iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 8h

Strasbourg and Brussels were at the heart of this disputed land that changed hands several times since 19th century (and even before) and over which so much blood was shed. It's highly symbolic. 4/4

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 8h

2/ The EU started in 1951 (Treaty of Paris) as the ECSC as a Franco-German (with Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy joining in) "Peace and Reconciliation" project. 3/n

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 8h

1/ They are (or were) reasonably centrally located in the middle of (then) Europe. Of course, this might be questionable after the EU enlargement to Eastern Europe. If anything, there may be a case for some institutions to move eastwards, but not northwards to the UK. 2/n

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 8h

Strasbourg and Brussels have been selected (as far as I know) as the seat of EU institutions for (at least) two reasons: 1/n

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

Exactly 🙂 Now your mission, should you choose to accept it 🙂, is to convince your fellow Britons that both Schengen and € are great (they really are 🙂 - even if I say so myself - yes, I'm biased, I'm openly a Euro-enthusiast 🙂) and that there are no reasons for 🇬🇧 to fear or resist them.

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

3/ If the UK ever joins 🇪🇺 again, of course it will get to elect MEPs again. It's not the 🇪🇺's responsibility to make sure that Führage or Hannan don´t get elected. If you (collectively) don´t want them as MEPs, don't (collectively) vote for the lists they are on. 7/7

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

It's always 🇪🇺 that gets the blame. It's always for 🇪🇺 to do something and when it does, it changes nothing to the UK's natural euroskepticism. 6/n

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

I've been there (it's "my" embassy too) a number of times. The EU Ambassador to the UK (since 1st Sep 2026) is HE Jukka Salovaara. How many in the UK know of this place and his name? I doubt that you do, otherwise you wouldn't make this ask. 5/n

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

Who (how many) knew they were headquartered in 🇬🇧? Did it ever change anything to the UK's great love for 🇪🇺? The closest there is to a "regional HQ of the EU" is ofc the Delegation of the EU to the UK, which is located at Europe House on Smith Square in London. It's the equivalent of an Embassy. 4/n

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

2/ There is no such thing as a "Regional HQ of the EU" in any given Member State. Two EU Agencies were based in 🇬🇧 though: the EMA and the EBA have of course relocated since Brexit (to Amsterdam & Paris respectively,thank you very much) and they are of course very,very unlikely ever to come back. 3/n

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

If the UK is not prepared to abide by our rules, why should 🇬🇧 be "rule-makers". And quite frankly, why should we want the UK to be "rule-makers". This sounds an awful lot like the UK wanting to rule over us and re-creating an Empire 2.0. Why should we Europeans want this? 2/n

static.klipy.com

Sauron's One Ring: 'One Ring to Rule Them All'

ALT: Sauron's One Ring: 'One Ring to Rule Them All'

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 9h

1/ So you think the UK should be "rule makers not rule takers" in the EU? Are you prepared to abide by the rules though? Such as 🇬🇧 joining the Schengen Area and adopting € after joining 🇪🇺? These are the rules. If you are prepared, is the UK as a whole prepared too? 1/n

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Tycjan Chmiel @tycjanc.bsky.social · 13h

THANK YOU! From a Brit in the EU. It’s so frustrating that many Brits have yet to realise the founding principles of the EU which still remain: it is fundamentally a peace project that uses various methods (trade being just one) to ensure the prosperity of all its members, to stop wars between them.

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Kathy Love @kathylove.bsky.social · 14h

Very sadly, I agree with you, ER. From the very beginning the U.K. has wanted just 3 things: the chance to make money from the European market; the chance to ensure European policy is what the UK wants; and a platform from which to present the U.K. as a world power. It’s not changing even now. Alas.

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Catio Miles @catiomiles.bsky.social · 23h

It’s so easy to destroy. But it is so difficult to build. The EU is the best example in human history of an institution gathering dozens of countries to work and peace, dismantle borders and bring prosperity. The EU model should be cherished, embraced and extended.

