I’m thrilled to join
@POLITICOEurope
’s finance team where I’ll be covering national budgets, EU fiscal rules, Ecofin/Eurogroup, tax and MFF.
Tips and coffees 👉🏻 gsorgi
@politico
.eu
NEW: Tunisia denied entry to a delegation from the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.
Tunisia's govt' was offended by critical press conference from MEPs in July, say officials.
In today's
#SOTEU
VDL praised the Tunisia deal as model for other countries...
Automation is creeping into the Brussels bubble — and translators are among its first victims.
Here is how AI changed the jobs of the EU’s over 2,000 translators.
Story w/t
@fed_disario
👇
New: EU Ambassadors failed to reach an agreement on the crisis regulation, the last plank of the EU’s migration deal. The Commission & 🇪🇸 presidency aimed to wrap this up before the summer, but instead it’ll be back on the table in September
EU countries agree that the Commission should cut at least 20 percent of its proposed €66 BN budget increase.
But a few states are going further, asking EU to finance all non-Ukraine funding via redeployments.
All the latest on the MFF review 👇🏻
La storia del Philosophy Football Club, una squadra-famiglia che ha mischiato calcio e filosofia cambiando gli inglesi (e non solo). La mia chiacchierata con
@filippomricci
e
@andrewsgeoff
ora online sul
@ilfoglio_it
.
EU Ambassadors were hoping to wrap up the migrant “crisis regulation” before the summer - but they will go back to it in September after the break.
Here is why they didn’t manage to agree a deal today 👇🏻
Everyone in the EU quarter is heading out of Brussels for the summer break - except five commissioners who will hold the keys of the Berlaymont should an emergency arise.
These commissioners have been chosen as the "designated survivors" this summer👇
Italy is putting the crisis regulation on hold
Germany finally backed a compromise text, paving the way for QMV
But ITA feared that the new text went too far to please the Greens. Widespread unrest that ITA is pushing the line, again - all feels similar to June JHA in Lux
No deal on crisis regulation in today’s JHA after Italy dragged its feet.
But Ylva Johansson says EU Ambos will approve an agreement over coming days.
This is line with Italian FM Tajani saying that ITA is not against but asking for more time to conduct legal checks.
Nordics in Brussels say they are on the brink of extinction as young graduates aren't applying for EU jobs
"They call us the pandas b/c there are so few of us," says a Nordic diplo
Their demand? Country-specific competitions that are seen as anathema by over represented states
The center left candidate Bonaccini is well ahead in the regional election in
#EmiliaRomagna2020
as the first votes are being counted. This would be a huge defeat for
#matteosalvini
who had cast the election as a referendum on himself
After 4 yrs Giorgia Meloni is ready to tell G7 counterparts she is prepared to cut ties with Xi’s landmark foreign policy project
The discussion in Rome is now focused on how to exit Belt and Road, rather than whether to do so
Full story with
@gioleali
and
@StuartKLau
👇🏻
In 2019, Italy was the first G7 country to join China’s global infrastructure program, the Belt and Road Initiative.
But just four years later, Italy is considering calling it quits with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Despite mounting criticism, VDL doubles down on Tunisia deal at
#SOTEU
: "We now want to work on similar agreements with other countries".
