Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026There was something symbolic in the visit itself: once a Eurosceptic, today Sikorski delivers a pro-European sermon in a Florentine “temple” of Europeanism. 000
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026His reasoning was striking: only full membership can ensure sufficiently strong democratic institutions—so that there is no “second Hungary” in the Union. A direct reference to preventing another Orbán scenario. 100
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026On enlargement: strong scepticism towards “membership-lite” models. They would likely fail in national ratification processes. Full accession, he argued, is the only credible path. 100
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026Such cooperation, however, would require: – common rules of engagement – effective communication – real political trust Without these, integration in defence remains rhetorical. 110
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026On a European army: not feasible in the foreseeable future. Armies remain embedded in national identities. But smaller European forces? Possible. Support structures, joint units—even with candidate countries, including Ukraine. 100
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026He added a deeper point: for the UK, EU membership was never experienced as a successful adjustment to post-imperial reality, but rather as a form of humiliation—an implicit admission of lost global status. Acceptance was formal, never fully internalised. 100
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026On his 1980s Euroscepticism: it was rooted, he said, in misinformation from the British press about European integration. Brexit, in turn, reflected the failure of pro-European forces to effectively counter those narratives. 100
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026In the discussion that followed, he answered questions from Monika Sus and myself on the state of Europe—moving between history, identity, and strategy with unusual clarity. 100
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 21/03/2026Beneath a Baroque fresco of Christ being fed by angels, in a former monastery near Florence now turned university (@eui-eu.bsky.social), Radosław Sikorski argued that Europe need not be a museum piece—it can still shape the future of the world. A rare moment when a politician uses such language. 120
Reposted by Michal MatlakJan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 26/02/2025'....the value of US demands was some four times its assistance...according to the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker, Europeans provided more assistance than the US, which made just 31 per cent of total bilateral commitments and 41 per cent of military commitments to Ukraine...'ft.comThe US is now the enemy of the westWashington has decided to abandon both Ukraine and its postwar role in the world 1185
Reposted by Michal MatlakThe Robert Schuman Centre @eui-schuman.bsky.social · 31/01/2025On 27 Jan, policymakers, think-tank experts & academics from Brussels, Warsaw & Paris explored Poland’s potential to address the EU’s leadership challenges in a rapidly changing geopolitical & economic landscape. Read the key takeaways🔗 loom.ly/72XZpis @revdem2020.bsky.social, @michalm.bsky.social 032
Reposted by Michal MatlakPOLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 28/01/2025European Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called today for a "European Space Shield" to unite its defense efforts in space.politico.euEU space commissioner calls for ‘European Space Shield’Member countries should “unite our defense efforts in space” Andrius Kubilius says. 411123
Reposted by Michal MatlakReview of Democracy @revdem2020.bsky.social · 27/01/2025Poland has reemerged as a key player in European politics. 🇵🇱🇪🇺 ✍️ In their op-ed, Piotr Buras and @michalm.bsky.social analyze what Poland’s presidency of the EU Council could mean for Europe’s future. 🧑💻 Read it now: 👉 tinyurl.com/58sa2s7m 011
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 27/01/2025Join us today for an online debate on Poland's EU policy and the launch of our paper with @PiotrBuras1 (@ECFRWarsaw) 🇵🇱🇪🇺 🗓️ Jan 27, 5:30pm CET 🔴🎥 Live on @RevDem2020 Facebook 🗣️ @Ej_Europe 🗣️ @ignacyn 🗣️ @SusMonika 🗣️ @PJoannin Details: 👉 www.eui.eu/events?id=57...eui.euA new leader for Europe?Follow this timely online debate exploring Poland 010
Reposted by Michal MatlakReview of Democracy @revdem2020.bsky.social · 24/01/2025Join us and @eui-eu.bsky.social on Monday for this online debate on Poland’s role in the EU! 🇵🇱🇪🇺 🗓️ Jan 27, 5:30pm CET 🔴🎥 Live on Facebook 🗣️ Piotr Buras 🗣️ @erik-jones.bsky.social 🗣️ @michalm.bsky.social 🗣️ @ignacyn.bsky.social 🗣️ Monika Sus 🗣️ Pascale Joannin Details: 👉 www.eui.eu/events?id=57...eui.euA new leader for Europe?Follow this timely online debate exploring Poland 021
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 10/01/2025This op-ed is based on findings from our forthcoming report, “A New Leader for Europe? Shifting Paradigms in Poland’s EU Policy”, to be published later this month by the European University Institute 001
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 10/01/2025What can Poland achieve in the EU in the years to come? 🇵🇱🇪🇺 In our op-ed for @lemondefr (a small dream come true), Piotr Buras and I explore Poland’s pivotal role during its EU presidency, Donald Tusk’s leadership, and the immense challenges ahead. 132
Reposted by Michal MatlakAndrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 01/12/2024Haaretz Will Not Be Silenced by #Netanyahu www.haaretz.com/opinion/2024... #journalism #media #Israelhaaretz.comHaaretz will not be silenced by Netanyahu*** 053
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 29/11/2024Ciekawe, czy ci, którzy pisali, że pożar Notre Dame to symbol upadającej Europy będą teraz pisali, że jej odbudowa to symbol jej ponownego rozkwitu? 010
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 17/11/2024www.epc.eu/en/publicati...epc.eu Security and Eastern Enlargement: Bridging the Gap for Wartime EU Acce Security and Eastern Enlargement: Bridging the Gap for Wartime EU Accession 000
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 17/11/2024Eastern enlargement has a direct impact on European security, but merging the two policies could create complications. Together with @susmonika.bsky.social, we argue for the need for close coordination. In our policy brief published at the EPC, we set out specific strategies to facilitate this. 👇 111
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 30/12/2023Dziś w Rzeczpospolitej piszę o Delorze, jego lewicowości, religijności, trudnych kontaktach z Janem Pawłem II i powodach, dla których mógł odczuwać polityczny niedosyt. www.rp.pl/opinie-polit...rp.plPrzypisy do Jacquesa DelorsaPierwszym celem Jacquesa Delorsa było zbudowanie europejskiego jednolitego rynku opartego na czterech niepodzielnych swobodach: swobody przepływu kapitału, osób 010
Michal Matlak @michalm.bsky.social · 28/12/2023If you are interested in Jacques Delors' vision of Europe, you can read my working paper for European University Institute Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, based on my conversations with people who worked with him: cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/ha... 040