Afghan situation leaves Europe stressed, the Bled Strategic Forum is a total sausage fest and German chancellor wannabes are put to the test.
Welcome back! It’s September. Did you have nice holidays? Well you can forget about that now, because we’re going to talk about *that* EU statement on Afghanistan!
It was notably “light” on substance!
American EU Dude described it as quite extra-ordinary. And snarked:
“Ministers took note of the situation in Afghanistan…”
"Ministers took note of the situation in Afghanistan…"@EU_Spaghetti has the latest @EUCouncil statement, and it's quite extra-ordinary
Read the full thing here: https://t.co/oBbvvaXjA1 pic.twitter.com/hf2jjpDuaM
— American EU Dude 🇺🇸🇪🇺😎 (@AmericanEUDude) September 1, 2021
Wow, great!
Altiero Spaghetti is just back from holiday and already feeling incredibly cynical as a result. https://twitter.com/EU_Spaghetti/status/1433072408643219460
Matina Stevis also pointed out that the EU narratives on Afghanistan are all over the place!
“We support Afghans, especially women and girls BUT we don’t want “migrants”. And everyone who needs asylum will get it BUT not if they arrive illegally AND MAYBE the Taliban is not so bad BUT we can’t deport AND maybe we want to”
EU narratives on Afghanistan all over the place. “We support Afghans especially women & girls BUT we don’t want “migrants” AND everyone who needs asylum will get it BUT not if they arrive illegally AND MAYBE Taliban not so bad BUT we can’t deport AND maybe we can/want to”
— Matina Stevis-Gridneff (@MatinaStevis) August 19, 2021
Clear as mud.
European Parliament President David Sassoli was disappointed with the Home Affairs Council. We cannot pretend that the Afghan question does not concern us, he said.
Solidarity is what holds Europe together. We were disappointed with yesterday’s Home Affairs Council. We cannot pretend that the Afghan question does not concern us. Europe needs to live up to its values and give a common response. My speech at #BSF2021 https://t.co/EptkaLu2sG pic.twitter.com/n7XX2dXCuM
— David Sassoli (@EP_President) September 1, 2021
The New York Times reckons that Europe needs a wake up call on Afghanistan, to which Tom Nuttall retorted: Europe seems to get half a dozen wake-up calls every year. Has anyone checked for narcolepsy?
Europe seems to get about half a dozen wake-up calls every year. Has anyone checked for narcolepsy? https://t.co/M9sGMoOIgY
— Tom Nuttall (@tom_nuttall) September 1, 2021
I can think of a few other conditions they should check for while they’re at it!
Naturally Afghanistan was high on the agenda at the Bled Strategic Forum, but the forum scored an epic fail on diversity!
The future of Europe seems to be a male preserve, said Danièle Weber.
The future of Europe seems to be a male preserve. Still @dubravkasuica, EU Commissioner for Democracy and Demography is allowed to take the floor. https://t.co/35YgMv53uB
— Weber Danièle (@WebDaniele) September 1, 2021
Vice President of the European Commission, Dubravka Suica, was the only woman participating alongside 12 men. And Not a single person of colour was included, added Caoilfhionn Gallagher.
The #FutureOfEurope is apparently white, male, middle-aged & has a penchant for navy designer suits. @dubravkasuica the only woman participating in this discussion @BledStratForum, along with 12 men. Not a single person of colour included. #manel #wanel #BSF2021 https://t.co/aLo72BtleG
— Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC (@caoilfhionnanna) September 1, 2021
So there you have it the #FutureOfEurope is white, male, middle-aged and has a serious penchant for navy designer suits.
Do they all shop in the same M&S menswear department as well? Quipped Gibraltar Monkey.
Do they all shop in the same M&S menswear department as well?
— GibraltarMonkey (@GibraltarMinkey) September 1, 2021
Manspreading And ‘Splaining Rife At Slovenia’s ‘Future Of Europe’ Panel ran, Le Chou’s headline
Manspreading And 'Splaining Rife At Slovenia's 'Future Of Europe' Panel pic.twitter.com/4SRZIMsdzf
— Le Chou (@LeChouNews) September 1, 2021
Wait… I thought Le Chou was supposed to be parody!
Let’s hope the future of the Future of Europe is less of a sausage fest.
Let’s hope the future of Europe is less of a sausage fest. https://t.co/HnpntLGK7S
— Mike Zimonyi (@MikeZimonyi) September 2, 2021
This episode is sponsored by The European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance. To find out more about their position on the Digital Services Act and how it plans to tackle transparency in advertising, check out their handy fact sheet.
The #DSA incorporates provisions that tackle, among other things, transparency in advertising. If you wish to know more about the likely impact of this new Regulation, EDAA has drafted a handy Fact Sheet: https://t.co/AnwVAQ9972
— EDAA (@EDAATweets) August 30, 2021
Finally this week, the German election is just four weeks away and the first of three TV debates between candidates Olaf Scholz, Armin Laschet and Annalena Baerbock took place on Sunday.
The 1st of 3 TV debates between Olaf Scholz (SPD), Armin Laschet (CDU/CSU) & Annalena Baerbock (Green) is about to begin.
Election is in exactly four weeks (26 September). Background, discussion & more on our @NewStatesman podcast series Germany Elects:https://t.co/5xbqsWJYS6
— Jeremy Cliffe (@JeremyCliffe) August 29, 2021
With the hashtag #Triell trending, Jens Prausnitz started picturing the good, the bad, and the ugly.
You say #Triell, I picture this: pic.twitter.com/jUPN6irekk
— Jens Prausnitz (@jpleaks) August 30, 2021
Nassreddin Taibi asked Who won the debate?
Who won the debate #RTLTriell #Triell
1. Scholz
2. Baerbock
3. Laschet pic.twitter.com/nw4m7YsraE— Nassreddin Taibi (@Nassreddin2002) August 29, 2021
Because, of course, we have to treat a debate like a football match.
Not sure who “won”, but the general consensus is that Laschet definitely lost.
Laschet right now #Triell pic.twitter.com/WzbRd4iA5S
— Lobgott Piepsam (@zaudertrick) August 29, 2021
Jon Worth also thought Scholz was so sodding boring!
Scholz is so sodding boring #triell
— Jon Worth (@jonworth) August 29, 2021
Stefan Leifert gave us this handy list of the major European policy issues that will shape this election campaign:
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Zur besseren Übersicht hier eine Liste der großen europapolitischen Themen, die diesen Wahlkampf prägen:
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…— Stefan Leifert (@StefanLeifert) August 30, 2021
Uhhh?
Are you saying we’re irrelevant?!
That’s it for this week. Join me again next Friday for more cheers, fears and jeers in the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere.