Federico Pisani
@federicopisani.bsky.social
Economist, specialized in public health and EU policy.
Incapable of arguing on the matter, resorts to ad hominem. Reflects on you rather than anyone else.
The sad shallowness of social media and keyboard lions.
The sad shallowness of social media and keyboard lions.
November 12, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Incapable of arguing on the matter, resorts to ad hominem. Reflects on you rather than anyone else.
The sad shallowness of social media and keyboard lions.
The sad shallowness of social media and keyboard lions.
Well, the UK already packed up and left...
But seriously, the Union's purpose is to protect its citizens and their interests (not third countries'), and comparing violent annexation without consensus to opening the negotiations for accession to the Union is quite the stretch.
But seriously, the Union's purpose is to protect its citizens and their interests (not third countries'), and comparing violent annexation without consensus to opening the negotiations for accession to the Union is quite the stretch.
November 12, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Well, the UK already packed up and left...
But seriously, the Union's purpose is to protect its citizens and their interests (not third countries'), and comparing violent annexation without consensus to opening the negotiations for accession to the Union is quite the stretch.
But seriously, the Union's purpose is to protect its citizens and their interests (not third countries'), and comparing violent annexation without consensus to opening the negotiations for accession to the Union is quite the stretch.
I agree with you Niall, and tbh I think that a (possibly reformed) UK that is stable, reliable and trustworthy is an optimal case.
Mine was an exercise to identify the issue of legitimacy (of the EU) that still permeates too many discussions and opinions.
Scotland can decide for itself.
Mine was an exercise to identify the issue of legitimacy (of the EU) that still permeates too many discussions and opinions.
Scotland can decide for itself.
November 11, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I agree with you Niall, and tbh I think that a (possibly reformed) UK that is stable, reliable and trustworthy is an optimal case.
Mine was an exercise to identify the issue of legitimacy (of the EU) that still permeates too many discussions and opinions.
Scotland can decide for itself.
Mine was an exercise to identify the issue of legitimacy (of the EU) that still permeates too many discussions and opinions.
Scotland can decide for itself.
You think that using these tactics with the EU is fair play, while the EU using the same with others such as the UK is not.
To me, this is an unproductive debate as it's, at best, a domestic discussion within the EU.
To me, this is an unproductive debate as it's, at best, a domestic discussion within the EU.
November 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
You think that using these tactics with the EU is fair play, while the EU using the same with others such as the UK is not.
To me, this is an unproductive debate as it's, at best, a domestic discussion within the EU.
To me, this is an unproductive debate as it's, at best, a domestic discussion within the EU.
We diverge in the legitimacy of using the same approach the UK uses and historically used with the European Union and its member states, and the EU employing the same approach with UK and its component nations.
Comes down to what one thinks Europe is, and what trajectory it's taking.
Comes down to what one thinks Europe is, and what trajectory it's taking.
November 11, 2025 at 7:01 PM
We diverge in the legitimacy of using the same approach the UK uses and historically used with the European Union and its member states, and the EU employing the same approach with UK and its component nations.
Comes down to what one thinks Europe is, and what trajectory it's taking.
Comes down to what one thinks Europe is, and what trajectory it's taking.
Indeed, this is where we diverge.
The perception of what the European Union is, how it is evolving, how it has developed state-specific attributes that clash with an abstract (and unrealistic) concept of statehood that doesn't really exist in practice (see the US endless caveats to its union).
The perception of what the European Union is, how it is evolving, how it has developed state-specific attributes that clash with an abstract (and unrealistic) concept of statehood that doesn't really exist in practice (see the US endless caveats to its union).
November 11, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Indeed, this is where we diverge.
The perception of what the European Union is, how it is evolving, how it has developed state-specific attributes that clash with an abstract (and unrealistic) concept of statehood that doesn't really exist in practice (see the US endless caveats to its union).
The perception of what the European Union is, how it is evolving, how it has developed state-specific attributes that clash with an abstract (and unrealistic) concept of statehood that doesn't really exist in practice (see the US endless caveats to its union).
My call is not to breakup the UK, on the contrary, is for the UK to stop its equivalent attempts.
The information bubble in UK/US is very biased towards specific aspects of Europe (some true, some false, some exaggerated), so this is an effort to counterbalance unproductive narratives taking hold.
The information bubble in UK/US is very biased towards specific aspects of Europe (some true, some false, some exaggerated), so this is an effort to counterbalance unproductive narratives taking hold.
November 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
My call is not to breakup the UK, on the contrary, is for the UK to stop its equivalent attempts.
The information bubble in UK/US is very biased towards specific aspects of Europe (some true, some false, some exaggerated), so this is an effort to counterbalance unproductive narratives taking hold.
The information bubble in UK/US is very biased towards specific aspects of Europe (some true, some false, some exaggerated), so this is an effort to counterbalance unproductive narratives taking hold.