She also calls on Austria (without naming) to let in Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen without delay
New: Five groups including EPP, Renew and S&D tabled a motion for a resolution calling for the establishment of an EU-wide Search and Rescue mission following the tragic shipwreck in Pylos
This will be voted by the plenary on Thursday
NEW: The European Ombudsman questioned von der Leyen over the respect of human rights in the controversial EU-Tunisia migrant deal
Another hit for VDL's pet project to halt migrant departures from North Africa
Egypt’s Ambo to EU criticised pro-Israel bias of “some speeches” from Western leaders
On potential EU-Egypt deal:
⁃negotiations haven’t started
⁃it must boost Cairo’s economy
⁃unrelated to events in Gaza
Interview by
@jacopobarigazzi
and I 👇🏻
@SKalyvas
ci spiega perché la vittoria di Mitsotakis in
#Grecia
“può essere l’inizio di una rivolta europea contro i populisti” (l’opposizione in Italia prenda nota). L’intervista sul
@ilfoglio_it
di oggi
“He was wrong about the people of Afghanistan. Whether they stayed or fled, they would still dragged into the conflicts of others. But he was right about the dreamer behind the desk. Ashraf Ghani (…) was describing himself” - Great profile of Ghani by
@unherd
Commission publicly hits back at Michel’s interviews today
The accusation that the Com went about it alone on the Tunisia deal is “partially inaccurate” says a Com spox
While the 2030 enlargement deadline set by Michel “risks undermining the confidence” in the process
Paris clashes with the Commission after getting an ‘F’ grade on its spending plans.
The big question is: will the Berlaymont open an excessive deficit procedure in spring?
Full story from with colleagues
@bsmithmey
and
@gioleali
👇
"Too early to see the results of the EU-Tunisia deal"
The negotiator of the agreement Gert Jan Koopman tells MEPs that it's too soon to see a fall in boat crossings - the drop will (eventually) come as EU cash starts to flow into Tunisia
Full story 👇
EXC: The EU’s personnel agency put off a major entry exam because parts of the test were only in English.
Few weeks ago France sued the Commission over English-only testing – fueling suspicions that Comm feared another court case
Full story 👇
Last month Boris Johnson crumbled Labour’s “Red Wall” in northern England. The same might happen in Italy where Matteo Salvini is seeking to capture
#EmiliaRomagna
, a traditional left-wing stronghold
@NewStatesman
2nd concession was giving MS a choice btw accepting asylum seekers or contributing to new pot of EU cash to finance “projects” in 3rd countries.
“Can be used by 🇮🇹 to convince 🇹🇳 to take migrants back, says EU diplo
Story by me and
@jacopobarigazzi
👇🏻
Le divisioni tra città e campagna, il protagonismo di Salvini e l’incognita delle Sardine.
Ho raccontato storie, personaggi e scenari di queste fondamentali elezioni in
#EmiliaRomagna
per il
@NewStatesman
Commission spox pours cold water on Charles Michel's 2030 enlargement deadline: we are not focused on a date but on candidate countries being ready to join. This is a merit-based process
Johnson fa fuori 11 ex ministri, il nipote di Churchill (Nicholas Soames) e un padre nobile dei Tory (Ken Clarke) per aver votato contro il no deal. Così i conservatori diventano sempre più il Partito del Leave
Nel 1995 Lady Diana fece un’intervista clamorosa con
@BBCPanorama
. Ma il fratello vuole dimostrare che è stata tratta in inganno dal giornalista. I documenti contraffatti, le coperture della BBC e il reporter malato di Covid
Il racconto su
@HuffPostItalia
Von der Leyen and Michel will travel to Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, officials tells me and
@ShawnPogatchnik
. They are both expected to deliver a speech during the conference at
@QUBelfast
👇🏻
La stampa di destra ha fatto una campagna mediatica contro la svolta liberal di
#HarryandMeghan
: la pittura eco friendly, le campagne per il clima e le vacanze con Elton John. Ecco come i tabloid hanno preparato la
#Megxit
NEW: High hopes that EU Ambos will finally approve the crisis regulation on Wed before the Granada summit
The article on NGOs that led to Italy’s veto has been dropped after long negotiations with Germany
But diplos remain cautious on whether Italy will back the text
Per lo
@spectator
la Germania ha un tasso di mortalità basso per il
#coronavirus
perché svolge più tamponi e usa il proprio criterio per classificare i decessi. Ma se ognuno usa un metodo diverso, che senso ha paragonare il numero vittime in ogni paese?
The EU's translation unit doubles down on AI.
