Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com
🇺🇸🇪🇺American by birth, European by choice
Brussels-based journalist www.DaveKeating.net
Find me on Substack: https://davekeating.substack.com/
Brussels-based journalist www.DaveKeating.net
Find me on Substack: https://davekeating.substack.com/
Pinned
Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com
· Oct 23
The agenda item at today's 🇪🇺#EUCO summit on 'climate & competitiveness' is chiefly about undoing some of the climate legislation that was passed during the 2019-2024 term (partly due to a 🇺🇸command).
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
Reposted by Dave Keating
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
Lesson for Europeans sucking up to Trump - look how much you're getting screwed while Brazil, India & China defy him and end up winning.
"When Macron's like, 'Oh Donald you're a genius'" says Ben Rhodes, "they keep getting the rug pulled from under them"
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/p...
"When Macron's like, 'Oh Donald you're a genius'" says Ben Rhodes, "they keep getting the rug pulled from under them"
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/p...
November 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Lesson for Europeans sucking up to Trump - look how much you're getting screwed while Brazil, India & China defy him and end up winning.
"When Macron's like, 'Oh Donald you're a genius'" says Ben Rhodes, "they keep getting the rug pulled from under them"
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/p...
"When Macron's like, 'Oh Donald you're a genius'" says Ben Rhodes, "they keep getting the rug pulled from under them"
podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/p...
Reposted by Dave Keating
'This isn't an opinion. This is counting.'
- A 100,000 drop in net migration costs us £7bn
- Scrapping the two-child benefit cap costs us £3bn
What gets more attention?
James O’Brien says 'we have become a ludicrous country'.
- Scrapping the two-child benefit cap costs us £3bn
What gets more attention?
James O’Brien says 'we have become a ludicrous country'.
November 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
'This isn't an opinion. This is counting.'
The EU's ethics watchdog just ruled that 🇪🇺President von der Leyen's use of 'omnibus' packages to implement 🇺🇸President Trump's EU policy wishlist violates fundamental principles of good administration, including transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based law making.
Ombudsman finds maladministration in how Commission prepared urgent legislative proposals
The proposals concerned corporate sustainability due diligence (Omnibus I), the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and countering migrant smuggling.
www.ombudsman.europa.eu
November 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
The EU's ethics watchdog just ruled that 🇪🇺President von der Leyen's use of 'omnibus' packages to implement 🇺🇸President Trump's EU policy wishlist violates fundamental principles of good administration, including transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based law making.
"What is happening here is severe, it is a direct attack on civil society," says 🇫🇷MEP @tpellerincarlin.bsky.social.
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."
🚨We will not take part in the witch-hunt of civil society and will not legitimise the work of the so-called scrutiny working group on the funding of NGOs from the EU budget.
We reject political witch-hunts disguised as oversight!
www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds...
We reject political witch-hunts disguised as oversight!
www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds...
S&Ds will never legitimise the EPP's attempts to misuse the European Parliament in their witch-hunt of NGOs | Socialists and Democrats
Today, the Socialists and Democrats and other pro-European political groups will not take part in the witch-hunt of civil society and will not legitimise the work of t
www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu
November 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM
"What is happening here is severe, it is a direct attack on civil society," says 🇫🇷MEP @tpellerincarlin.bsky.social.
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."
In Tuesday's same-sex marriage ruling, the 🇪🇺 high court went as far as it could go given the EU's limited competence over domestic social issues.
What we've ended up is the backstop to the 2015 Obergefell Supreme Court decision, an EU RFMA.
Explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
What we've ended up is the backstop to the 2015 Obergefell Supreme Court decision, an EU RFMA.
Explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
November 27, 2025 at 9:58 AM
In Tuesday's same-sex marriage ruling, the 🇪🇺 high court went as far as it could go given the EU's limited competence over domestic social issues.
What we've ended up is the backstop to the 2015 Obergefell Supreme Court decision, an EU RFMA.
Explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
What we've ended up is the backstop to the 2015 Obergefell Supreme Court decision, an EU RFMA.
Explained here: davekeating.substack.com/p/the-eu-jus...
🇪🇺President @VonDerLeyen's VP has gone off script with a rare honest assessment of Trump's behaviour toward Europe.
"It is blackmail."
Will VDL 'breton' her? Or is this a coordinated good cop/bad cop routine – with Ribera able to say things VDL can't?
