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Alberto Rizzi

@alberto-rizzi.bsky.social

1.5K followers 1.2K following 270 posts

Policy Fellow on Geoeconomics at ECFR (Rome Office) - Energy, infrastructure, trade, and EU-Developing countries economic relations. History and art lover. Born in Bergamo and proud Atalanta BC fan. https://ecfr.eu/profile/alberto-rizzi/

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 28

My take on the US-EU trade deal in this @ecfr.eu policy alert:
- EU preferred an unequal deal rather than retaliating to maybe get a better one
- Some economic silver linings don't cancel the political capitulation
- EU needs credible retribution to prevent further US demands
ecfr.eu/article/scot...

Scot-free: What Europeans should take from Trump’s trade deal

Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump have announced a 15% tariff on most EU goods exported to the US. The compromise has avoided a trade war for now—but Europeans need to safeguard the deal’s…

ecfr.eu

2 9 16

Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

Jeremy Cliffe @jeremycliffe.bsky.social · 1d

There's a fascinating case study to be done on the different strategies of Macron and Sánchez. Both emerged, against the odds, from centrist milieux in the mid-2010s to lead their countries since 2017/18. But their fates are totally different.

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · 21h

Got my second-lever master's there, back in 2020

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · 23h

window epidemic in Russia continues apparently

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · 23h

I wrote my bachelor thesis on the enhanced cooperation clause as a desireable tool to go forward without waiting for Godot (aka reform of treaties) and nothing has developed on that front in the ten years that have passed. Totally share your skepticism.

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Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

James Comey @jamescomey.bsky.social · 12d

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · 26d

In Brazil, if you plot a coup to subvert the result of democratic elections, you end up in jail.
In the US, if you actually execute one, you end up in the White House.
www.ft.com/content/f07c...

Brazil’s former leader Jair Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years in prison on coup charges

Far-right populist found guilty of leading conspiracy that attempted to overthrow country’s democracy

www.ft.com

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Aug 28

Looks like North Korea with stars and stripes

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Aug 28

This is a real photograph of Washington, DC this week, where the United States president has ordered military occupation in peacetime, and ordered the display of colossal portraits of himself.

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Washington, DC under military occupation in last August 2025, with banners proclaiming the absolute power of the primus inter pares

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Aug 5

Yes, I argued for speeding up trade negotiations just after Trump won - and maintain this view. The issue is that many governments see new deals as politically dangerous (MERCOSUR anyone?) and the tensions between capitals and Commission make the EU a less credible partner.
ecfr.eu/article/art-...

Art of the deal: Four ways Europeans can find new trade partners in the Trump era

Trump’s trade policy is likely to harm European trade with America. Decision-makers can start to mitigate this now.

ecfr.eu

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 29

Except this course is hardly the minimal harm: it imposes significant long-term costs on the EU (tariffs are very sticky, they likely remain for decades and can easily be increased by US in the future) while escalation would have only brough some short term pain but a better final deal.

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 28

Scot-free: What Europeans should take from Trump’s trade deal

Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump have announced a 15% tariff on most EU goods exported to the US. The compromise has avoided a trade war for now—but Europeans need to safeguard the deal’s…

ecfr.eu

2 9 16

Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

Tatyana Deryugina @tderyugina.bsky.social · Jul 25

Even during wartime, and perhaps ESPECIALLY during wartime, it's crucial to hold leaders accountable.

Please consider signing this letter and share with your network.

Economists for Ukraine @econ4ua.bsky.social · Jul 24

‼️Econ4UA is publishing an open letter about the recent bill undermining the independence of anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine. Please share it with your social networks.

Full letter: econ4ua.org/nabu-open-letter/

Sign here: tinyurl.com/nabu-sign

Open letter about NABU & SAPO

Please provide your name and affiliation if you would like to sign the open letter titled " Yesterday the Ukrainian government undermined anti-corruption institutions. What can be done?"

tinyurl.com

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 25

My views of a no deal scenario in EU-US trade negotiations for @cnbc.com
- ACI does allows for flexibility in the response
- If no deal, EU would want swift and substantial retaliation
- ACI likely to be kept in reserve after retaliatory EU tariffs come into force
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/25/w...

What Europe's response to a no-deal with Trump could look like

Uncertainty remains about if and when a trade agreement between the EU and U.S. could be struck.

www.cnbc.com

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 21

Hopefully it's both!

Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

Arthur Leichthammer @aleichthammer.bsky.social · Jul 9

Bernd Lange stressing an important point that still sometimes gets lost: For the EU, sectoral tariffs are much more important than a general baseline - most of the EU exports into the US are concentrated in few key sectors.

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 8

Glad to read it, thanks for sharing!

Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · Jul 8

It seems Hungary will keep on waiting for the €18 billion in cohesion and recovery funds that the European Commission has frozen.

The latest edition of the Rule of Law report shows the country made "no progress" in seven of the eight recommendations.

EU will keep €18 billion frozen for Hungary over rule of law concerns

The money currently frozen combines around €8.4 billion in cohesion funds and €9.5 billion in COVID-19 recovery funds. #EuropeNews

www.euronews.com

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Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · Jul 7

Thoughts (not sure about prayers) work so much better in advance.

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Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

Morten Morland @mortenmorland.bsky.social · Jul 3

Independence Day @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 4

Have to admit also San Siro on Monday was painfully slow to leave via the metro even with expanded service. But turns out it's also the best place on Earth to listen to Bruce Springsteen, so I'm inclined to forgive everything.

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 3

they have in fact, and have found out that the US cannot bomb their nuclear program to zero but only slow it down by less than a deal would have

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 3

They would have had the money anyways: North Korea found the money to build nukes and has a twentieth of Iran's GDP. Obama and Biden made a deal that included monitoring and enforcement and slowed down progress. Now they have every reason to rush it and to do it completely undercover.

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Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 3

The perfect description of Trump by Bruce Springsteen on Monday in Milan:

Rainmaker says white's black and black's white
Says night's day and day's night

'Cause they don't care or understand
How easy it is to let freedom slip through your hands

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIhq...

Springsteen and the E Street Band - Rainmaker - San Siro - June 30, 2025

YouTube video by Matt Orel

www.youtube.com

Alberto Rizzi @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social · Jul 3

MY @france24.com interview on Meloni's new visa scheme for non-EU migrants: Italy's awful demographics require large inflows of foreign workers to keep the economy running, even if this runs counter to the anti-migration agenda on which the government got elected.
www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/...

A propos - Meloni's government to issue 500,000 visas for non-EU workers

She made curbing migration a keystone of her successful 2022 election campaign. Now, the government of hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has agreed to let almost 500,000 documented immigrants…

www.france24.com

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Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

ECFR Berlin @ecfrberlin.bsky.social · Jul 2

Den aktuellen Policy Brief von @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social (@ecfrgeotech.bsky.social) zu den demographischen Herausforderungen, vor denen Europa steht, gibt es hier👇
ecfr.eu/publication/...

Markets, migrants, microchips: European power in a world of demographic change

European policymakers should take the long view on demographic change, strengthening Europe’s place in the world through stronger international partnerships, the use of technology and EU enlargement.

ecfr.eu

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Reposted by Alberto Rizzi

ECFR Rome @ecfrrome.bsky.social · Jul 1

Il nuovo "decreto flussi" approvato ieri dal governo 🇮🇹 si inserisce in una sfida più ampia: attrarre forza lavoro strategica in un’Europa che invecchia.
Leggi il policy brief di @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social su 🇪🇺 e cambiamento demografico 👇 buff.ly/5LpeMRL

Markets, migrants, microchips: European power in a world of demographic change

ecfr.eu