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Jake Benford

@jbenford-berlin.bsky.social
1.9K followers 397 following 96 posts

Europe in a geopolitical world @Bertelsmann Stiftung in Berlin. EU external partnerships, Germany’s Europe & foreign policy, UK politics and society, EU-UK relations ** In read-only mode until the end of the year while on external secondment **

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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Genuine ahead of the curve thinking on how to build a network of like-minded democracies with and around the EU. Notably by moving beyond the binary choice of membership or not. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Canada should become an EU state in all but name. Here’s how to make that a reality | Fabian Zuleeg
From the UK to Japan, so many countries need to quickly be brought inside the European tent without the rigours of full membership, says economist Fabian Zuleeg
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Deeply researched piece on UK attitudes towards the EU. The „lack of a settled consensus on the destination“ combined with fears of a „punishing offer from the EU“ should be noted in Bx and MS: The UK‘s trajectory is the single biggest factor to shift from transactional to more strategic EU-UK ties.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Burnham replaces his inscrutable EU Minister. His challenge was to maximise the limited space left by self-imposed red-lines. It’s fair to say that he got the EU to push the boat out (a little). But the structural limitations mean this could only ever be the beginning www.politico.eu/article/eu-r...
politico.eu
Britain’s Brexit Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds axed in reshuffle
The close ally of Keir Starmer was delivering the prime minister’s reset with the European Union.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Very much looking forward to continuing to work with Ivan Rogers!
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
In der Tat. Historisch entstand nach fast jedem grossen Krieg in Europa eine neue Sicherheitsordnung. Eine EVU böte zudem die Möglichkeit der tieferen Einbindung von nicht-EU Staaten (insbesondere Ukraine und UK), trotz paralleler Herausforderungen in Sachen EU Binnenmarkt-Integration.
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Internationale Politik Quarterly @ipq.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
From our new issue: @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social and @nvondarza.bsky.social write of strategic innovation in the wake of shifting security priorities. Read about Europe's growing number of defense agreements and the structural implications of this cooperation: ip-quarterly.com/en/eu-search...
ip-quarterly.com
The EU in Search of New Partners
Brussels has signed 12 security partnerships in just two years. Together, they reflect the EU’s effort to diversify its security ties beyond its traditional reliance on the United States.
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Internationale Politik Quarterly @ipq.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Here is the cover of our Summer issue! Available on Tuesday, read contributions on the EU’s search for new partners from @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social, @nvondarza.bsky.social, @agathedemarais.com, Swati Prabhu, and Takahiro Tsuchiya.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
The UK may have escaped the EU but it never escaped us! @eupinions.bsky.social continued asking EU and UK citizens about Europe & their lives for 10 years. My favorite insight: Brexit didn't lead to the psychological divide you might have expected after 2016. Short🧵 bst-europe.eu/europe-in-th...
bst-europe.eu
10 Years After the Brexit Referendum: What Public Opinion Reveals About EU–UK Relations
Ten years ago, Britain decided to leave the European Union. The Brexit referendum sent shockwaves across the continent. A decade later, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the wider world have ...
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Some thoughts on what UK change in government could mean for the EU relationship. Bottom line is that the UK's strategic dilemma hasn't changed and pressure to rethink red lines ahead of 2029 will rise. But plenty of pragmatic cooperation possible in the meantime. bst-europe.eu/europe-in-th...
bst-europe.eu
EU-UK Relations after Starmer: New Management, Old Strategic Bind
Burnham’s premiership is unlikely to revive the Brexit debate so much as reveal how little it ever settled. Ten years after the referendum, Britain remains caught between objectives that are becoming ...
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
EU-UK Summit postponed following Starmer's resignation. This is good news as it gives both sides time to catch their breath. Though it would take a rather huge - and politically impossible - breath to "reset the reset" in a big way by the autumn! www.politico.eu/article/eu-u...
politico.eu
EU-UK summit postponed as Keir Starmer resigns
The meeting was meant to take place on July 22 to conclude talks on an agrifood agreement, an emissions trading deal, and a youth mobility scheme.
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Anton Spisak @antonspisak.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
More detail on the impacts of Brexit on different sectors of the British economy — from our latest study with @johnspringford.bsky.social:
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
I‘d be surprised if Burnham can offer something more definitive on UK’s vision so quickly. Not least as there isn‘t much available between the current reset and rejoin that would genuinely restructure the relationship. Small(ish) steps most likely while EU waits for UK to consider its options…
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Second EU-UK Summit set for 22 July, it seems www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
PM meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: 16 June 2026
The Prime Minister met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the G7 Summit in Evian today.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Our new paper on EU-UK – jointly w/ Fabian Zuleeg of @epc-official.bsky.social @dschwarzer.bsky.social and @jannikewachowiak.bsky.social - looks towards the next summit and beyond. Short thread. www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/publicati...
bertelsmann-stiftung.de
Reframing the Reset: From Post-Brexit Stabilisation to Strategic Partnership
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Some thoughts about what the UK's leadership, um, thing means for current relations with the EU tl;dr which uncertainty does the EU worry about more? 1/
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David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Out today: latest report by @katyhayward.bsky.social and me on the views of voters in Northern Ireland on Brexit, the Windsor Framework and UK-EU Relations. Some key findings 👇 Full report available via @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social at: www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-b...