The point of divergence between us lies in that you don't see the European Union as a union, while you see the UK as a union. But while different, they have the same legitimacy from their people.
Hence, dividing one or the other by reaching directly to its member states/nations is arguably the same.
Hence, dividing one or the other by reaching directly to its member states/nations is arguably the same.
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The point of divergence between us lies in that you don't see the European Union as a union, while you see the UK as a union. But while different, they have the same legitimacy from their people.
Hence, dividing one or the other by reaching directly to its member states/nations is arguably the same.
Hence, dividing one or the other by reaching directly to its member states/nations is arguably the same.
Respectfully, Charlie, if you quote post other people you can hardly avoid exchanging with them.
And this from my side is a try to constructive dialogue, and I'm sorry if it may come across differently.
There's a clear understanding in Europe that the relationship with UK lacks trust & shared facts.
And this from my side is a try to constructive dialogue, and I'm sorry if it may come across differently.
There's a clear understanding in Europe that the relationship with UK lacks trust & shared facts.
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Respectfully, Charlie, if you quote post other people you can hardly avoid exchanging with them.
And this from my side is a try to constructive dialogue, and I'm sorry if it may come across differently.
There's a clear understanding in Europe that the relationship with UK lacks trust & shared facts.
And this from my side is a try to constructive dialogue, and I'm sorry if it may come across differently.
There's a clear understanding in Europe that the relationship with UK lacks trust & shared facts.
The EU's approach to negotiating with UK has been lacking in many ways, notably in terms of clarity. There's a strong habit of spinning narratives in the UK due to its incumbent media over-representation (due to english language being used by global hegemon).
This confuses many people about balance.
This confuses many people about balance.
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The EU's approach to negotiating with UK has been lacking in many ways, notably in terms of clarity. There's a strong habit of spinning narratives in the UK due to its incumbent media over-representation (due to english language being used by global hegemon).
This confuses many people about balance.
This confuses many people about balance.
Unfortunately, some pro-UK voices keep losing the thread of facts, events that took place and consequences. The UK has repeatedly worked to divide EU member states to get its way.
Good read: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even UK tabloids:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
Good read: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even UK tabloids:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Unfortunately, some pro-UK voices keep losing the thread of facts, events that took place and consequences. The UK has repeatedly worked to divide EU member states to get its way.
Good read: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even UK tabloids:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
Good read: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even UK tabloids:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
It is, as you mentioned, based on precedents. The UK has repeatedly worked to divide EU member states to get its way, the EU could (should) do the same.
An interesting piece here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even some UK tabloids admitted to it:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
An interesting piece here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even some UK tabloids admitted to it:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
Forging Unity: European Commission Leadership in the Brexit Negotiations
This article explains why the European Union has remained strikingly cohesive during the Brexit withdrawal negotiations by focussing on the role played by its negotiator: the European Commission'’s Task Force 50. The analysis demonstrates that the ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
It is, as you mentioned, based on precedents. The UK has repeatedly worked to divide EU member states to get its way, the EU could (should) do the same.
An interesting piece here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even some UK tabloids admitted to it:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
An interesting piece here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Even some UK tabloids admitted to it:
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
This would look directly at the "balance", and "precedents" set out by the UK who did exactly this.
Reality and public discourse (especially in UK bubble) are still very far apart and need refocusing before negotiations can be constructive and significative.
Reality and public discourse (especially in UK bubble) are still very far apart and need refocusing before negotiations can be constructive and significative.
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
This would look directly at the "balance", and "precedents" set out by the UK who did exactly this.
Reality and public discourse (especially in UK bubble) are still very far apart and need refocusing before negotiations can be constructive and significative.
Reality and public discourse (especially in UK bubble) are still very far apart and need refocusing before negotiations can be constructive and significative.
Indeed, the European Union is playing way too nice with a bad faith third country and should use its full leverage, including opening negotiations directly with Scotland for streamlined accession talks.
The balance of power is not reflected by UK media and the Brits discussing it. Time to rebalance.
The balance of power is not reflected by UK media and the Brits discussing it. Time to rebalance.
November 11, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Indeed, the European Union is playing way too nice with a bad faith third country and should use its full leverage, including opening negotiations directly with Scotland for streamlined accession talks.
The balance of power is not reflected by UK media and the Brits discussing it. Time to rebalance.
The balance of power is not reflected by UK media and the Brits discussing it. Time to rebalance.
Imo one of the best European investigative journal on European/EU matters at present is @ftm.eu (and other more generalists are growing significantly, though still need more resources and more preferential access).
November 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Imo one of the best European investigative journal on European/EU matters at present is @ftm.eu (and other more generalists are growing significantly, though still need more resources and more preferential access).
Still very Anglo- and London-centric. Europe should enable the development of their own equivalent.
