Fitfor55 video is definitely daring, Poland debate was seriously wearing, but nothing beats an interpreter swearing.
And speaking of FitFor55, the European Commission published this promo video this week.
There will be no extra time to stop climate change. ⁰Team 🇪🇺 is delivering with #EUGreenDeal
But to meet our goals & save our planet we need the whole 🌍 to deliver at #COP26.
We are all in the first team. We can all make a difference.
⁰#EveryTrickCounts @EU_Commission @UEFA pic.twitter.com/OEf8E2Enmf— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 18, 2021
It certainly split the crowd.
Angelika Pullen called it a weird campaign saying No more tricks. No more slick PR videos. No more slogans.
Followed by the slogan: #ClimateActionNow!
What a weird campaign – starting from the ill-advised hashtag (surely, the time for 'tricks' is over?) to the notion that individual actions matter more than systemic change. I'm puzzled.
No more tricks. No more slick PR videos. No more slogans. #ClimateActionNow!#EUGreenDeal https://t.co/rhz9FlbrlJ
— Angelika Pullen (@Ang_Pullen) October 18, 2021
Gareth Harding also thought it was an own-goal – I see what you did there!
After 'Fit for 55', another comms own-goal from @EU_Commission:
– Messages buried by slogans
– Odd link between football tricks and saving planet
– Bizarre #EveryTrickCounts hashtag
Enough ad agency gimmickry. Make people care, feel and act about the climate. https://t.co/wrjHQHPVmq— Gareth Harding (@garethharding) October 18, 2021
Sean Goulding Carroll tweeted this.
When it comes to solving the climate crisis… https://t.co/7TGXX28mVD pic.twitter.com/4pftPePTj9
— Sean Goulding Carroll (@Sean_G_Carroll) October 18, 2021
Greenpeace would actually prefer European governments to stop giving over €112 billion to subsidise fossil fuels every year.
any chance yous could use a football to hit a big switch that says: "stop the EU and European governments giving over €112 billion to subsidise fossil fuels every year"?
might be more effective than turning down the thermostat or closing the fridge https://t.co/bY4qySMJFX
— Greenpeace EU (@GreenpeaceEU) October 19, 2021
Mehreen Khan pointed out that Gazprom, Volkswagen, Qatar Airways are among official Uefa sponsors.
Sublime own goal for Greenwashing F.C scored by the Commission here. Gazprom, Volkswagen, Qatar Airways are among official Uefa sponsors for its tournaments and teams https://t.co/rmDaXytC6q
— Mehreen (@MehreenKhn) October 18, 2021
But Tim McPhie was a bit confused by that logic. “You don’t think the Commission should be trying to reach football fans because of who the other sponsors are? Surely the more people who get the message about climate action the better it is?” he said.
Bit confused by the logic here. You don’t think @EU_Commission should be trying to reach football fans because of who the other sponsors are? Surely the more people who get the message about climate action the better it is?
— Tim McPhie (@TimMcPhieEU) October 18, 2021
Anton Lazarus at the European Climate Foundation said it may be an unpopular opinion but he likes the vid and people should stop hating on it.
Unpopular opinion judging by my feed but: This is good and people should stop hating on it https://t.co/KdrrjiMhbg
— Anton Lazarus (@_antlaz_) October 19, 2021
Personally, I just think the more football anywhere, the better!
This episode is supported by the European Biodiesel Board. Want to find out how meeting the #FitFor55 transport decarbonisation targets needs more sustainable biodiesel use? Join the EBB Policy Roundtable on 27 October.
Meeting the #FitFor55 #transport #decarbonisation targets needs more sustainable #biodiesel use‼ 🚛✈️🚢🌍
Want to know why? Join the EBB Policy Roundtable on 🗓️ 27 October | 15.30 – 18.00
Register here ➡️ https://t.co/FHxR0rO8F3 #EUGreenDeal #BiodieselFitForEU pic.twitter.com/lPm5KYjCkG
— EBB – European Biodiesel Board (@EBB_Biodiesel) October 19, 2021
The last time EU leaders met in Brussels in June, they held one of the most ill-tempered, emotional debates about values and the rule of law. Then it was Orban and his LGBTI law on the chopping block. This week it was Poland and its judiciary.
