this be enough to stop the 9 countries (including 🇮🇪🇮🇸🇳🇱🇪🇸) threatening to quit the contest this year?
Seems unlikely. People around the world will still be able vote multiple times (though the number has been reduced from 20 to 10).
Seems unlikely. People around the world will still be able vote multiple times (though the number has been reduced from 20 to 10).
On Israel, Eurovision close to 'critical mass' that removed Russia
Over the last two years the EBU hasn't excluded Israel because countries didn't actually threaten to leave. In the past week, five have done so - close to the number that got Russia removed in 2022.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Will this be enough to stop the 9 countries (including 🇮🇪🇮🇸🇳🇱🇪🇸) threatening to quit the contest this year?
Seems unlikely. People around the world will still be able vote multiple times (though the number has been reduced from 20 to 10).
Seems unlikely. People around the world will still be able vote multiple times (though the number has been reduced from 20 to 10).
New: Following broadcaster complaints about 🇮🇱government get-out-the-vote campaigns, #Eurovision has introduced new voting rules against "disproportionate promotion campaigns" carried out or supported by governments or state agencies.
Eurovision unveils major voting rule changes for 2026
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced a series of changes to the Eurovision Song Contest voting rules for 2026 in a move it says is designed to strengthen trust, transparency and audienc...
www.rte.ie
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 AM
New: Following broadcaster complaints about 🇮🇱government get-out-the-vote campaigns, #Eurovision has introduced new voting rules against "disproportionate promotion campaigns" carried out or supported by governments or state agencies.
Here in Paris they are marking the 10th anniversary of the #ParisAgreement, as they digest the disappointing news from Brazil about the outcome of #COP30, which just ended.
November 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Here in Paris they are marking the 10th anniversary of the #ParisAgreement, as they digest the disappointing news from Brazil about the outcome of #COP30, which just ended.
This is the general choice facing all of Europe at the moment.
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
Ukraine faces losing dignity or US support with Trump’s plan to end war, Zelensky says | CNN
Ukraine is at “one of the most difficult moments” of its history, the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, as a proposal to end the fighting drafted by the United States puts pressur...
www.cnn.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This is the general choice facing all of Europe at the moment.
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
European leaders are scrambling today - afraid to publicly criticise the 🇺🇸🇷🇺 peace plan for fear of angering Trump, but behind the scenes terrified of the implications of a US-ordered 🇺🇦surrender.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.
November 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
European leaders are scrambling today - afraid to publicly criticise the 🇺🇸🇷🇺 peace plan for fear of angering Trump, but behind the scenes terrified of the implications of a US-ordered 🇺🇦surrender.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.
Reposted by Dave Keating
Two European officials said that the frozen assets section of the Ukraine peace agreement was one of the most alarming since it implies authority over assets that are mostly immobilised in European institutions.
One said it was almost as if the text had been drawn up as “a deliberate provocation”.
One said it was almost as if the text had been drawn up as “a deliberate provocation”.
Trump’s grab for Russian frozen assets puts EU Ukraine loan in doubt on.ft.com/3LXpzSY
Trump’s grab for Russian frozen assets puts EU Ukraine loan in doubt
Brussels blindsided by US plan for joint investment funds with Moscow and Kyiv
on.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Two European officials said that the frozen assets section of the Ukraine peace agreement was one of the most alarming since it implies authority over assets that are mostly immobilised in European institutions.
One said it was almost as if the text had been drawn up as “a deliberate provocation”.
One said it was almost as if the text had been drawn up as “a deliberate provocation”.
Never underestimate our European leaders' ability to be surprised by the obvious.
November 21, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Never underestimate our European leaders' ability to be surprised by the obvious.