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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 17h

Occasionally stuff that you can do now with AI hits me, outside of all the slop.

Here is a video with everything - the music, the singing, the video - AI generated about a love of people who do not exist. Kind of crazy.

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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 19h

🚨 BREAKING: The European Commission will probe reports that Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán's spies targeted EU officials in Brussels.

Read the developing story: ow.ly/vSbA50X93ss

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 19h

And yes, I still do miss the twitter of that time that had the political spectrum across the board and was not yet taken over fully by tech bros and the radicals.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 19h

This was in 2019, so he is an 8y old by now 😱

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 19h

I posted a joke about my then 2y old running around the house screaming 'order' because I watched so much House of Commons debates during Brexit.

Have it on authority that this was shown to Speaker John Bercow by an MP and isn't it great that we can have these kinds of silly connections sometimes?

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 2d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 19h

On this, from a recent IISS analysis:

"Russia’s summer offensive has failed at enormous cost in troops. Its diplomatic strategy for America has fallen short. It faces a slow tsunami of European defence spending (...)
In short, time may no longer be on Russia’s side."

The Russia–Ukraine war has entered a new phase

Recent policy choices by America, Europe and China, and domestic economic strains, are reshaping Russia’s calculus. Since time may no longer be on its side, it is challenging Western resolve in more risky and aggressive ways. This is certain to escalate unless Europe responds.

www.iiss.org

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 19h

An unsung success of the EU's Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP):

Jeanette Serritzlev @serritzlev.bsky.social · 22h

"President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and the European Union are on track to match Russia’s annual artillery-round production by 2026, as reported in an interview on October 9."

UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 1d

⚡️Zelenskyy says Ukraine and the EU will match—or even surpass—Russia’s artillery shell production by 2026.

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Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · 19h

❔| #TTP: Does France's Political Crisis Weaken Europe's Geopolitical Hand?

While the EU tries to navigate international challenges, France is experiencing historic political disarray. What impact will instability in Paris have on Europe's strategic capacity? ⤵️
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Taking the Pulse: Does France's Political Crisis Weaken Europe's Geopolitical Hand?

While the EU tries to navigate a myriad international challenges, France is experiencing historic political disarray. What impact will instability in Paris have on Europe's geostrategic capacity?

carnegieendowment.org

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 20h

One for @tokarski.bsky.social

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 20h

Alright, then your next challenge is to write the Economist header what Europe can learn from the Polish and Spanish economies.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 20h

The most important part of these polls are two aspects YouGov does not highlight - Reform UK are seen as both the party that 'offers [radical] change' and that does most to set the agenda.

At a time when the UK government is seen as failing, offering a radical, different agenda is most potent.

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 21h

Reform UK are the party Britons most associate with being patriotic, but also being weird and extreme

Extreme: 58% (+50 lead)
Offer change: 37% (+26)
Setting agenda: 36% (+27)
Patriotic: 35% (+27)
Likely win next election: 35% (+20)
Weird: 35% (+15)
Understands problems: 25% (+15)
Normal: 17% (+4)

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 20h

No, but in the past the arguments against motions of censure by the European Parliament was that MEPs would also vote down Commissioners from across all parties. Now, the whole debate is about von der Leyen.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 20h

Interesting perspective with the no-confidence motions strengthening the Spitzenkandidatenprinciple.

It really is noteworthy that politically these motions are all about confidence in von der Leyen personally, whereas legally they are votes on the whole Commission.

Bernd 🇪🇺 Hüttemann #EurSky @huettemann.eu · 20h

Those declared dead live longer… Ironically, it’s the far right and nationalists who are pushing @europarl.europa.eu and @ec.europa.eu n closer together — strengthening parliamentarism. The #Spitzenkandidaten principle sneaks back in through the side door.

#EUsky

www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

Ursula von der Leyen wins no-confidence votes

European Commission president survives attempt at bringing her down.

www.politico.eu

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Bernd 🇪🇺 Hüttemann #EurSky @huettemann.eu · 20h

Those declared dead live longer… Ironically, it’s the far right and nationalists who are pushing @europarl.europa.eu and @ec.europa.eu n closer together — strengthening parliamentarism. The #Spitzenkandidaten principle sneaks back in through the side door.

#EUsky

www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

Ursula von der Leyen wins no-confidence votes

European Commission president survives attempt at bringing her down.

www.politico.eu

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 20h

Notably, the Commission got a higher votes against either motions than in July.

I read that as the centre-left and centre-right wanting to demonstrate that - for now - these series of motions of no-confidence are a waste of time.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 20h

As expected, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu and her Commission squarely survived the twin far-right and far-left motions of no confidence.

Von der Leyen easily survives double no-confidence vote | Euractiv

This is von der Leyen’s second defence this year

www.euractiv.com

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Christian Odendahl @codendahl.bsky.social · 20h

Which country's economy grew faster since the last quarter of 2021 (seasonally adjusted): the US or #Poland?

