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Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓

Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓

@francesconicoli.bsky.social

6.2K followers 2.4K following 3K posts

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%

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Posts Replies Media Videos

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Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓 @francesconicoli.bsky.social · 4d

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.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 7h

🇯🇵👀🇺🇦 Japan's government denied a media report that it had rebuffed EU request to join plans to use frozen Russian state assets to fund Ukraine, - Reiters

"It's completely false," Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura said.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli, Philippe Buc

Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 9h

Just sent out this post. For Europeans to start looking after their own security one step seems vital, they need to stop genuflecting to official Washington, which always "hopewashes" the policies of Donald Trump. Unless Europe can think for itself, it will fail. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Europe Needs To Stop Listening to the "Hopewashing" from Official Washington

open.substack.com

Reposted by Henrik Skaug Sætra, Francesco Nicoli

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 10h

🚨🚨"Elon Musk Has Made X a Threat to Democracy and His War on the EU Proves It". Caroline Orr Bueno has an excellent report here on how #Musk has turned #Twitter/#X into a tool for foreign #interference which monetises and weaponises a global network of disinformation. bylinetimes.com/2025/12/08/e...

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Caroline T. Schroeder, Manisha Sinha , and 1 more Elizabeth Saunders, Caroline T. Schroeder, Manisha Sinha, Francesco Nicoli

Adam Parkhomenko @adamparkhomenko.bsky.social · 1d

It is newsworthy that the president of the United States is increasingly verbally abusive of women reporters and he should be asked about it.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

Joni Askola @joniaskola.bsky.social · 1d

The amount of blood China has on its hands for helping Russia kill Ukrainians is underrated.

China is the reason Russia can still continue its war.

China is effectively at war with Europe and should not be considered a partner.

Partners don’t kill each other

Reposted by Stephen Ryan, Francesco Nicoli

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

The US under Trump is a hostile state against whom appeasement does not work

Farage is his agent in the UK and the public need to be reminded repeatedly of his close ties to Trump

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

European Council president warns US not to interfere in Europe’s affairs

The new US national security strategy codifies a seismic shift in transatlantic relations, say experts

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

UNITED24 @u24.gov.ua · 1d

“We are at war with Europe, not with Ukraine. This war will not end until we defeat Europe.”

If it acts like an aggressor, quacks like an aggressor, then it probably is russia.

They want to take over the entire continent. Take their word for it.

Reposted by Seán Hanley, Simon Lester, Francesco Nicoli , and 1 more Seán Hanley, Simon Lester, Francesco Nicoli, Dionyssis G. Dimitrakopoulos

Alice Stollmeyer @stollmeyer.bsky.social · 2d

3 years ago, when I recommended a massive organised switch away from X/Twitter, the EU Commission’s argument was “but our audience is there.”

Since then, that argument has become less valid by the day.

#DefendDemocracy #DSA #HandsOffMyEU

Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 2d

I don't see what's stopping the European Commission from saying something along the lines of: "We will no longer post on X and we don't think citizens of EU nations should post there either."

Jon Worth @jonworth.eu · 2d

So what's the outcome?

2️⃣5️⃣ of the 27 Commissioners have posted in the last week

2️⃣4️⃣ of the 27 generally post every week (Albuquerque has never been on X, Ribera is sporadic, McGrath has somehow stopped)

0️⃣ have stopped as a result of what Twitter has become since the Musk takeover

Reposted by Christian Odendahl, Francesco Nicoli

Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 2d

I don't see what's stopping the European Commission from saying something along the lines of: "We will no longer post on X and we don't think citizens of EU nations should post there either."

Jon Worth @jonworth.eu · 2d

So what's the outcome?

2️⃣5️⃣ of the 27 Commissioners have posted in the last week

2️⃣4️⃣ of the 27 generally post every week (Albuquerque has never been on X, Ribera is sporadic, McGrath has somehow stopped)

0️⃣ have stopped as a result of what Twitter has become since the Musk takeover

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 2d

🇺🇦🇮🇹 Zelensky to travel to Italy after London, - Il Messaggero

Zelensky will visit Rome on Tuesday. The decision was made after a telephone conversation with Meloni.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

The Ukrainian Review @theukrainianreview.bsky.social · 2d

🇪🇺 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

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

Joerg Lau @joerglau.bsky.social · 2d

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.

Reposted by Aviel Roshwald, Francesco Nicoli

Bylines Scotland @bylines.scot · 2d

European Federation of Journalists to stop posting content on X

The EFJ represents over 295,000 journalists in 44 countries.

www.thelondoneconomic.com

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 2d

🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 2d

❌ 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

Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓 @francesconicoli.bsky.social · 2d

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

Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓 @francesconicoli.bsky.social · 2d

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.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 2d

"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...

Reposted by Greg Linden, Francesco Nicoli, Michael Gentile

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 2d

Kremlin: The new US security strategy is “largely aligned” with Russia’s vision.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 2d

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

Reposted by Sebastian Dullien, Francesco Nicoli

Cihan Çelik @cihancelik.bsky.social · 2d

Wehrhafte Demokratie kann auch bedeuten: Twitter zerschlagen.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

epistocratico.bsky.social @epistocratico.bsky.social · 2d

www.repubblica.it/esteri/2025/...
Nel frattempo il criminale assassino e macellaio Putin dispensa pace

Missili per spegnere l’Ucraina, Zelensky sente Witkoff e Kushner

Attacchi a tappeto contro le infrastrutture energetiche. Il presidente sulle trattative in Florida: “Discussioni costruttive”

www.repubblica.it

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

Roman Senninger @rsenninger.bsky.social · 3d

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.

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 3d

The Russian government represents Putin and his cronies. Musk represents himself.

European News @eunews.social · 3d

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

On Twitter/X, Elon Musk says: “The EU should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual countries, so that governments can better represent their people.” Dmitry Medvedev, ex-President and ex-Prime Minister of Russia, a close ally of Vladimir Putin and currently the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, then replies to Elon Musk’s post approvingly, saying “Exactly.”

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 3d

The cowardice is over the top.

Reposted by Thomas Backhaus, Diane Ravitch, Jacob Montgomery , and 5 more Thomas Backhaus, Diane Ravitch, Jacob Montgomery, Gerald Friedman, Stephen Ryan, Niklas Johansson, Francesco Nicoli, Michael Gentile

Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 3d

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. 🤡 🫣

Francesco Nicoli 🇪🇺 🎓 @francesconicoli.bsky.social · 3d

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

Reposted by Francesco Nicoli

Christoph K @christophkappes.bsky.social · 3d

Sikorski macht es richtig. Gegen Bullies, die um jeden Preis Grenzen verschieben wollen, hilft keine Leisetreterei.

Sikorski vs Musk

Reposted by Ian Butler, Francesco Nicoli

(((Tendar))) @tendar.bsky.social · 3d

Poland‘s Vice President Radoslaw Sikorski absolutely torches Elon Musk.

Reposted by Edgar Morgenroth, Francesco Nicoli

(((Tendar))) @tendar.bsky.social · 3d

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