Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓
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francesconicoli.bsky.social
Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓
@francesconicoli.bsky.social

All things Europe, in all things European.

Neofunctionalist-in-chief, trilemmer, sci-fi & fantasy nerd.

Political economist, associate professor at Politecnico of Turin, former fellow at Bruegel.

" Europe will be made through crises...." .. more

Political science 64%
Economics 22%
Pinned
JD Vance Munich Speech has become the Vance Doctrine.

Actionable policy which includes and prescribes direct interference into EU democratic processes by supporting far right and Eurosceptic parties.

If this is not the final wake up call Europe, I don't know what is.

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🇪🇺 The EU “needs to be independent or at least be ready to be strong in geopolitical developments, including to have our plans on how peace in Ukraine can be brought and to discuss them with our transatlantic partners,” Kubilius said, - Politico

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Transatlantic relations are going through the 5 stages of grief, only not one after the other, but all at the same time.

denial

anger

bargaining

depression

acceptance

I’d say it’s mostly a wild oscillation between bargaining and depression, with a tinge of acceptance.

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🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

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❌ Putin has no need to sign a peace deal on Ukraine, he is not isolated, — The Sunday Times.

Five-hour talks with US special envoy Witkoff and Kushner yielded no results, but Putin did not count on concessions and is ready for lengthy discussions while his troops are actively advancing on the front

It is really EU wide. The denial and fear are deafening.

At this point, after Musk EU comments and the new US National Security Strategy, any EU comment about the importance of the transatlantic relationship is like a husband refusing to acknowledge his partner isn't anymore into them, even as the partner literally kisses someone else next to them.

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"It is long past time for Europe to realize that, when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine war and the continent’s security, it is, at best, alone. At worst, it now faces two adversaries: Russia in the east and... the US in the west." foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/05/n...
Kremlin: The new US security strategy is “largely aligned” with Russia’s vision.

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As a first step, the EU needs to convince Belgium to hand over the frozen Russian assets. For Europe to fail to do so at the next European Council meeting Dec 18-19 would be disastrous. Belgium’s concerns need to be assuaged, but they can’t be allowed to stand in the way of European security.
Von der Leyen, Merz: Talks with Belgium over Russian assets were ‘constructive’
Yet the Belgian leader gave no indication he will relent on his opposition to use the frozen funds.
www.politico.eu

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Wehrhafte Demokratie kann auch bedeuten: Twitter zerschlagen.

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This reaction should be seen as proof of a confident European Commission that is doing its job well by enforcing rules that protect its citizens.

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The Russian government represents Putin and his cronies. Musk represents himself.
Elon Musk and his Russian friends call for the abolishment of the EU

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The cowardice is over the top.
How to buy yourself a needy malignant narcissist? Just offer him a phony, made up "Peace Prize" & he's all your's!!!
No need for a formal ceremony as he'll snatch from the box & put it on all by himself. Both laughably pathetic AND pathetically laughable. 🤡 🫣

www.bruegel.org/working-pape...

No. We need collective deterrence. Any national deterrence is ultimately external.
How can Europe’s nuclear deterrence trilemma be resolved?
Uncertainty over U.S. nuclear support is forcing Europe to choose between vulnerability, shared deterrence or nuclear proliferation
www.bruegel.org

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Sikorski macht es richtig. Gegen Bullies, die um jeden Preis Grenzen verschieben wollen, hilft keine Leisetreterei.
Poland‘s Vice President Radoslaw Sikorski absolutely torches Elon Musk.
This community note can be framed.

For reference:

X is banned in Russia
Facebook is banned in Russia
Snapchat is banned in Russia
Instagram is banned in Russia
LinkedIn is banned in Russia
Signal is banned in Russia
Discord is banned in Russia
Liebe Europäische Kommission, liebes EU-Parlament: Wie lange wollt ihr noch Content für einen Kanal liefern, dessen Eigentümer euch auflösen will und der eure Reichweite drosselt? Dieser Ort ist eine Jauchegrube. Raus da! Geht lieber dahin, wo Demokratie kein Hassobjekt ist.

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Elon Musk and his Russian friends call for the abolishment of the EU

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Precisely.

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3/ Predictably, other actors such as China and Russia now feel far more confident in their broader geostrategic positions, whether in Russia’s ability to reshape Europe’s security landscape or China’s growing dominance in the Pacific and occupation of Taiwan
Elon Musk is against the European Union being the European Union —he posted this after X (fka Twitter) was fined for violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act.
👇👇

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Chiudere X in EU sarebbe un primo inequivocabile segno che il nostro continente non è più disponibile a farsi intossicare dalla propaganda ostile americana.

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I don’t think that Americans quite understand just how sick and tired of their bullshit we Europeans actually are.
The new US National Security Strategy, in its predictable and characteristic ugliness, is a good occasion for Europe to finally let go of the time-consuming transatlantic crisis management efforts and start focusing on a proper and proactive own strategy instead.
Europe Needs A New Strategy Too
The new US National Security Strategy helps - or forces - European leaders to let go of the consuming transatlantic crisis management efforts and to focus on an own strategy instead.
open.substack.com