Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Mar 31, 2020 • 8 tweets • 6 min read • Read on X

The state of emergency law in #Hungary went through Parliament yesterday. Why is it so worrying and what does it mean for the #EU? THREAD 1/8

New law contains the following:
- State of emergency w/o time limit
- Rule by decree
- Parliament suspended
- all elections suspended
- Spreading fake news + rumors: up to 5 yrs in prison
- Leaving quarantine: up to 8 yrs in prison (as stated by @balazscseko) 2/8

This means indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency in #Hungary; there are no checks and balances left, neither Parliament nor the Courts have a grip on the executive power. #Hungary is now an openly authoritarian state - a development that started back in 2010. 3/8

What are the implications for the EU? Clear infringement of Article 2 TEU & Charter of Fund. Rights. Mutual trust breached, the basis for EU cooperation such as EAW. Copenhagen criteria for access to EU not fulfilled any more ("consolidated democracy") 4/8

Lack of EU response is worrying: #Reynders will “evaluate the emergency measures taken by MS.” EU has been slow & unambitious in response to democratic backsliding in past years. Yes, it lacks infrastructure to ensure #democracy & #RoL- however, this is not the main problem. 5/8

There is a lack of political will from #EUCO to interfere. Reasons:
1/ national sovereignty & subsidiarity principle
2/ #EUCO still needs #Hungary for other decisions, e.g. #MFF.
3/ #RoL not a priority on the agenda & seen as “implicit assumption” for EU cooperation. 6/8

What should the EU do? Improve & Accelerate Art 7 procedure (Croatian Presidency needs to stop consulting and start acting!); RoL conditionality in MFF; Increase Rights & Values Instrument; No structural funds & fin. support if #RoL not respected; Throw Fidesz out of @EPP 7/8

#Hungary is worst case, but other MS are taking similar steps: #Poland w/ presidential elections; #Romania w/ restrictions on the freedom of information. #COVID19 should not be exploited to restrict civil liberties & enable democratic crackdown. 8/8

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Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Jan 23, 2023

Yesterday in true Franco-German fashion, the two countries celebrated 60 years of Elysée Treaty. If I haven't posted anything about it, it's because as a Franco-German myself, I'm truly disappointed with how the relation is going - for years now. Let me tell you why. /1

I've had enough of "dialogue formats" and "cultural encounters". The reality is: The political relationship is strained at best; citizens couldn't care less about their neighbours; there is little funding available for cooperation; less and less people learn the language. /2

The civil society sector is heavily status-quo oriented, & anyone who wants to improve things in the slightest is sidelined. There are signs of hope though, with some 'younger' people doing great work - but it remains rather limited./3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Aug 29, 2022

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This GIF shows how it feels to work on EU politics at the moment, but I'm looking forward to working on a bunch of great projects in the coming months. 👇/1

Very much looking forward to welcoming @ThinkTank_Lab in Brussels next week - besides giving a short input on "how to EU policy analysis", my colleague @FilipeALampe is organising an event on #diversity in EU policymaking with @CnctingEurope that I think is hugely important. /2

The @epc_eu also partnered up for the 'European Think Tank Conference' in October in Berlin to promote the exchange between European think tankers and discuss sector-specific issues. Stay tuned for a great programme! @dgapev dgap.org/en/events/save… /3

Sophie Pornschlegel

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Aug 29, 2022

As a think tanker, there is a fine balance between speaking truth to power (and, for instance, criticising the lack of ambition in view of the challenges we face) and understanding the position of decision-makers, including the need for compromises & other limiting factors. /1

Today was a good example: I was happy to read #Scholz's EU speech & finally have an outline of Germany's EU policy. I get that it could be much worse - the German government fully understands the need for a strong EU and that's a very good premise. /2

I'm also happy to have further details on certain policy fields and to understand where the focus of this government lies. It's also useful to see that certain fields - e.g. industrial policy - have been left out, which also helps define where it could get more difficult. /3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Jun 1, 2022

📖 New publication 📖
It's been almost 100 days since Russia invaded 🇺🇦. In this new paper, @IlkeToygur & I look back at the EU's "modus operandi". We advocate for a more ambitious EU, rather than one that will put unity above everything else./1
epc.eu/en/Publication…

The last #EUCO summit was a wonderful example of how in the EU unity prevails over ambition. After weeks of blockage, we finally have an oil embargo, but only for 75% of Russian oil, and with a temporary exemption for pipeline oil./2

https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1531391899218608133

We start on a positive note: Both the COVID-19 pandemic & the Russian invasion revealed that the EU institutions & leaders are capable of managing crises swiftly and decisively. The EU could use this moment of change to increase its ambition & move European integration forward./3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Apr 11, 2022

After yesterday’s 1st round in the 🇫🇷 election, some takeaways on the campaign, results & what to expect next. A relatively long 🧵, as there is a lot to unpack. /1

First, on the results: 1st round shows Macron as frontrunner. But do not interpret this as a safe win for him in the 2nd round. 33% voted for far-right candidates, 26% for far-left, which brings “extreme” vote in France to over 50% in total. This is worrying. (@lemondefr) /2

2nd round will take place on 24.04. Polls vary between 45:55 & 49:51 for Macron, but it very much depends on Mélenchon voters (22% in 1st round). Several candidates (Pécresse, Hidalgo, Jadot) called for a Macron vote - except Eric Zemmour, who endorsed Le Pen. (@franceinfo) /3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Mar 25, 2022

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First, HR news: @CharlesMichel was re-elected EUCO President for another 2,5 years; @jensstoltenberg's mandate was extended by a year as NATO Secretary-General. /2 politico.eu/article/charle…

Second, NATO news: NATO agreed on 4 new battlegroups on its "Eastern flank". In total, 40,000 soldiers stationed next to the border. More resources will be spent to prevent cyberattacks & to prepare for potential biological & chemical attacks./3 nato.int/cps/en/natohq/…

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