Sophie Pornschlegel

May 19, 2020 • 7 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X

New 🇫🇷🇩🇪 proposal for 🇪🇺 #COVID19 recovery published yesterday: This is an important & long-awaited step w/ several important proposals on #health, Recovery Fund, #GreenDeal & #Digital. This will help COM have political backing for ambitious proposal. /1 bundeskanzlerin.de/resource/blob/…

Some first thoughts:🇫🇷🇩🇪understanding is necessary, but not sufficient for European Council compromise. And it won't be a walk in the park: Expect opposition from "Frugals" (e.g. 🇦🇹 opposed to an increased #MFF & wants loans.) But positive signs: 🇮🇹 &🇪🇸 on board. /2

On #MFF: question whether 500 bn will be sufficient & how the fund will be used (who gets what, how & when?) - Devil is in the details. Interesting link between #GreenDeal & #Digital. Strong emphasis on #strategicautonomy & #sovereignty in #health is rather positive. /3

#CoFoE mentioned in intro w/ very wide scope: democratic debate on 🇪🇺 project, reforms & priorities. Nothing concrete follows - but at least #CoFoE ist not completely forgotten. Waiting for inter-institutional agreement continues. /4

Looking at what the proposal does *not* include or barely mentions - that either means there is no agreement or is not seen as a priority. My translation: Fair taxation & minimum wage framework mentioned, but difficult politically; #Schengen mentioned but nothing on #migration /5

No mention at all of democracy & #RoL - probably seen as "too sensitive", although it could have nicely been added to the intro imho, such as #CoFoE. Makes me think #MFF RoL conditionality unlikely, even if there is an even bigger need for it w/ emergency measures in place. /6

Conclusion: It was abt time 🇩🇪🇫🇷 proposed sth - earlier would have been better. But all in all, good initiative w/ some concrete proposals. Important step to find EU27 compromise. Let's hope further discussions don't focus solely on Recovery Fund, but are all-encompassing. /7

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More from @spornschlegel

Sophie Pornschlegel

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

Aug 29, 2022

After today's meeting marathon, interviews on the Scholz speech & email galore, I guess it's back to business in Brussels!
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

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

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

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

Mar 25, 2022

Amid all the hustle and bustle, it's hard to keep track of what actually happened yesterday in Brussels. Here are some takeaways from the diplomatic showdown (NATO, G7, EUCO) including @POTUS attendance & @ZelenskyyUa speeches. A 🧵 /1

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/…