I just spoke with @Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz. NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany after the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig on 4 August.
The evidence is clear. And I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response. NATO will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat – including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig and elsewhere across the Alliance.
Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and will fail. Our support to Ukraine is unwavering, as is our ironclad commitment to NATO’s collective defence
You know the German holiday season has started when your local Dutch Lidl suddenly sounds like a branch meeting in Düsseldorf.
It happens every summer in tourist areas. You walk in for milk and bread and discover three German families studying the shelves with the seriousness normally reserved for buying property.
The funny thing is that Lidl is German.
They have Lidl at home.
Yet somehow crossing the border transforms the Dutch Lidl into part of the holiday experience.
A German couple will stand in front of the dairy section examining vla.
“Was ist das?”
I once watched this discussion continue for several minutes before the husband finally put a carton in the trolley with the confidence of an explorer bringing an unknown species back to Europe.
Then they discover stroopwafels, frikandelbroodjes, hagelslag and the Dutch wall of mayonnaise-based substances that we have collectively decided qualify as sauces.
Meanwhile, somewhere across the border, Dutch families are doing exactly the opposite. We drive into Germany and invade their supermarkets for beer, enormous bottles of shampoo and anything that appears to cost twelve cents less.
This may be the healthiest relationship between neighbouring countries imaginable.
The Germans come here and buy Dutch groceries from a German supermarket.
The Dutch drive to Germany to buy German groceries because they're cheaper.
Nobody needs a passport, nobody really understands why they're doing it, and both sides return home convinced they got the better deal.
European integration probably has more complicated definitions.
But this one comes with a shopping trolley.
Just making the EU more democratic and less of a black box that nobody understands would get such a boost in support.
The current structure gives too little power to European Citizens to influence the course of the European Project, giving the illusion that "Brussels decides".
While in reality, it is the member states behind closed doors doing all sorts of shady things, instead of giving European citizens control of our continent.
Reform the EU, Federalise! 🇪🇺
Regarding #Iceland, the EU needs a better pitch: it’s an empire without imperialism. In a world of competing superpowers, its umbrella doesn't crush national sovereignty—it shields it, giving smaller nations like Iceland real leverage to protect their interests and values.
EU Says Armenia Is Closer Than Ever to the European Union!
An EU Commission spokesperson said Armenia is closer to the European Union than ever before, following the first-ever EU–Armenia summit in Yerevan.
The spokesperson described the summit as a success and highlighted strong cooperation between the EU and Armenia on the Resilience and Growth Plan, the European Peace Facility and partnership missions.
The Commission said Armenia has taken an important symbolic step toward the EU by adopting the so-called EU bill.
At the same time, the spokesperson stressed that EU accession is a well-defined and merit-based process, requiring a formal application from any aspiring country.
The EU said it is already working to bring Armenia closer through connectivity, trade and wider cooperation.
The spokesperson added that Armenia’s direction is another sign of the European Union’s attractiveness to citizens and noted the clear support coming from Armenian society for closer ties with the EU.
#eudebates #Armenia #EUEnlargement #Yerevan
A larger Union must also become a stronger Union — capable of defending its citizens, its neighbours and its shared values through common institutions and a genuine European defence.
Moldova stands tall and free. Its future is in the European Union — and Europe must be ready.
A majority of Canadians would like to join the EU as of 2026, major newspapers are even saying it has become a "mainstream" opinion.
What do you think? Should Canada join the European Union, join the EFTA, or become closer step by step?
Iceland: Tomorrow, Iceland will hold a referendum on the continuation of EU accession negotiations. The latest Gallup poll is the only poll to show support for "No" over 50% thus far.
Yes: 48.4% (-3.1)
No: 51.6% (+3.1)
+/- vs. 1-13 August 2026
Fieldwork: 24-27 August 2026
Sample size: 1,792
Iceland: EU membership negotiations referendum today 🇮🇸
A Maskína poll from July showed that support for EU membership negotiations was highest in the capital Reykjavík. Opposition in stronger in the rural Eastern region.
Explore: https://t.co/AoULaq5ZGj
Island, za razliku od tradicionalnih kandidata, ne mora iz temelja mijenjati svoj pravni, pravosudni i politički sistem kako bi ispunio standarde EU. Njegov ulazak bi uticao i na trenutne predvodnice – Crnu Goru i Albaniju. https://t.co/sr6WsBvnjG
“Most people do not think. They repeat. They adopt the opinions of those around them, wear them like borrowed clothes, and call it a worldview. And when you dare to think for yourself, really think, they will not admire you for it. They will resent you. Because your refusal to conform is a mirror they did not ask to look into. The unexamined man does not hate you because you are wrong. He hates you because somewhere beneath the noise, he suspects you might be right.”
the autumn agenda as it stands at the moment is that 🇪🇺 commission will present its pre-enlargement policy reviews on 30 sep, 🇪🇺 leaders will "chew" on that at the summit on 16 October & annual enlargement reports will come first after that 🇺🇦🇲🇩🇲🇪🇲🇰🇧🇦🇦🇱🇬🇪🇽🇰🇷🇸
In the newest briefing, we dive into the upcoming EU accession referendum in Iceland, what is being debated and, just as notably, what isn’t (hint: it starts with S and ends with Ecurity).
Varða Briefing #7: Decision Time https://t.co/HpQqvNfO8f
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that geopolitical enlargement had fundamentally changed and that the enlargement process needed to change accordingly.
https://t.co/Xp2ls4KvYC
The black outline is the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
So why can you still see it in a Romanian election map from 2014?
Because the old boundary of Austria-Hungary still leaves a remarkably clear imprint on how parts of Romania vote.
Why?
1/n