There are some great contributors, but the editorial line is very biased. And European stakeholders and leaders should have a proper Union paper to relay their op-eds.
There are some great contributors, but the editorial line is very biased. And European stakeholders and leaders should have a proper Union paper to relay their op-eds.
November 11, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Still very Anglo- and London-centric. Europe should enable the development of their own equivalent.
There are some great contributors, but the editorial line is very biased. And European stakeholders and leaders should have a proper Union paper to relay their op-eds.
There are some great contributors, but the editorial line is very biased. And European stakeholders and leaders should have a proper Union paper to relay their op-eds.
*Native American reservations
*Puerto Rico and other territories
*Etc
*Puerto Rico and other territories
*Etc
November 7, 2025 at 9:46 PM
*Native American reservations
*Puerto Rico and other territories
*Etc
*Puerto Rico and other territories
*Etc
Agree to disagree :)
I think that we are very laser-focused on the European Union and weird abstract concept of statehood that doesn't exist in reality and forget to look around at what exists and we call (or have called a state).
Eg the US is one giant asterisk/exception after the other*.
I think that we are very laser-focused on the European Union and weird abstract concept of statehood that doesn't exist in reality and forget to look around at what exists and we call (or have called a state).
Eg the US is one giant asterisk/exception after the other*.
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Agree to disagree :)
I think that we are very laser-focused on the European Union and weird abstract concept of statehood that doesn't exist in reality and forget to look around at what exists and we call (or have called a state).
Eg the US is one giant asterisk/exception after the other*.
I think that we are very laser-focused on the European Union and weird abstract concept of statehood that doesn't exist in reality and forget to look around at what exists and we call (or have called a state).
Eg the US is one giant asterisk/exception after the other*.
They are not all separate agreement Gyles, as they all fall down to the same institutional framework and institutions, the same legal framework and judiciary (ultimately the ECJ). Plus a legislative+executive federal level making the system dynamic.
DK and SE are exceptions, not features.
DK and SE are exceptions, not features.
November 7, 2025 at 9:36 PM
They are not all separate agreement Gyles, as they all fall down to the same institutional framework and institutions, the same legal framework and judiciary (ultimately the ECJ). Plus a legislative+executive federal level making the system dynamic.
DK and SE are exceptions, not features.
DK and SE are exceptions, not features.
Gyles, how many trade and travel agreements include a single currency (just to speak of one of many, many state-specific characteristics)?
I think much more than many think has been accomplished in the past decades, and much more is to come.
I think much more than many think has been accomplished in the past decades, and much more is to come.
November 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Gyles, how many trade and travel agreements include a single currency (just to speak of one of many, many state-specific characteristics)?
I think much more than many think has been accomplished in the past decades, and much more is to come.
I think much more than many think has been accomplished in the past decades, and much more is to come.
I think we agree - Simply, the US and India are federations, and the European Union is moving in a similar trajectory of state building. While still far from a full federation (eg USA), it's even further away from a trade bloc.
November 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I think we agree - Simply, the US and India are federations, and the European Union is moving in a similar trajectory of state building. While still far from a full federation (eg USA), it's even further away from a trade bloc.
In any case, the changes in the Union of the past decades are for everyone to see.
There are many trade blocs in the world, there's only ever been one EU, because they are very different and born with different visions/objectives, and developed differently. 1/2
www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/ventote...
There are many trade blocs in the world, there's only ever been one EU, because they are very different and born with different visions/objectives, and developed differently. 1/2
www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/ventote...
The Ventotene manifesto and the future of Europe
HR/VP Blog - Seven years after my first visit, I came back last 29 August to the beautiful island of Ventotene in the Gulf of Naples, on the 80th anniversary of the appeal “For a Free and United Europ...
www.eeas.europa.eu
November 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
In any case, the changes in the Union of the past decades are for everyone to see.
There are many trade blocs in the world, there's only ever been one EU, because they are very different and born with different visions/objectives, and developed differently. 1/2
www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/ventote...
There are many trade blocs in the world, there's only ever been one EU, because they are very different and born with different visions/objectives, and developed differently. 1/2
www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/ventote...
Some argue it's closer to a confederation at present, I tend to agree with prof Clarckson that it makes no real sense to try to categorize the EU using definitions from a very short and specific era (C19th-20th) and that the EU has already developed many state-specific characteristics (ongoing). 1/2
The EU is not a bloc
By any reasonable definition and whether people like it or not, the EU is a confederation. Describing it as a bloc misleads the public into thinking it is something far less important.
davekeating.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Some argue it's closer to a confederation at present, I tend to agree with prof Clarckson that it makes no real sense to try to categorize the EU using definitions from a very short and specific era (C19th-20th) and that the EU has already developed many state-specific characteristics (ongoing). 1/2