Under a new pilot project high-tech machines will translate press releases without any human oversight, in order to cut waiting time for journos 👇
Commission spox Eric Mamer replies to criticism over VDL trip to Israel:
“She can travel wherever she wants and went to Israel to express solidarity after terror attacks. That is among her prerogatives”
We’ll see what EU countries have to say about that
It went largely unnoticed outside Spain but today Borrell announced a possible high-level meeting to discuss peace in Ukraine on the margins of the upcoming UNGA in New York 👇🏻
When Warsaw wants to call Europe, it dials Wojciechowski’s cabinet.
The 68-year-old has become Warsaw’s lobbyist-in-chief in Brussels, prompting accusations he’s neglecting the EU’s 26 other countries.
Full story by
@thisisbartosz
and me 👇
The EU scrapped a major entry exam that was supposed to attract more young people via new rules.
Here is why the Commission has an age problem - and how it plans to solve it.
Full story by
@fed_disario
and Lucia Mackenzie👇🏻
Commission spox says that Tunisia’s decision not to allow entry of MEPs on an official mission has no impact on the controversial migrant deal.
“Continuation of open dialogue is even more important when we have challenges”
“Noi conservatori cerchiamo un guerriero. Per questo votiamo Trump”. I sondaggi, la Brexit, gli swing states e la spaccatura nel Gop. Ne abbiamo parlato con Sarah Elliott, la trumpiana più importante del Regno Unito
@ilfoglio_it
#Election2020
#Usa2020
Serbia’s Europe minister says that EU waited too long to bring countries from the Western Balkans into its orbit - and this damaged 🇪🇺reputation in the WB
“The EU did not react as fast as it reacted with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia”
Full interview 👇
The Qatargate comeback is now compete.
After his release from house arrest, Cozzolino can rejoin the other two MEPs involved in the probe (Tarabella and Kaili) in the European Parliament.
With
@EddyWax
and
@nstamouli
we reported this a month ago 👇🏻
"Yes, but"...the Commission sends a strong political message that it wants Ukraine and Moldova to join the EU asap.
But they must complete a last set of reforms by March before accession talks can formally begin 👇
Poche mascherine, nessun distanziamento sociale e inni nazionalisti. La polizia intanto chiude le uscite di Parliament Square per evitare scontri tra l’estrema destra e
#BLMprotest
The ECJ delivers yet another blow to Orbán's migration policy.
The EU's top court rules that Hungary's push to outsource asylum applications to its embassies in Belgrade and Kyiv is a breach of EU law.
Story 👇
La strategia inglese contro il
#coronavirus
ha destato perplessità in tutto il mondo. Ecco chi sono e cosa pensano Chris Whitty e Patrick Vallance, gli scienziati di Boris Johnson
#COVID
ー19
Nuove restrizioni a Londra. Da sabato non si potranno più incontrare persone al di fuori del proprio nucleo familiare. Sarà la condanna a morte per i bar e ristoranti londinesi?
#londonlockdown
New/ Enlargement commissioner Várhelyi backs EUCO president Michel's 2030 target for enlargement.
"The Commission is ready to work and make 2030 happen to be the year when we can welcome new members of the EU," Várhelyi said during a presser in Ankara with the Turkish FM
Not only Mercosur and Ukraine…Brazil’s Lula whines about French and Italian palace food.
He said that “everything is tiny and restricted,” and that he misses Brazilian recipes when abroad
Wonder what the menu will look like for July’s EU-CELAC summit
EU leaders are locked in talks to agree on a migration text
Meloni just met right-wing allies Orbàn and Morawiecki to push them over the line but there are mourning concerns that there will be no deal
Viaggio tra le famiglie anglo-italiane divise dalla
#Brexit
. Molti inglesi richiedono la cittadinanza italiana ma le norme del decreto sicurezza rendono tutto più complesso. “Ho aspettato due anni prima di essere respinto, è una negazione dei miei diritti”.
