Andrew Duff
andrewduffeu.bsky.social
Andrew Duff
@andrewduffeu.bsky.social

Former Member of the European Parliament. Federalist. epc.eu cambridge-connect.uk @volteuropa.org @libdems.org.uk

Andrew Nicholas Duff is a British politician who presided over the Union of European Federalists (UEF) from 2008 to 2013. A member of the Liberal Democrats, he served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the East of England from 1999 to 2014. .. more

Pinned
My 2025

Use the EU institutions you’ve got. Don’t mess around with mirages of something else.
Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen:

"If we have to choose between the US & Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."

"Greenland does not want to be owned by the US. Greenland does not want to be governed by the US" he later added.

Don’t get too excited about London.

Reposted by Andrew Duff

👀 "Lion and Sun" flag at Iranian embassy in London.

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With the PM saying he wants to go further on aligning with the EU, I’ve written for the Guardian about what’s possible:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Keir Starmer has a historic opportunity to fix this awful Brexit – if he follows this plan | Naomi Smith
The new bill giving ministers the power to align trade with the EU has huge practical and symbolic value. Let it herald a new and exciting ambition, says Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain
www.theguardian.com

It’s difficult to type in gloves. 🥶

"strong rhetoric" 😂

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"But the problem is that, while the UK might be changing its outlook on the relationship, the EU is not."

✍️ Following the strong rhetoric used by Starmer in his interview with @bbclaurak.bsky.social, @jreland.bsky.social explains why it isn't quite that simple

🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
New year, same old Brexit trade-offs - UK in a changing Europe
Joël Reland argues that while the UK has indicated that it is keen to align more closely with the EU, the inherent tradeoffs remain the same as the EU will not allow the UK to 'cherry pick' further ac...
ukandeu.ac.uk

Moldova and the Western Balkans will also benefit from the new probationary membership. The EU will have stumbled upon sovereign autonomy. END/ @martakos.ec.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu @europarl.europa.eu

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials and MPs will shadow the work of the EU institutions until the transition is complete. Trump, desperate for his deal, will bully Orban into accepting all this. Hungary's opposition are already on the march. 5/

Only the Council acting by QMV will be able to reverse this process. As Kyiv meets the merit-based criteria on each chapter, its ministers will be empowered to vote in the Council (with no veto) in that sector. 4/

The Commission, European Council and European Parliament should soon jointly table a new accession methodology under Article 49 TEU. Each of the 35 chapters of the accession package will be opened and closed on the initiative of the Commission. 3/

Upending the previous (2020) accession procedure, Ukraine will be granted the status of a member on probation. A safeguard clause will allow the EU to suspend the treaty if things go badly wrong. 2/

Here's my guide to fast-tracking Ukraine's EU membership in 2026. As part of the ceasefire deal, the EU immediately signs the Accession Treaty, which will take at least three years to be ratified by all 27 member states - plus Ukraine itself. 1/

I’m beginning to think that Starmer is not made of prime ministerial material.

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President Zelenskyy on Maduro:

What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators, like that, then the United States of America know what they should do next.

Entering a New Year with a British prime minister who concedes leadership to Putin's useful idiot Trump. Good luck everyone. www.gov.uk/government/n...
PM call with President Trump of the United States, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and European leaders: 28 December 2025
The Prime Minister spoke with President Trump, President Zelenskyy and European leaders.
www.gov.uk
Many will have missed this important announcement on 22 December on progress in a key aspect of the UK/EU reset: more details of the agreement that will provide for UK participation in the EU internal electricity market, a key part of ensuring the UK’s energy security. 🧵 www.gov.uk/government/p...
Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market (HTML)
www.gov.uk

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🎄 Happy holidays from the EPC!

Thank you to our members, partners and community for your trust and engagement throughout 2025.

In uncertain times for Europe, independent policy debate matters more than ever.

Wishing you a peaceful and hopeful holiday season.

🔗 www.epc.eu/publication/...

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⚡ Zelenskyy first revealed the content of the 20 points of the peace plan - a full list from RBC-Ukraine.

▪ Confirmation of Ukraine's sovereignty, non-nuclear status.
▪ Russia-Ukraine non-aggression agreement, ceasefire, monitoring.

1/5

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Your chart actially shows more respondents in both France and Germany want to increase or maintain support for Ukraine than decrease it, by 49% to 46% in the case of Germany (and by more in France).

It's not great, but there's no call to misrepresent it!

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The best gift for our jobless young is a return to Europe, writes William Keegan

https://bit.ly/4axZowF
The best gift for our jobless young is a return to Europe
The rise in UK youth unemployment reflects the lingering effects of Brexit and the necessity of rejoining the EU
bit.ly

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Instead of a thousand words.

#Kyiv. Ukrainian soldier dances with his loved one on the street

📹leonid.romaniuk/Іnstagram

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In the end, Europe takes more than it is willing to make
In the end, Europe takes more than it is willing to make
As Europe’s leaders bicker and evade reality, they might reflect on the final words of the final song on the Beatles’ final album
dlvr.it

Cough. It’s enhanced cooperation under Article 20 TEU. An unprecedented step in terms of EU budget policy. Watch how the MFF negotiations seize on this precedent. Good. Happy Christmas.