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
A bold strategy would have been to ease up on free movement as of now, thus allowing for deeper integration into the single market in ways acceptable to the EU. And, going forward, announce a fundamental evidence-based reassessment of EU policy ahead of the next manifesto. Instead: Youth mobility.
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Bertelsmann Stiftung @bertelsmannst.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Wie modernisieren wir Deutschland? Darüber haben wir im Haus der Bertelsmann Stiftung diskutiert – mit Vizekanzler und Finanzminister Lars Klingbeil, unserer Vorständin Daniela Schwarzer und Gästen aus Wirtschaft und Zivilgesellschaft. Im Zentrum: Reformen, Investitionen und Zusammenarbeit. (neu)
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Full blast from Labour’s London mayor. But @stellacreasy.bsky.social & Movement for Europe line—ease up on free movement—feels like a more realistic step forward. Nudging UK out of a pure demandeur role as it seeks more sectoral deals genuinely changes the balance www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Sadiq Khan urges Labour to campaign on rejoining EU at next election
Mayor of London says returning to EU now more desirable because of economic instability caused by Donald Trump
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
UK mood shift on EU continues. But more sector deals will happen only if clearly in the EU‘s interest if free movement remains off the table. On current UK terms deeper integration would require fresh EU thinking on variable geometry-not impossible but also not a quick fix www.ft.com/content/c7eb...
ft.com
Rachel Reeves warned that more than warm words are needed to woo the EU
Bloc will not budge on granting UK greater access to its markets unless Labour accepts greater obligations, say industry analysts
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Etienne Höra @etiennehoera.d-64.social · 04/03/2026
The Industrial Accelerator Act is out. On public procurement in strategic sectors, it tries to square the circle: keep trusted partners in and China out. A few thoughts on the Commission’s approach in the proposal and the problem of China's transnational footprint:
single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
Industrial Accelerator Act
Industrial Accelerator Act Regulation
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves just previewed a three point growth strategy - with 'Stronger post Brexit trade relations with the EU' as No.1 goal. Though for that to be meaningful, a much broader discussion on changing the UK's stance towards getting closer to the EU will be necessary.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
New UK parliamentary report wants gov to go further with EU but within political red lines, while EU partnership is ranked „alongside US and Commonwealth“. The intro alone is testament to how tight the UK’s room for manoeuvre is. Deserves thorough reading. publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
publications.parliament.uk
From a Common Understanding to Common Ground: Building a UK-EU Strategic Partnership fit for the future
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Joerg Lau @joerglau.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Soft power is hard thing to acquire, yet oh so easy to squander. These are the new friends of the mightiest power on the planet.
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
"With, without or against Washington" - timely and comprehensive analysis from many viewpoints from @swp-berlin.org on Europeans relations to the US, directly and in other world regions or cross-cutting issues:
swp-berlin.org
Mit, ohne, gegen Washington: Die Neubestimmung der Bezie­hungen Europas zu den USA
Die Epoche der Pax Americana, die nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg Deutsch­lands und Europas Sicherheit garantierte, kommt an ihr Ende. Die Europäer...
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Good analysis of the UK's first proper Trump shock. I'd add that Bx is watching the UK's strategic headache carefully, hoping for shifts on red lines, while the UK will hope for more EU flexibility. Both are highly problematic. Note that big economic resilience issues aren't even on the agenda yet.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Is 2026 the year that an EU alliance strategy takes shape? This & more from our christal gazing exercise on competitiveness & MFF, Ukraine, EU-UK, China and US. @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social @corajungbluth.bsky.social @annaheckhausen.bsky.social @etiennehoera.d-64.social bst-europe.eu/europe-in-th...
bst-europe.eu
Major Events and Trends Shaping Europe and the World in 2026
As Europe enters a new year, EU leaders have set out an ambitious agenda: strengthening security, boosting economic competitiveness and growth, keeping deficits in check, defending democratic systems ...
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UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
"But the problem is that, while the UK might be changing its outlook on the relationship, the EU is not." ✍️ Following the strong rhetoric used by Starmer in his interview with @bbclaurak.bsky.social, @jreland.bsky.social explains why it isn't quite that simple 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
ukandeu.ac.uk
New year, same old Brexit trade-offs - UK in a changing Europe
Joël Reland argues that while the UK has indicated that it is keen to align more closely with the EU, the inherent tradeoffs remain the same as the EU will not allow the UK to 'cherry pick' further ac...
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
A country of almost 30 million, with a powerful if hated security apparatus with links to organised crime and access to lots of cocaine... what could possibly go wrong?
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Toppling a dictator has its appeal. But a de facto US–China G2—Russia in or out—in which great powers dominate their perceived backyards is profoundly destabilizing, and a strategic nightmare for Europe.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Remarkably cautious EU response.
