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Owen Morgan

@owenmorganeu.bsky.social
511 followers 238 following 114 posts

Media relations in Brussels, ex-journo. EU politics and policy, Brexit (still), other bits Ow(e)n views

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Full piece: www.brusselstimes.com/opinion/2204...
brusselstimes.com
In search of Britishness abroad, a decade after Brexit
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Re-embracing my columnist persona to mark the Brexit anniversary in @brusselstimes.com today. I’ve written too much on the politics. So, here’s an attempt to describe the futility of Brexit through considering the shallowness of my own attempt to be both ‘British’ and ‘European’ in the last decade
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Commission goss confirmed by our @anupriyadatta.bsky.social
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Story via @alexowski.bsky.social
euractiv.com
Ukraine 'Coalition of the Willing' to get headquarters in Paris - Euractiv
The HQ led jointly by France and the UK, will rotate to London after 12 months and enable flexible military contributions from partner nations.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Macron and Starmer launch 'permanent' HQ in Paris for the coalition of 31 countries looking to provide post-ceasefire security guarantees for Ukraine A step towards formalising a body that today met via videocall But how 'permanent' is an HQ that will 'rotate to London after the first 12 months'?
gov.uk
New Coalition of the Willing headquarters as leaders step up support for Ukraine's immediate flight
The Coalition of the Willing will have a new permanent headquarters in Paris, with plans in place for a future coordination cell in Kyiv, as command structures for the future reassurance force are fin...
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Nikolaus J. Kurmayer @nkurmayer.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Add it to the list of Labour oofs www.euractiv.com/section/eet/...
euractiv.com
UK drops zonal electricity pricing plan - Euractiv
Opting against the split “just cost Labour 100 seats at the next election,” energy analyst Michael Liebreich reacted.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
And here’s the roll call. Striking are the 🇮🇪 breaking ranks. Ciaran Mullooly the sole Renew group member to vote to bring down von der Leyen. Two big names abstaining. Development committee chair Barry Andrews, and the only Irish socialist Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Both are fierce VdL critics on Gaza.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Snap take here from @euractiv.com 👇
euractiv.com
Von der Leyen easily survives far-right-led censure vote - Euractiv
Most centrist groups opposed the motion primarily because it came from the far right, even as they criticised von der Leyen’s EPP for its own shift in that direction.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
The motion was signed by 77 MEPs initially - so they've generated more support, almost entirely from the two large far-right groups. 553 votes in total, out of 720 MEPs. So quite a few no-shows
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
CENSURE: As expected, vote on censure of von der Leyen Commission fails: For: 175 Against: 360 Abstain: 18 Interesting to see where those 18 came from...
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
VdL’s censure has been (rightly) dismissed as political theatre. So let’s talk about how the show looked and sounded. It was exciting. My most head-in-the-sand mates texted me about it. People noticed this happened. So, what can pro-EU MEPs learn from their dalliance with drama? For @euractiv.com
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 09/07/2025
Schengen at 40: Border checks become the new normal
dlvr.it
Schengen at 40: Border checks become the new normal
Four decades on, the Schengen area no longer feels quite so free.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Sneak peak at the much-anticipated European Competitiveness Fund via @wulffwold.bsky.social and @nicolettaionta.bsky.social
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 08/07/2025
EXCLUSIVE: EU prosecutors open probe into far-right group linked to Le Pen
dlvr.it
EXCLUSIVE: EU prosecutors open probe into far-right group linked to Le Pen
Media reports allege €4.3 million in EU funds was misused by the far-right Identity and Democracy group from 2019-2024.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
“Ursula von der Leyen is being hauled to the podium today to answer to a far-right MEP whose boss can't get over having lost the Romanian election. You could get 72 MEPs to agree on just about anything” Clarity ahead of the absurdity set to unfold in Stras in an hour - via @eddywax.bsky.social
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Sorry Brussels Playbook but the US and China are not "Europe's two biggest trade partners" if that means the EU, not even close. Bit closer to home you'll find an EU trade relationship €200bn larger than that with China.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Given their dominance around the Council table, the EPP's pre-summit meetings – where they align and strategise – are arguably as consequential as the main summit. But there's a familiar figure exerting himself there – and not everybody's thrilled. Via our Berlin head honcho Nick Alipour 👇
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 02/07/2025
He was the EU’s great Brexit survivor. Can Maroš Šefčovič now pull off a trade deal with Trump?
theguardian.com
He was the EU’s great Brexit survivor. Can Maroš Šefčovič now pull off a trade deal with Trump?