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Catio Miles @catiomiles.bsky.social · 23h

According to @spignal.bsky.social , Europe is a lame duck because it doesn’t want to fund Russian war machine (unlike the US, China or India) and it doesn’t want to burn coal unlike the US, China or India and it wants international rule of law such as ICC, unlike US, China or India. But hey.

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Maria Popova @popovaprof.bsky.social · 22h

Listen to every word

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

As Trump gifts Putin a financial and propaganda victory, let's take a moment to remember all those British politicians who have endorsed the US President and repeatedly hitched themselves to his egregious bandwagon.

static.klipy.com

Nigel Farage Finds It Boring

ALT: Nigel Farage Finds It Boring

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 16h

Come & visit 🇪🇺 instead,you are welcome 🙂 25% is not nearly enough.I wouldn't set foot in🇺🇸for any reason,none whatsoever.I don't want to get 5 mercenaries jumping on my back to send me to a concentration camp🤮 USans want to live in autarky.That's the Adminstration they (collectively) elected.Let' em.

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🍁🇨🇦Team Canada Forever🇨🇦🍁 @teamcanadaforever.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Arrests and detentions of Canadians in the U.S. rose 60% in 2025-26: 577 cases, up from 361, per Global Affairs Canada's consular report. Canadian visits fell 25% over the same period. 🔗 Source: tinyurl.com/yz3p9zjf

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Gxro6883 @gxro6883.bsky.social · 23h

It’s a cultural thing as much as an economic thing I want to be part of Europe because I like the Europeans I fucking loath the racist wankers that don’t Fuck Farage and fuck reform and fuck whatever that other cunt filled racist party is called Had a couple of beers, might be a bit potty mouthed

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 17h

As long as this situation does not change, I as a European don't want 🇬🇧 back (b/c🇬🇧will want to Leave again after a few years, b/c🇬🇧will be obtrusive & an impediment in developing our project, etc). S/M only ("EEA") is good enough, it will give 🇬🇧 (most of) what it wants & protect us from 🇬🇧toxicity.5/5

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 17h

We Europeans want to bring down walls, work with our neighbours and build something together. We want to show solidarity with one another, incl. contributing to rebuild Eastern Europe after years of dictatorships. Britons (most of) want to earn money by selling us their wares. 4/5

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 17h

As long as Brits think 🇪🇺 exists to provide 🇬🇧 w/ "£63bn more for public services"& improve its GDP,there's no hope of 🇬🇧 adopting €,joining Schengen (two of our finest achievements) not to mention joining Eurocorps (the hated"European Army") or any other vehicle for "ever closer union"&integration.3/5

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 17h

🇪🇺 was founded in 1951 (as then-ECSC) after the Schuman Declaration in 1950 as a "Peace & Reconciliation" project. It still is today and that's how most of us Europeans see it. People in the UK like Farruck would probably pose as "Pro-Europeans", but are actually only pro-UK-in-EU. 2/5

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 17h

Thank you 🙏 Farruck @implausibleblog.bsky.social : "This is why I want the UK to rejoin the EU" - because of money⬆️🤬 And that's the fundamental disconnect (one of them...) between 🇬🇧 & RoE: most of us don't see our 🇪🇺 as a "market",a money-making machine.That's imv one of the main causes of Brexit.1/5

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alialiafro.bsky.social @alialiafro.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Joining will only work if UK applies showing genuine, sustained enthusiasm and good will (rather than concentrating on haggling), and EU members see enough benefit to UK joining that it supersedes the inertia caused by misaligned priorities and internal haggling.

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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

And actually quite moving to take in an object that is a 1000 years old. Humbling, even. In a good way.

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il Cane Saggio @bardolino.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

There should be no request for opt-outs. Whichever Govt. seeks to join should first sell the benefits of Schengen and the Euro, and either join wholeheartedly, or don't bother. No more half in-half out membership This is what caused the damage last time.