This is how Angela Merkel explained the effect of a higher
#covid19
infection rate on the country's health system.
This part of today's press conf was great, so I just added English subtitels for all non-German speakers.
#flattenthecurve
Davide contro Golia, il viaggio delle Tartan Armies e la grande speranza di tornare in Scozia con un punto. Storia della rivalità più antica al mondo 🏴 🏴
#ScotlandvsEngland
via
@HuffPostItalia
Nordics are well represented among the EU's higher ranks
But graduates aren’t coming to Brussels as they struggle with the EU exam and can find a better-paying job at home
Story with
@gi_coi
and Lucia Mackenzie under the guidance of
@Cory_Bennett
👇
Anche stavolta in UK ci sono delle regole ferree che però nessuno riesce a fare rispettare. La confusione di Londra sarà una lezione per l’Italia? Il mio racconto su
@HuffPostItalia
#coprifuoco
#CovidUK
“Il giornalismo d’accatto, pubblicato sul giornale più importante del mondo, stride almeno quanto la faccia troppo abbronzata di Di Maio...”
@SalvatoreMerlo
sulla polemica surreale del Nyt, che critica Di Maio per i motivi sbagliati
Il piano B di Johnson prevede un accordo con Lib-dems e SNP per andare al voto a dicembre (anche Corbyn potrebbe convertirsi alla causa). Un’altra sconfitta indolore per il premier
“Londra è stata la meta di punta per migliaia di giovani alla ricerca di un lavoro. Dopo
#BrexitDay
questo non sarà più possibile”. Viaggio tra gli italiani di Londra che aspettano la
#Brexit
con rassegnazione e un po’ di malinconia
Quest’anno niente Ibiza o Maiorca, gli inglesi preferiscono la
#staycation
. Così il Covid sta rilanciando il turismo britannico. Il mio racconto su
@HuffPostItalia
Gli scozzesi ci ringraziano per la vittoria dell’
#Euros2020
. Un “gufo” 🏴 ci dice: “Chiedermi di tifare 🏴 sarebbe come chiedere a un romanista di tifare Lazio in finale di Champions”. Il mio racconto su
@HuffPostItalia
Why did Italy finally turn on the migration deal?
The key has been giving EU countries more wiggle room to return migrants to “safe” countries.
Potentially one can ask 🇹🇳 to take back migrants who were not born there as it happens with the 🇸🇾 in 🇹🇷, says an EU diplo
Everyone is holding their breath in
#EmiliaRomagna2020
. The center-left’s Bonaccini is currently ten points ahead of the League according to
@TgLa7
while Rai’s poll gives him a narrow margin of two points. This would be the first defeat for Salvini in a regional vote since 2018
Nella sua chiamata su Zoom con un gruppo di elettori
@Keir_Starmer
non attacca mai il governo Tory. Dall’opposizione costruttiva alle scelte divisive, sta nascendo una nuova leadership nel Labour.
Il mio racconto sul
@ilfoglio_it
ITV sembra la tv di stato nordcoreana. C’è un contatto, tanto meritavamo il secondo gol…è tanto difficile ammettere che il rigore è inventato?
#englandvdenmark
Niente quarantena in UK per chi viene dai paesi arancioni e ha la doppia dose di vaccino. Non uscirà sulle prime pagine ma è una grande grande notizia per gli 🇮🇹 in 🏴 (e anche per gli inglesi che vogliono andarsene al caldo, ovvio)
#FREE
#coronavirusuk
Johnson crea tre livelli di restrizioni e annuncia un lockdown di fatto a Liverpool. Ma i sindaci del Nord (anche i Tory) non sono soddisfatti
@HuffPostItalia
@GoodwinMJ
Fiscal rules have been (temporarily) suspended in the EU. Germany has finally ditched austerity. Italy is about to receive over 300 BN (!) from the EU and can finally make long-term investments. This looks like a pretty “rosy future” to me...