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Simon Nixon @nixonsimon.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Remarkable. But positions were ultimately too far apart - for now. www.spiegel.de/ausland/gros...
spiegel.de
Gespräche über Großbritanniens Beitritt zu EU-Verteidigungsfonds gescheitert
Die Wiederannäherung zwischen Großbritannien und der EU erhält einen Dämpfer: Einen gemeinsamen Verteidigungsfonds wird es wohl nicht geben. London spricht von Enttäuschung.
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German Embassy London @uk.diplo.de · 20/11/2025
🇩🇪🤝🇬🇧 From cyber security to global stability, collaboration is key. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wadephul and Foreign Secretary Cooper met in Berlin for a Strategic Dialogue. This is the #KensingtonTreaty in action: a historic commitment shaping a stronger, safer Europe through trust and teamwork.
Foreign Minister Wadephul and Foreign Secretary Cooper in Berlin.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
New HoL report on the EU-UK out, just as the post-Summit honeymoon ends and the waters are getting choppy (and UK domestic politics even choppier). Cautiously welcomes the direction of travel in what will be a long-term process. My own thought right now is that the UK's strategic choices are
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Friday's setback - no EU mandate on ETS - means there may be no agreement before CBAM taxes kick-in in January. But this file is still one of the least political and thus do-able, compared to youth mobility, SAFE and even SPS. Reminder that progress on the Common Understanding will not be linear.
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Framing UK–EU ETS alignment as a ‘stealth tax’ misses the point. Linking carbon markets isn’t Brussels control - it’s smart climate economics: cuts costs, boosts investment, avoids trade friction & gives UK firms certainty. Climate policy ≠ punishment. www.thetimes.com/uk/transport...
thetimes.com
Holidaymakers face stealth tax on flights under EU carbon deal
Passengers on long-haul flights could pay an extra £21 as the government agrees to align with Brussels on carbon emissions
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Strong interview by @dsorennie.bsky.social on Europe's survival in a world of strongmen. Frank on China ("key enabler in Ukraine") and likewise (!) on EU member states (without unity EU's growing toolkit has little worth). The partnership-strategy invites more probing-e.g. what's in it for others?
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John Springford @johnspringford.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Does the rise of populism have economic roots, and more protectionist and anti-immigration policies help? Quick thread on my latest piece here buff.ly/O2SoUok
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Susanne Baumann @germanambuk.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Germany stands for the multilateral system and international law - in the spirit of respect, justice & peace. That's why we are running for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2027-28. Today we celebrate 80 years of the United Nations - Happy Birthday! #BetterTogether
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Jake Benford @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
A deeply reported piece on Maga-meddling in the UK. What remains unexplored are the real levels of popular support for the various strands of the UK hard-right. Research in Germany points to worringly high levels of support for authoritarianism-what's the UK equivalent? Sth for a follow-up piece?
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Joël Reland @jreland.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Our new divergence is tracker out: auditing the extent to which UK/EU rules and regs have aligned/diverged since June. It highlights the increasingly awkward position which the UK occupies: of wanting to act like the EU on most regulatory issues, but without being part of the club.
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Luigi Scazzieri @lscazzieri.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
A few thoughts on the EU’s Defence Readiness 2030 Roadmap The aim of the Roadmap is essentially trying to inject more resources and coherence into Europe’s defence ramp up defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-i...
defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu
Readiness Roadmap 2030
The Roadmap sets out clear objectives and milestones to achieve defence readiness by 2030, as outlined in the White Paper for European Defence.
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Luigi Scazzieri @lscazzieri.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
🔟 Finally there is a question of attention. The Roadmap is the latest of a long series of EU defence documents, which are quickly forgotten. The priority should be tangible progress on readiness
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
My new piece for @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social on EU-UK co-operation on China policy. Tl;dr: if you say a country is a systemic rival, or that competing with it may have huge consequences for your citizens, you need more serious policy responses than either the EU or UK have offered so far.
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Susanne Baumann @germanambuk.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
His Majesty King Charles III has announced that he will host German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender for a State Visit from 3-5 December. It will be an incredible moment for 🇬🇧🇩🇪 relations and the first State Visit by a German President in 27 years.
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German Embassy London @uk.diplo.de · 10/10/2025
Germany, the United Kingdom and France stand united - E3 leaders‘ statement 👇
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CDU/CSU-Gruppe im Europäischen Parlament @cducsueuropa.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Heute, am 7. Oktober gedenken wir der Opfer des menschenverachtenden Terrorangriffs der Hamas in Israel vor zwei Jahren. Nichts und niemand kann diese monströsen Gewalttaten gegen Zivilisten rechtfertigen. Die israelischen Geiseln müssen umgehend freigelassen werden.
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Susanne Baumann @germanambuk.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Amazing to celebrate the landmark 35th anniversary of German Unity with so many British friends tonight. Today, Germany and the UK work together to secure a lasting peace in Europe – a Europe that is united, free, and democratic.
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Henning Hoff @henninghoff.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Almost done. Our Fall 2025 issue “Defending Europe‘s Economic Security“ will be out on Tuesday, marking IPQ‘s fifth anniversary — w/ Luuk van Middelaar, Hans Kribbe @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social @lucyaash.bsky.social @helenalegarda.bsky.social @rebeccawire.bsky.social @anandmenon.bsky.social et al.
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