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Niall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Even if the UK was able to select which parts of the acquis it wanted to apply in accession, it still would not be able to control what the referendum would be about. Thats the reality: make the case for the euro today; otherwise you cede the battlefield to the worst elements of Brexit Britain

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Sathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Dear tv and radio producers. Thankyou for the invitation. But, no, I do not want to appear on your show to defend the idea that I am English, after 50 years of living and working here, because the increasingly feral right want to turn this into a "debate" and you cannot see how you're being played

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

The winner of Nobel peace prize doing what the Government of the United Kingdom will not do: calling Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide.

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Niall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

No one in their right mind...

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Federico Pisani @federicopisani.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"Up yours Delors". If eventually anyone in Europe wanted to run a counter-UK joining the Union campaign, they would really needn't much. Just reposting UK media. The British giving their back to the Ode to Joy in the European Parliament will hardly ever fade away.

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Angelica Shalagina Official🇺🇦 @angel-shalagina.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Tonight feels like complete betrayal. Trump announces a deal with putin To sell russian diesel. Greece and Spain reportedly refuse Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kyiv is already facing 16-hour blackouts. And winter hasn’t even started. We are being bombed. We are dying.

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Indeed. Very moving Ulrich Mühe - his ante-penultimate, and partly autobiographical film 😢

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Niall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Controversial opinion: you can't have a single market without a single currency. You also need a customs union. Needing to buy another currency or pay tariffs to get goods to the shelf obviously takes away a market's singularity. I mean, what kind of mad markets did you grow up with? 1

À singularity in a black hole, a market that is very single

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Third Labour gain from Reform in by-elections in the last fortnight.

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Elizabeth Taylor @elizabethtaylor47.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

When Labour descended into transphobia I felt no pleasure whatsoever. In fact I felt horror and fear for what it meant for me and life. When people take partisan glee in that sort of thing in a totally hypocrital way it’s quite a strong signal about the way those people think.

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I wonder though if Ms. Abdi-Wali once in Parliament will have some words (preferably of the "tough" kind) with (and about) her colleague Mahmood regarding her treatment of asylum seekers (and immigrants in general). Or if she will just toe the party line. I think that's a rhetorical question.

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Congratulations to Sagal. I wish her the very best in representing this amazing place. I'm proud of the campaign we fought. To go from 10% to 33% of the vote share during the PM's 'bounce' is good - but our ambitions are far higher.

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Buck Frexit @beany.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

America is full of people who are not Native American. Australia is full of people who are not Aboriginal. The Brits in Spain are not culturally Spanish, the same in Dubai and every God damned place on earth. When the hell are bigoted pricks like Jenrick going to grow up and stop being so pathetic.

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ER 🇪🇺 @er2023.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Happens to me regularly.They can't bear to hear it when s/b reminds them that a new application by🇬🇧 to join🇪🇺 will in all likelihood mean joining Schengen+adopting € & that 🇬🇧,for this+other reasons,is not ready (yet).These skeeters are not "pro-EU" but "pro-UK-in-EU". I just block back and move on.

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Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

An announcement. There will be plenty of time to reflect on what we've achieved, and on the fantastic colleagues who have helped us achieve it. But for now, sad news ukandeu.ac.uk/announcement... 1/2

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Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Let me just say that anecdotally the mood of immigrants on the other side of academia is very much “get out of here, no matter what it takes.” A combination of nativist immigration policy and a complete disregard for higher education. Destroying a sector that this country could be proud of.

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Thank you Holborn & St Pancras. Our second best byelection result ever. 💚

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Richard Osley of Camden New Journal, which has shown the value of strong local reporting throughout this campaign, on the result of the by-election newjournal.substack.com/p/the-winner...

newjournal.substack.com

The winner in Holborn and St Pancras...and what comes next

New MP Sagal Abdi-Wali has made two pledges that residents can now easily judge her on

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