The last time EU leaders met in Brussels in June, they held one of the most ill-tempered, emotional debates about values and the rule of law. Then it was Orban and his LGBTI law on the chopping block. Tomorrow, it will be Poland and its judiciary https://t.co/fYBLAoWTgS
— Mehreen (@MehreenKhn) October 20, 2021
But first, Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki did a warm up at the European Parliament… at length!
DG Meme was left feeling underwhelmed.
When the speaker is allowed 5 minutes but he speaks for 33. pic.twitter.com/i0EUPSk3tx
— DG MEME 🇪🇺 (@meme_ec) October 19, 2021
But Oliver Grimm thought that despite its exaggerated 4 hour length, it was the best exchange of political views he’s heard in the plenary.
Debate is over, after more than four hours, and I must say that, inspite of its slightly exaggerated length, this was the best exchange of political views I've heard in the @Europarl_EN since I started covering the EU in 2009. #EPlenary
— Oliver Grimm (@grimmse) October 19, 2021
Back to the Council Summit and it was business as usual.
“I just read that EU leaders at today’s #EUCO summit are going to “take stock” of the “proposed ‘toolbox’. Never change Brussels, tweeted Craig Winneker.
I just read that EU leaders at today's #EUCO summit are going to "take stock" of the "proposed 'toolbox'"
Never change, Brussels
— Winneker (@CraigWinneker) October 21, 2021
Janos Ammann was more critical. You would think the Commission would take decisive action when its very existence is at stake but now he has the feeling the EU will be “deeply concerned, and carefully examine” its own funeral.
Bisher dachte ich, die Kommission würde spätestens dann entschieden einschreiten, wenn ihre eigene Existenz auf dem Spiel steht. Nun beschleicht mich das Gefühl, dass die EU ihre eigene Beerdigung noch „zutiefst besorgt, sorgfältig prüfen“ wird. https://t.co/vrZyiBFDQ4
— Janos Ammann (@JanosAmmann) October 20, 2021
Parliament President David Sassoli also wants more action. EU states that violate the rule of law should not receive EU funds. We have a mechanism but the Commission is failing to use it.
I have therefore asked our services to prepare a lawsuit against the Commission, he said.
EU states that violate the rule of law should not receive EU funds. We have a mechanism for this but the @EU_Commission is failing to use it.
I have therefore asked our services to prepare a lawsuit against the Commission to ensure rules are enforced. https://t.co/7Z6RP7s8Ns— David Sassoli (@EP_President) October 20, 2021
Watch this space.
Finally this week our Keeping It Real Award goes to this translator – the breakout star of #Farm2Fork debate.
this translator is the breakout star of #Farm2Fork debate pic.twitter.com/ari92oVVc2
— Natasha Foote (@NatashaFoote) October 18, 2021
If you think you had a bad day, think about this interpreter in the European Parliament, added Valentin Dupouey.
If you think you had a bad day, think about this interpreter in the European Parliament. https://t.co/3ApOKYzQj0
— Valentin Dupouey 🌻🇪🇺 (@vdupouey) October 18, 2021
Who said translators are not human? Asked Anna Efstathiou.
Who said translators are not human? 🤣🤣
— Anna Efstathiou 🇪🇺 🇬🇷 (@EfstathAnna) October 19, 2021
Jokes aside, I hope this helps to understand how demanding and stressful simultaneous interpreting can be. Let’s be more appreciative of the great work that
Interpreters do, enabling communication in the most linguistically diverse parliament in the world, pointed out Julia.
Jokes aside, I hope this helps to understand how demanding and stressful simultaneous interpreting can be. Let’s be more appreciative of the great work that @EP_Interpreters do, enabling communication in the most linguistically diverse parliament in the world. https://t.co/fOVKdCJewA
— Julia (@juliavasan) October 19, 2021