EU’s longest-serving commissioner faces arguably his sternest test with the clock ticking before 9 July deadline
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Stefano Porciello ** @steporciello.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
The EU’s 2040 #climate goal is likely to affect Europeans’ wallets – and those of the companies they work for. But whether a 90% cut in Europe's greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 will bring net costs or benefits depends on how #EU leaders choose to implement the target.
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Jacob Wulff Wold @wulffwold.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Struggling to follow the MFF debate? Here’s how the EU's current €1.2 trillion budget is spent, and how it may (radically) change for 2028-2034 www.euractiv.com/section/econ...
euractiv.com
Five fights that will shape the EU’s next €1.2 trillion budget - Euractiv
There is a broad consensus that the EU needs a more agile budget but the bloc is a heavy machine – and always at risk of taking the path of least friction.
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 30/06/2025
The trouble with trilogues – when things start falling apart
dlvr.it
The trouble with trilogues – when things start falling apart
The trilogue process doesn't have the benefit of being codified in law. It is a custom that has arisen because the alternative would probably drag on for years. But lately, several governments haven't quite been playing the game.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
Bonding over the fact they both still have to explain on foreign trips that their name isn't 'Michael'
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Leaked by the WSJ last week, denied by the EU's top US trade official earlier this week, not really brought up by EU leaders yesterday. Then, Trump suggests today DMA/DSA enforcement could be on the table as EU-US trade talks tick towards 9 July deadline. w/ @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social
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Josh Posaner @joshposaner.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
@euractiv.com EUCO liveblog www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
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Eddy Wax ** @eddywax.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Blockbuster edition of the Capitals today - Huawei-gate scoop - Interview with EU rightwing chief Manfred Weber - An ECR attempt to bring down the Commission - and we tee up the EUCO summit today @nicolettaionta.bsky.social www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
euractiv.com
Can anyone stop Manfred Weber? - Euractiv
In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about France calling to rethink the 2040 climate target, Hungary threatening Pride-goers, and a bid to bring down the Commission rattling the ECR.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Blogging all day from the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels Migration, Middle East, and Merz on debut Tune in 👇
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
NEW: An investigation by @euractiv.com (with De Standaard & Le Vif) unveils the testimony given to police by the lobbyist at the centre of Huawei’s cash-for-influence scandal in the EU Parliament. Via @nicolettaionta.bsky.social and our new Chief Brussels Correspondent @elisabraun.bsky.social
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Curious timing for this message after weeks of reluctance to back this Sunday's Budapest Pride... Socialist leader Iratxe Garcia met von der Leyen today, and reportedly wanted reassuring of VdL's centrist pro-European chops amid the anti-greenwashing law debacle. Is this an olive branch? 👀
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Sandeel row latest via @maria-simon.bsky.social
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Nicoletta Ionta @nicolettaionta.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
🚨 A post-Qatargate lobbying crackdown is causing major rifts in the EP. S&D, Greens, Transparency Int'l & UN experts warn it echoes “foreign agent” laws in Russia, Georgia & Hungary - threatening civil society, but centre-right EPP group is ready to push it through. W/ @eddywax.bsky.social
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 25/06/2025
EU funding turns sour: How a Croatian anti-corruption NGO fell out with Brussels
dlvr.it
EU funding turns sour: How a Croatian anti-corruption NGO fell out with Brussels
PSD's legal battle with Brussels has taken on broader significance – with the NGO claiming they were 'used' to cover up political failings.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Meanwhile, top UK and EU officials met in Brussels for a Specialised Committee on citizens' rights - their twice-yearly check in and the first post-'reset' summit.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Brexit citizens' rights: UK tweaked the immigration rules in a few areas yesterday – incl. the maximum allowable absences for Europeans with pre-settled status Can now be absent for 2.5 years in a 5 year period and remain eligible for full settled status (which they'll be automatically upgraded to)
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Tucked away in the Commission's daily news: the EU extends its data adequacy decision with the UK until December - allows transfers to continue. The UK's new Data Act became law last week - Commission 'assessing' its adequacy (as if adequacy/equivalence decisions are ever line-by-line comparisons)
ec.europa.eu
Daily News 24 \/ 06 \/ 2025
EU and Canada sign security and defence partnership at the joint 20th Summit\nThe leaders of the European Union and Canada – Presidents Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa for the EU, with Prime Mi...
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Alexandra Brzozowski @alexowski.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
🔵 Good early morning from The Hague, where #NATO leaders meet for what could be the alliance’s most contentious summit in years amid #Trump, #Iran and #Russia’s continued war in #Ukraine. Follow all @euractiv.com live updates from our team on the ground: www.euractiv.com/section/defe...
euractiv.com
LIVE: Leaders meet for NATO Summit in wake of US attack on Iran - Euractiv
Euractiv's Defence team is on the ground in The Hague, reporting live on this week's NATO summit.
