Virginia Mucchi
Head of Outreach and Impact, @ecdpm.bsky.social. Interested in comms, EU politics, EU-Africa and international relations. Sudden fascination with AI. Views are mine.
- The EU's collective ability to shoot itself in the foot is mind-boggling. Let's see what the rest of the week brings... 🫣
- In a shock result, the European Parliament has just voted to refer 🇪🇺President @VonDerLeyen's signature of the #Mercosur agreement to the EU's high court by razor-edge vote on 334 to 324. A heavy blow to the EU's geopolitical ambitions.
- EU's “track-changes diplomacy”...
- OPINION: As others set the tone for Ukraine’s future, Europe stays reactive — managing fallout, limiting damage and hoping to regain influence. 🔗 politi.co/4rvguB2
- If AI saves a team 10h a week, what do [think tanks] do with that time? Do they chase more outputs? Or do they invest in storytelling [] and engagement – the things that deepen impact? Asks @designbysoapbox.bsky.social @johnschwartz.bsky.social. Up to us all to make sure it's the latter. @ecdpm.org
- Writing for the algorithm? @cfieschi.bsky.social talking to @catherinedevries.bsky.social. Can something be 'shareable' without losing its complexity? What do you think @sbeverts.bsky.social @anthonyzach.be @garethbxl.bsky.social ?
- At the #Dynamig conference in rainy and #EUCO locked Brussels. ‘Improving living conditions in countries of origin can be effective in reducing migration’s aspirations and migration pressures’. One of the interesting findings that came from the analysis of #EUTF. Interesting policy implications
- @catherinedevries.bsky.social interviews @casmudde.bsky.social. Very interesting and insightful as usual. catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...
- On AI and voice: "The danger is subtle but corrosive: a public sphere where “voice” is replaced by a smooth, compliant style that pleases editors or algorithms but strips away the very thing that makes writing worth reading". Totally agree.
- US ambo on #DMA & #DSA: “..if the intent is to inflict economic pain on competitors outside of Europe to help European companies, that’s something that the United States would object to […] You can’t have legislation that punishes companies from . . . your ally.” US tariffs then? @financialtimes.com
- Immensely sad. RIP Robert Redford. 😢
- Indeed, another spectacle of internal divisions that we could have easily done without.
- Reposted by Virginia MucchiThese Dutch guys deserve your support. They bring discarded fishing and flower bulb nets to Ukraine. To protect people and lives. All volunteers doing the right things. But donations have dropped, so time we all step up.
- Everytime you want to override fear with numbers you will fail - advice to politicians by Kata Tüttő - president of CoR at the opening of #europcom
- A third of the @undp.org budget today comes for programmes countries themselves. UNDP Ahunna Eziakonwa on agency, multilateralism that goes beyond NY, Brussels and Geneva and not choosing sides.
- At the European Parliament for the @ettg.bsky.social conference on the next steps for Eu development policy. @shirinwheeler.bsky.social moderating @billgates.bsky.social and International Partnerships commissioner Síkela. Cuts and changing policy priorities obviously centre stage.
- 🙃 Sad that while outside #Italy they call it a crucial #referendum, the current government is pushing people not to bother voting to prevent reaching the 50% threshold. 🙃 #iovoto
- @adamtooze.bsky.social loved your FT piece today. The sort of stop-and-think articles I am happy to start my day with. More EU cooperation of course, but how would you push current leaders to actually do it? #EUdefence
- ✏️ Very good and useful read on how to shape a better research question. And, more generally, a place to help you write better. ✏️ Good resource for us @ecdpm.org
- You don’t need more ideas. You need a better question. A thread on clarity, chaos, & what a Nobel Prize winner, a mosquito net & a PhD meltdown taught me about writing (+ thinking) better. 🪨 Here’s my new Respect the Marble post: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/you-dont-n... 🧵
- Reposted by Virginia Mucchi[Commentary] #GlobalEurope: The #AU-#EU partnership - Closer ties or common worries? By @virginiamucchi.bsky.social | @ecdpm.org www.pubaffairsbruxelles.eu/opinion-anal...
- Reposted by Virginia MucchiVery glad that in a crowded policy space @euiss.bsky.social and @ecdpm.org joined forces to put the spotlight on EU-AU relations. Partners in the storm we called it - attracting a room full of people and energy. Doesn’t happen every day in Brussels. Read here what it all means:
- After the meeting between European and African ministers we organised a debrief to hear how things went...Very well, they told us. But is it true? My write-up. @ecdpm.org @euiss.bsky.social
- After the meeting between European and African ministers we organised a debrief to hear how things went...Very well, they told us. But is it true? My write-up. @ecdpm.org @euiss.bsky.social
- 📣 As African and European representatives express great satisfaction about the outcome of the recent EU-AU ministerial, is the relationship finally evolving, or is it too good to be true? Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/4jrVgix ✍️ @virginiamucchi.bsky.social
- As the next #EUAU ministerial approaches, we suggest different ways to move the relationship between the two continents forward. @ec.europa.eu @eudiplomacy.bsky.social
- 📣 As the EU and AU celebrate 25 years of "robust" summits and the vague, unmonitored commitments that result from them, is it time to embrace new, more pragmatic methods of engaging? Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/433AFL5
- Reposted by Virginia Mucchi📝 EU investment in the Lobito Corridor is sometimes seen as a ploy to disrupt Chinese infrastructure dominance in Africa, but the reality on the ground is more complicated, and EU investments unclear. Read the paper 👉 bit.ly/4lAPbT3
- Our latest paper on the Lobito corridor...
- 📝 Connecting the DRC, Zambia and Angola, the Lobito Corridor is often seen through a West vs China lens, but what is the reality on the ground in terms of real investments, activity and African country interests? Read the paper 👉 bit.ly/4lAPbT3 @poorvak.bsky.social
- Reposted by Virginia Mucchi
- Love "Democrats show a pulse" 😂 About time.
- It's all about strategic #differentiation. Our latest commentary by @chloeteevan.bsky.social @amedinil.bsky.social and Karim Karaki on making the EU more competitive through smart partnerships.
- 📣 As Trump sows economic chaos, the EU's economic future depends on forging smart global partnerships – especially in tech, energy, and resources – rather than turning inward or limiting its economic horizons. Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/3DIc6eh
- Reposted by Virginia Mucchi📅 Next week! We are hosting the Kenyan ambassador to the EU and others in our Brussels office to discuss how the EU can rethink its approach to international partnerships in the face of emerging challenges. Registration and info 👉 bit.ly/3R0uNMW
- Reposted by Virginia Mucchi📣 The retreat of USAID disrupts development aims across the globe. The EU will have to respond to maintain its development ambitions - but how? Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/4ioX7on
- 26 out 27 exposes a huge disunity, @politico.eu ?? It shows that one country disagrees. Nothing huge there. And not the first time it happens. #EUCO
- Reposted by Virginia Mucchi
- But are EU foreign ministers even talking to each other today?The reactions seem to be all uncoordinated... #EU #ukraine #trump
- So negotiations are starting and US team will be four. Europe should not demand ‘a seat at the table’ but appoint its own team: EU HRVP @kajakallas.bsky.social Plus FMs of FR, DE and UK. And seize the RU frozen assets. Instead of lamenting and listing principles it’s time to act.
- Foreign policy ideas emerging... #Merz #Germanelections
- This afternoon, CDU Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz gave a keynote speech on foreign and EU policy at @koerberip.bsky.social. A thread on his main points on the EU and Germany's role in it:
