European Council is the same old racked, this Fatima advert just doesn’t hack it, and Finnish PM is shamed over low-cut jacket.
Another week, another European Council Summit day
Man from Jarrett reckons it’ll be a bit of a slog…
Summit day! #EUCO #SuiGenerisNerdProm 🇪🇺🤓 pic.twitter.com/5h134wSZaS
— Man from JARRETT 🌐™ (@jarrettreckse) October 15, 2020
But Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is looking forward to discussing
COVID19, Brexit, Climate Change and Africa.
I look forward to our discussions in #EUCO today:
▫️#COVID19 – citizens expect clear & effective answers
▫️Negotiations with 🇬🇧 – we want a good deal but not at any price
▫️Climate: ✂️ emissions by 55% by 2030 is ambitious but feasible
▫️Africa – we have much in common to tackle— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 15, 2020
That last topic will be a blessed relief after those first three for starters!
Rather you than me Ursula!
11 countries had already called for at least a 55% cut in greenhouse gas emissions.
Already 11 countries call for ‘at least 55%’ as new EU 🇪🇺 reduction target in 2030. To be laid down in updated #NDC.
🇩🇰 🇪🇪 🇫🇮 🇫🇷 🇮🇪 🇱🇻 🇱🇺 🇳🇱 🇵🇹 🇪🇸 🇸🇪 @UNFCCC https://t.co/QJkd3nKepH
— Marcel Beukeboom 🚲 (@MBeukeboom) October 15, 2020
That rose to 12 as the Czechs dropped their objections… albeit subject to certain conditions.
You got to love #EUCO times. It’s like regular politics, but 1000x more condensed and with a crazy timeline.
You got to love #EUCO times. It's like regular politics, but 1000x more condensed and with a crazy timeline.#EUCO #EUGreenDeal https://t.co/g3wuvotoaQ
— Quentin Genard (@QuentinGenard) October 15, 2020
France, meanwhile was sending an unambiguous message on Brexit: it takes fishing seriously and expects EU solidarity
France sending unambiguous message ahead of today’s #EUCO on Brexit: it takes fishing seriously and expects EU solidarity https://t.co/GqfHzKgpjF
— Michel Rose (@MichelReuters) October 15, 2020
But don’t expect any white smoke!
Do you remember when the October summit was meant to seal the deal? Asked Beatrice Rios.
Do you remember when the October summit was meant to seal the deal? https://t.co/FSLMRgeZI1
— Beatriz Ríos (@BeaRios_) October 14, 2020
On Monday, Twitter erupted in repose to a ham-fisted British government reskilling campaign.
This has made me so angry tweeted Hannah Jane Parkinson
this has made me so angry pic.twitter.com/fD4arUoYnw
— Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) October 12, 2020
In response to the advert suggesting, Fatima, a ballet dancer’s next job could be in “cyber”… whatever that means, she just doesn’t know it yet!
Scottish MP Joan McAlpine pointed out that a professional ballet dancer has sacrificed years of their life to tough physical training requiring the utmost dedication. They will endure pain, and all that on top of exceptional natural gifts. The ad is so insulting in so many ways
A professional ballet dancer has sacrificed years of their life to tough physical training requiring the utmost dedication. They will endure pain, and all that on top of exceptional natural gifts. The ad is so insulting in so many ways https://t.co/clvfKXdqCK
— Joan McAlpine (@JoanMcAlpine) October 12, 2020
And of course many were quick to point out that “Even with no IT skills dancer Fatima could have made a better Track & Trace app than the ones we outsourced to our beloved friends.”
You can also interpret the ad in a positive way: “Even with no IT skills dancer Fatima could have made a better Track & Trace app than the ones we outsourced to our beloved friends.”
— Kristof Terreur 📰🎥 (@HLNinEngeland) October 12, 2020
Others took aim at government advisor Dominic Cummings: Dom’s next job could be in the prison laundry
With thanks to @mandascott for spotting this one… pic.twitter.com/fp9E2tR3y1
— robintransition (@robintransition) October 12, 2020
Or the PM: Boris Johnson’s next job could be sooner than he thinks. (He just doesn’t know it yet)
Johnson’s next job could be sooner than he thinks. (He just doesn’t know it yet) pic.twitter.com/XnYvGIBoYf
— So Solid Crew / Mega (@OFFICIALSOSOLID) October 13, 2020
UPDATE: Fatima is still struggling to keep the dream alive.
UPDATE: #Fatima struggles to keep the dream alive. https://t.co/i030vzbFEy pic.twitter.com/5C0yfXgcrA
— Jennifer Baker (@BrusselsGeek) October 12, 2020
Finally this week the Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin came in for some seriously unwarranted abuse over her neckline. Yes you heard that right. The leader of an EU country is getting judged over her clothing choices!
As Egan Richardson pointed out the photoshoot seems to have triggered a lot of people.
Sanna Marin's latest photoshoot seems to have triggered a lot of people https://t.co/J1pYAjogzK
— Egan Richardson (@EganRichardson) October 13, 2020
But she also garnered a lot of support. Swedish MP Linda Snecker, tweeted women are still judged by our appearance #imwithsanna
Kvinnor döms fortfarande efter vårt utseende, oavsett om du som Sanna Marin är Finlands statsminister eller som jag svensk riksdagsledamot.
Kvinnokampen tar aldrig slut #imwithsanna pic.twitter.com/uosJmiy82H— Linda Snecker (@lindasnecker) October 15, 2020
While Jussi P. Laine pointed out the hypocrisy: Marin (on the left) and Finns Party MEP, Teuvo Hakkarainen (on the right). Only one of the photos has been claimed to be inappropriate and tasteless. Guess which one?
Please meet our Prime Minister Marin (on the left) and member of the European Parliament, representing the Finns Party, Teuvo Hakkarainen (on the right) in the recent PR photos. One of the photos has been claimed to be inappropriate and tasteless. Guess which one? Oh man. pic.twitter.com/Q65fiqrX3P
— Jussi P. Laine (@JussiPLaine) October 9, 2020
Jack Parrock also lampooned the critics, saying I’m wearing a thin, blue merino jumper today and it’s also got a message. It’s the jumper I wear when annoyed about women being reduced to their clothing when they’re talking about important issues.
I'm wearing a thin, blue merino jumper today and it's also got a message. It's the jumper I wear when annoyed about women being reduced to their clothing when they're talking about important issues. https://t.co/E60DUWxjFx
— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) October 14, 2020
That’s it for this week! Join me again next week for more necklines and headlines in the Brussels Bubble Twittershpere.