Riassunto semplice ed efficace delle elezioni inglesi. La scelta è tra Johnson e tutti gli altri. A Corbyn non serve avere la maggioranza per diventare premier. Gli basta che i Tories restino sotto la soglia di 326 seggi per formare una coalizione arcobaleno con SNP, Lib Dems etc
"Chances of a Labour majority?"
"As close to zero as to be effectively zero."
Veteran political analyst Professor John Curtice says "the Tories are about 2:1 on to get the majority" in the general election.
The 'Ndrangheta became one of the biggest criminal orgs in the world - by teaming up with people like Lucio Aquino
Here is how “The Godfather
of Maasmechelen” joined a global drug network that stretches from Calabria to Colombia and Australia👇🏻
Poland publicly came out against mandatory relocations, which would force each EU member to take a share of migrants. But the Commission says that MRs are off the table, and that it is pushing for “mandatory solidarity” instead
“Catering to the right-wing bigwigs was less about showering them with freebies and more about highly customized service to feed their egos” via
@washingtonian
Il dna socialista, le battaglia civili e un grande punto interrogativo: riuscirà ad archiviare cinque anni di corbynismo?
Chi è e cosa pensa Keir Starmer, il nuovo leader del Labour
#LabourLeadership
Bonaccini’s thumping victory against Salvini in
#EmiliaRomagna
shows that a serious, competent and non-militant socialist can win against Europe’s most feared populist. Labour’s leadership hopefuls should learn the lesson
Meloni blames political foes (i.e. Socialists) for the poor results of EU-Tunisia deal
Those describing Tunisia as “unsafe country” are “trying to undermine EU’s ability to manage migration flows.”
Respect for Tunisia “has been lacking (...) & it created problems we're seeing.”
“La guerra in Ucraina ha svelato il bluff di Putin”. La strategia del Cremlino, l’errore dell’occidentale e l’autunno caldo che aspetta Putin. Intervista a tutto campo con
@MarkGaleotti
via
@HuffPostItalia
Meloni claimed victory over the crisis file - all eyes were on symbolic issue of NGOs in the Med but there are many reasons for Ita not to be too cheerful about everything else
@jacopobarigazzi
and I have details, winners and losers of today’s deal 👇🏻
Oggi si vota in
#Grecia
e
@kmitsotakis
è molto avanti nei sondaggi. Dall’Europa al taglio delle tasse, ecco cosa pensa il grande favorito per il dopo Tsipras
EU-Tunisia relations hit rock bottom
Tunisia's FM Nabil Ammar says he sent back 60 million of EU money on October 9, according to local media reports
He accused the EU of repackaging funding from old programs and peddling "incorrect information" on MOU
La Gran Bretagna sta attraversando tutto ciò che è già successo dell’Italia con dieci giorni di ritardo. La borghesia londinese si rifugia in campagna per l’auto isolamento, provocando l’ira dei residenti di provincia
@HuffPostItalia
#Covid_19
In today’s Brussels Playbook we’ll bring you up to speed with:
⁃ What the Balkans expect from the EU
⁃ Israel’s EU envoy on the West’s wobbling support
⁃ Italy’s plan to outsource migrants to Albania
….and much more 👇🏻
La delusione tra gli stand laburisti e il sollievo per il verdetto della Corte. “Resterà il ricordo di Johnson che ha violato la legge, ma nessuno si ricorderà che abbiamo cercato di fare fuori il nostro vicesegretario” Cronache da un partito infelice
“Bada al sodo, è poco curiosa e non ha sbalzi d’umore”. I diari di un’amica d’infanzia raccontano la regina Elisabetta da giovane
L’amore per Filippo, il carattere introverso, i giochi di campagna e molto altro su
@HuffPostItalia
Today Berlusconi will be watching the Forza Italia party congress in a hospital bed.
But his shadow will fill conference center in Milan.
MPs and powerbrokers will finally be asking themselves: what happens when Silvio's no longer there?
Story 👇