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YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 21h

Reform UK are the party Britons most associate with being patriotic, but also being weird and extreme

Extreme: 58% (+50 lead)
Offer change: 37% (+26)
Setting agenda: 36% (+27)
Patriotic: 35% (+27)
Likely win next election: 35% (+20)
Weird: 35% (+15)
Understands problems: 25% (+15)
Normal: 17% (+4)

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 22h

In a way, all permanent representations of EU member states in Brussels do 'political intelligence' but this is a whole different level.

Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 22h

💥 Bombshell investigation: Hungary operated an illegal network of spies to infiltrate the EU institutions while Olivér Várhelyi, who's currently a European Commissioner, served as chief ambassador.

„Súlyos ügy volt” – így bukott le Orbánék titkos kémhálózata Brüsszelben

A 2010-es években a magyar hírszerzés elkezdett kémkedni Brüsszelben, és ehhez uniós intézményeknél dolgozó magyarokat próbált beszervezni. Viszont a magyar szolgálatok ezt annyira nyilvánvalóan és üg...

telex.hu

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Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 22h

💥 Bombshell investigation: Hungary operated an illegal network of spies to infiltrate the EU institutions while Olivér Várhelyi, who's currently a European Commissioner, served as chief ambassador.

„Súlyos ügy volt” – így bukott le Orbánék titkos kémhálózata Brüsszelben

A 2010-es években a magyar hírszerzés elkezdett kémkedni Brüsszelben, és ehhez uniós intézményeknél dolgozó magyarokat próbált beszervezni. Viszont a magyar szolgálatok ezt annyira nyilvánvalóan és üg...

telex.hu

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Jeanette Serritzlev @serritzlev.bsky.social · 22h

"President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and the European Union are on track to match Russia’s annual artillery-round production by 2026, as reported in an interview on October 9."

UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 1d

⚡️Zelenskyy says Ukraine and the EU will match—or even surpass—Russia’s artillery shell production by 2026.

Zelenskyy: Ukraine and EU Will Match or Even Surpass Russia’s Artillery Production by 2026

Ukraine and the EU aim to match Russia's artillery production by 2026, with hopes of surpassing them through increased output from allies.

united24media.com

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Mepassistant (Quentin) @mepassistant.bsky.social · 23h

Agreed, and that's what both Garcia and Hayer said during the motion of censure debates, but I doubt the threat is seen as credible by the EPP, because Sanchez/Macron would pressure them to back down if they ever did try to blow the VDL coalition and trigger a EU crisis.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 23h

They are already trying to put the threat on the table, though the key question is how credible that is:

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 1d

The S&D will also vote against today's motion of censure against von der Leyen.

But the other side is that trust between the pro-European centre is eroding fast, with threats from the EPP to give vdL 'half a year' and potentially bringing a motion of censure themselves (via @politico.eu).

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François Heisbourg @fheisbourg.bsky.social · 23h

Bottom-line : this is basically doable and consequently the Russian taxpayer may soon be paying the costs of Western military support to Ukraine

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 23h

Belgium has laid out its red lines for using Russian assets to fund a €140 billion reparations loan to Ukraine.

This includes an agreement by EU countries to share all current and future risks related to the plan for an amount exceeding €170 billion.

Belgium lays out red lines on €140B Ukraine loan

Belgian PM Bart De Wever has suggested that the Commission’s scheme to leverage Russian frozen assets effectively amounts to confiscation.

ow.ly

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 1d

There was a test with a privacy compliant age verification app by the EU Commission and five member states starting in July. Not my core area of expertise, and there will be criticism of any age verification, but this sounds like it could tackle these concerns:

Joint press release: Commission presents guidelines and age verification app prototype for a safer online space for children

Today, the Commission has presented guidelines on the protection of minors, as well as a prototype of an age-verification app under the Digital Services Act (DSA)

ec.europa.eu

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 1d

I'd argue it is more a call to start actually getting things done rather than staring at Farage like a deer to the frontlight of a truck.

Starmer is the one centrist politician in Europe who has an absolute majority and four years to act, and still seems as powerless as Scholz in his last days.

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 1d

Next up, celebrating Franco's victory against antifa in Spain and declaring the White Rose a terrorist organisation.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

From Donald Trump's Roundtable on Antifa just now —
"Antifa has been around in various iterations for almost 100 years in some instances, going back to the Weimar Republic in Germany."
— special guest Jack Posobiec

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Tom Delreux @tomdelreux.bsky.social · 1d

Since the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament has challenged the ratification of 17 international agreements.

The EP does not necessarily veto, but it contests the ratification with an actual impact.

Under which conditions do such ratification challenges occur?

👉 doi.org/10.1080/1350...

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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 1d

The scope of the measure seems enormous. Time to speed up rare earth production and throw serious money at it

Noah Barkin @noahbarkin.bsky.social · 1d

China goes FDPR on rare earths. The West shudders

on.ft.com/3IEENLz

China unveils sweeping rare earth export controls to protect ‘national security’

Beijing is leveraging its dominant position in the critical minerals supply chain

on.ft.com

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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 1d

The S&D will also vote against today's motion of censure against von der Leyen.

But the other side is that trust between the pro-European centre is eroding fast, with threats from the EPP to give vdL 'half a year' and potentially bringing a motion of censure themselves (via @politico.eu).

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