"It is blackmail."
Will VDL 'breton' her? Or is this a coordinated good cop/bad cop routine – with Ribera able to say things VDL can't?
Top EU official accuses US of ‘blackmail’ in trade talks
Renewed U.S. pressure for the EU to recalibrate its digital rules is unacceptable, says Teresa Ribera.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🇪🇺President @VonDerLeyen's VP has gone off script with a rare honest assessment of Trump's behaviour toward Europe.
"It is blackmail."
Will VDL 'breton' her? Or is this a coordinated good cop/bad cop routine – with Ribera able to say things VDL can't?
"It is blackmail."
Will VDL 'breton' her? Or is this a coordinated good cop/bad cop routine – with Ribera able to say things VDL can't?
We're on day 3 of a national strike here in #Belgium.
Unions are protesting the #austerity measures of the new right-wing government in power since last year's election.
New budget cuts were agreed Monday - ending raises indexed at inflation and limiting pensions after long-term sick leave.
Unions are protesting the #austerity measures of the new right-wing government in power since last year's election.
New budget cuts were agreed Monday - ending raises indexed at inflation and limiting pensions after long-term sick leave.
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
We're on day 3 of a national strike here in #Belgium.
Unions are protesting the #austerity measures of the new right-wing government in power since last year's election.
New budget cuts were agreed Monday - ending raises indexed at inflation and limiting pensions after long-term sick leave.
Unions are protesting the #austerity measures of the new right-wing government in power since last year's election.
New budget cuts were agreed Monday - ending raises indexed at inflation and limiting pensions after long-term sick leave.
The 🇪🇺high court ruled today EU countries must recognise the same-sex marriages conducted by other member states in their own national law.
There are many questions about the ruling, which could mean that people living in Eastern EU simply need to have a ceremony in the West to be married at home.
There are many questions about the ruling, which could mean that people living in Eastern EU simply need to have a ceremony in the West to be married at home.
November 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The 🇪🇺high court ruled today EU countries must recognise the same-sex marriages conducted by other member states in their own national law.
There are many questions about the ruling, which could mean that people living in Eastern EU simply need to have a ceremony in the West to be married at home.
There are many questions about the ruling, which could mean that people living in Eastern EU simply need to have a ceremony in the West to be married at home.
Reposted by Dave Keating
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
The latest in this year of EU surrender to Trump.
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
Brussels is done being the world’s digital policeman
The “Brussels Effect” is dead. Now Washington is setting the pace on deregulation in Europe.
www.politico.eu
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The latest in this year of EU surrender to Trump.
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
"On Nov. 19 the 🇪🇺Commission made an outright retreat on its data and privacy rules."
"Brussels finally gave up on its decade-long dream of seeking to be the predominant global tech regulator that would rein in American tech titans."
Reposted by Dave Keating
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
After spending years declining to rule on this issue for fear of sparking an intense backlash from the EU's East, the ECJ just ruled that EU countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
The EU just de facto legalised gay marriage
In a ruling similar to the 2015 US Supreme Court decision granting same-sex marriage in all states, the EU Court of Justice says EU countries must recognise all marriages from other member states.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
After spending years declining to rule on this issue for fear of sparking an intense backlash from the EU's East, the ECJ just ruled that EU countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
Reposted by Dave Keating
Absolutely. On climate, you can’t deregulate your way to the future. You’re just reducing pressure to innovate in an world where the status quo is bad.
According to Oxford professor of energy Jan Rosenow, rapid electrification of Europe's industry, not rolling back the EU's Green Deal, will save European industry.
Why electrification, not repealing green laws, will save Europe's industry
According to Oxford professor of energy Jan Rosenow, rapid electrification of Europe's industry, not rolling back the EU's Green Deal, will save European industry.
euobserver.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Absolutely. On climate, you can’t deregulate your way to the future. You’re just reducing pressure to innovate in an world where the status quo is bad.
"Flattery of Donald Trump is an integral part of the EU's tactics, no matter how humiliating the exercise. Avoiding disaster takes precedence over everything else. But does 'Daddy diplomacy' actually work?"
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
Les limites de la “Daddy diplomacy” de l’UE
Bonjour !
lamatinaleeuropeenne.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
"Flattery of Donald Trump is an integral part of the EU's tactics, no matter how humiliating the exercise. Avoiding disaster takes precedence over everything else. But does 'Daddy diplomacy' actually work?"