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 23/06/2025
Trump’s car, metals tariffs ‘unsustainable’, says EU trade chief
dlvr.it
Trump’s car, metals tariffs ‘unsustainable’, says EU trade chief
The remarks suggest that Brussels could – like the UK – accept a 10% levy on most European exports in order to avoid sector-specific US duties.
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 23/06/2025
Italy withdraws support for EU anti-greenwashing law
dlvr.it
Italy withdraws support for EU anti-greenwashing law
The move deals a further blow to the Green Claims directive, which is already under pressure from the Commission.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Despite some gripes from opponents over a rushed process, I'd argue this bill showed Parliament at its best: MPs made major improvements via considered amendments, and debate was high-quality and (largely) civil throughout. Labour's last PM even felt he could disagree with Starmer on it:
theguardian.com
MPs have personal beliefs, but also solemn duties: that’s why they must reject the assisted dying bill this week | Gordon Brown
Our obligations to each other are ill served if laws focus unduly on those who want assisted dying. The priority should be the best palliative care, says former prime minister Gordon Brown
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Assisted dying will become legal in England and Wales after the bill today passed its final Commons stage. Historic day in Westminster MPs were not whipped to vote throughout – & debate was often highly emotional Today's amendments mean ministers will also review palliative care after 1 year
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Returns legislation is on the agenda for the EU leaders' summit next week - and one of its biggest advocates could be getting cold feet... via @nicolettaionta.bsky.social
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Brexit law UK/EU reset implemented as regards extending fisheries and energy rules in Brexit deal 1/ fisheries I eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conten... fisheries II eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conten... energy I eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conten... energy II eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conten...
eur-lex.europa.eu
Decision - 2025/1229 - EN - EUR-LexLog inEnglish
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
One month on from the EU-UK reset, attention turns to which products get carve outs from ‘dynamic alignment’ under the SPS deal Two candidates: Foie gras (Britain wants to ban it on animal health grounds) and smoky flavouring (EU to ban it on human health grounds) via @maria-simon.bsky.social
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 20/06/2025
Germany, Britain close in on summer signing for landmark ‘triangle’ treaty  
dlvr.it
Germany, Britain close in on summer signing for landmark ‘triangle’ treaty  
Talks on the historic treaty had long been on ice but may now be completed as early as next month, Euractiv has learned.
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 19/06/2025
EPP allies with far-right to investigate ‘occult’ NGO funding
dlvr.it
EPP allies with far-right to investigate ‘occult’ NGO funding
MEPs will investigate whether EU funds were misused for lobbying by environmental NGOs, following significant right-wing pressure.
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Last month Roberta Metsola threatened legal action against the Commission for bypassing MEPs over the SAFE loan scheme Now, in a letter seen by @nicolettaionta.bsky.social, von der Leyen said this was "fully justified" Whole thing reads like a long, polite "see you in court"
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Spain says grid operators to blame for blackout? I'm old enough to remember when @nkurmayer.bsky.social blamed France
euractiv.com
The Brief – How France paved the way to Spain's blackout - Euractiv
“The Iberian Peninsula is more of an energy island than Ireland,” warned Spain's energy secretary. Little surprise given that France has long blocked the construction of interconnectors.
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Nikolaus J. Kurmayer @nkurmayer.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
As everyone basks in their individual outrage over the Austrians suggesting Russian gas should make a comeback in peacetime, @euractiv.com readers knew about this yesterday already www.euractiv.com/section/eet/...
euractiv.com
Russia's EU clients push back on energy import ban - Euractiv
Austria wants the EU to reconsider its Russian energy ban if the Ukraine war ends, amid clashes over gas cuts and delayed nuclear tariffs.
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Eddy Wax ** @eddywax.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
I’m back at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in glorious sunlight for two days of reporting for Euractiv with @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social Scoops? Send em our way
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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Fantastic report using drone footage of the frontier which goes some way to explaining why the four-way post-Brexit negotiations concerning Gibraltar (including the EU, UK, Spain and Gibraltar) have taken four years now. Deal needs doing before new EU Entry/Exit system arrives in October.
youtube.com
How would the frontier change if there’s a treaty? GBC investigates from above
YouTube video by GBC News
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Rapporteur @euractiv.com · 06/06/2025
EXCLUSIVE: Von der Leyen responds to MEPs on Huawei lobbying loopholes
dlvr.it
EXCLUSIVE: Von der Leyen responds to MEPs on Huawei lobbying loopholes
Her response comes after a request from the Parliament’s anti-corruption group, urging the Commission to fast-track the EU's transparency register review.
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