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
"Faced with allies willing to become vassals, appetite grows with eating."
Reposted by Dave Keating
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Nicolas Guillou, French ICC judge sanctioned by the US: 'You are effectively blacklisted by much of the world's banking system'
Six judges and three prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have been sanctioned by the Trump administration. In an interview with Le Monde, Guillou discusses the impact of these measures on ...
www.lemonde.fr
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Dave Keating
Lutnick on his meetings with EU leaders: "The idea is, 'Come on guys, embrace the ideas and the model of the Trump administration and you'll get a trillion of investment here.' So we're trying to teach them, encourage them to follow the Trump lead."
November 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Lutnick on his meetings with EU leaders: "The idea is, 'Come on guys, embrace the ideas and the model of the Trump administration and you'll get a trillion of investment here.' So we're trying to teach them, encourage them to follow the Trump lead."
#DigitalOmnibus
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
November 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
#DigitalOmnibus
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
The good news: No more (or at least less) of those annoying cookie pop-ups in the EU.
The bad news: Digital rights campaigners say 🇪🇺President Von der Leyen is handing over Europeans' sensitive data to 🇺🇸 in order to appease Trump.
Reposted by Dave Keating
Pleasure having @davekeating.substack.com swing by the studio during his Paris weekend break to talk about the uproar around the EU's planned tweaks to GDPR and the AI Act. Thanks Dave!
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
Brussels under fire for softening grip on Big Tech • FRANCE 24 English
YouTube video by FRANCE 24 English
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Pleasure having @davekeating.substack.com swing by the studio during his Paris weekend break to talk about the uproar around the EU's planned tweaks to GDPR and the AI Act. Thanks Dave!
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
youtu.be/NqQqi8QGEiU
🇪🇺President von der Leyen statement on the 28-point 🇷🇺🇺🇸 peace plan for 🇺🇦:
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
Statement by President von der Leyen on Peace Discussions for Ukraine
Ukraine has been at the heart of many discussions over the past days.\nAny credible and sustainable peace plan should first and foremost stop the killing and end the war, while not sowing the seeds fo...
ec.europa.eu
November 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
🇪🇺President von der Leyen statement on the 28-point 🇷🇺🇺🇸 peace plan for 🇺🇦:
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
"As a sovereign nation there cannot be limitations on Ukraine's armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security."
"Centrality of 🇪🇺 must be fully reflected"
New: Following broadcaster complaints about 🇮🇱government get-out-the-vote campaigns, #Eurovision has introduced new voting rules against "disproportionate promotion campaigns" carried out or supported by governments or state agencies.
Eurovision unveils major voting rule changes for 2026
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced a series of changes to the Eurovision Song Contest voting rules for 2026 in a move it says is designed to strengthen trust, transparency and audienc...
www.rte.ie
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 AM
New: Following broadcaster complaints about 🇮🇱government get-out-the-vote campaigns, #Eurovision has introduced new voting rules against "disproportionate promotion campaigns" carried out or supported by governments or state agencies.
Here in Paris they are marking the 10th anniversary of the #ParisAgreement, as they digest the disappointing news from Brazil about the outcome of #COP30, which just ended.
November 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Here in Paris they are marking the 10th anniversary of the #ParisAgreement, as they digest the disappointing news from Brazil about the outcome of #COP30, which just ended.
This is the general choice facing all of Europe at the moment.
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
Ukraine faces losing dignity or US support with Trump’s plan to end war, Zelensky says | CNN
Ukraine is at “one of the most difficult moments” of its history, the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, as a proposal to end the fighting drafted by the United States puts pressur...
www.cnn.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This is the general choice facing all of Europe at the moment.
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
So far our European leaders like von der Leyen, Starmer, Rutte and Merz have decided Europeans should lose their dignity rather than lose US support.
Will that calculation now change?
European leaders are scrambling today - afraid to publicly criticise the 🇺🇸🇷🇺 peace plan for fear of angering Trump, but behind the scenes terrified of the implications of a US-ordered 🇺🇦surrender.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.
November 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
European leaders are scrambling today - afraid to publicly criticise the 🇺🇸🇷🇺 peace plan for fear of angering Trump, but behind the scenes terrified of the implications of a US-ordered 🇺🇦surrender.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.
An emergency 🇪🇺#EUCO summit may be called to figure out what to do.