iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Here is my latest piece about the rule of law and democracy in the next MFF. Will it have actual teeth? Are the proposed changes enough to defend democracy? Read more below 👇

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Haha I'm not sure I can promise *that* much excitement!

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As it happens, this is also my last piece as a full-time researcher at the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social. It has been an intellectually very rewarding time thanks to my wonderful colleagues! I will stay on as associate though and I'm not going far. 😊 So stay tuned for an update after October 1.

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As a teaser, two factoids: ▪️The central lesson of previous suspensions was that political will, not legal design, decides how effective conditionality is. ▪️At a time when democratic resilience is set to be one a key challenge, the EU will spend less than 1% on supporting orgs that protect it.

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Centre for European Reform @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Here is my latest piece about the rule of law and democracy in the next MFF. Will it have actual teeth? Are the proposed changes enough to defend democracy? Read more below 👇

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Reposted by Zselyke Csaky

The EU’s next 7-year budget will show how serious Brussels is about defending democracy. As far-right parties gain ground now in larger member-states, will the 2028-34 MFF have real teeth – or just louder rhetoric? New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @zecsaky.bsky.social buff.ly/8GsJmRr

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Zselyke Csaky @zecsaky.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone working on the big questions of European politics today. Read more below and apply! 👇

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Zselyke Csaky @zecsaky.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone working on the big questions of European politics today. Read more below and apply! 👇

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Reposted by Zselyke Csaky

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

And in an information environment thats designed for speed and engagement, slow procedural institutions are doublely disadvantaged against those who offer emotional certainty and quick fixes.

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Jakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

🇵🇱⚖️Polish rule of law crisis latest: Ziobro might be good at evading justice, but some people weren't as lucky, and now we have a black bar on the eyes of two guys who ran a state-owned fund to promote Poland abroad by, among others ... planting billboards about how Polish judges are bad. 1/

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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Behold, the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Rights, and Labor has been turned into a far-right funding spigot simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/...

Description
DRL requests proposals to strengthen and develop democratic resilience, rule of law, freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and the defense of human rights in Europe through research, conferences, cultural engagements, and support for civil society to address national sovereignty, migration, censorship, and lawfare challenges in line with shared political philosophy, law, and our common Western civilizational heritage.

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Reposted by Zselyke Csaky

European Democracy Hub @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu · 16/06/2026

One year after the dismantling of the USAID funding, what does the democracy support landscape look like? Several new initiatives have emerged in some regions, but whether these will evolve into concrete forms of “post-US” democracy support remains unclear. A must-read on @carnegieendowment.org ⤵️

carnegieendowment.org

Post-U.S. International Democracy Support: Aspiration in Search of Substance

The reinvention of democracy support needs to be carried forward without the clear leadership of one dominant player.

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Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Rather humbling. Handelsblatt: "A key factor in the Chancellor's change of course was, among other things, a research paper by economists Sander Tordoir and Brad Setser" Pleased Brad and I could contribute to Chancellor Merz's thinking on China Shock 2.0 with analysis and a few policy ideas. 1/

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Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

We've updated and significantly improved upon the Barnier staircase to outline what the future might hold 7/11

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The problem here is that France wants a strong common EU foreign policy "strategic autonomy" AND total national control of foreign policy. The only way to make EU foreign policy strong and coherent is for states to give up control. Europe needs to make the trade: sovereignty for power.

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Márta Pardavi @martapardavi.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

For years, discussions about Hungary focused on democratic backsliding, including the shrinking space for independent civil society. But what should happen now, in this hopeful period of profound political and legal changes? How can civic space be rebuilt and not overlooked? On @verfassungsblog.de

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Jakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

🇭🇺⚖️ @verfassungsblog.de is running a symposium on the rule of law restoration in Hungary, and everyone's favourite ECtHR dork, Dr Marcin Szwed, has a piece there about when, if and how you can remove judges from their positions as part of reform. Probably interesting for 🇺🇸 readers, too.

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Ishaan Tharoor @ishaantharoor.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

PERSONAL NEWS: I've joined the @newyorker.com full-time as a global-affairs columnist, where I'll be writing a weekly essay on the world. It's a dream gig and I'm still pinching myself that I get to say all these incredible, talented journalists I've long admired are my colleagues!

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Charles Grant @cergrant.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Thank you, Charles! Let’s hope there is some movement soon and we don’t have to slide back towards pessimism.

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Reposted by Zselyke Csaky

I learned a lot about what is happening with enlargement from this brilliant podcast, by @milanninberlin.bsky.social and @zecsaky.bsky.social. They are not as pessimistic as I am about the prospects of EU enlargement.

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Vádemelés az Integritás Hatóság elnökével szemben - Ügyészség

What looks like the continuation of a previous case, the prosecution filed charges against Biro a few days ago, accusing him of abuse of office and misconduct and requesting jailtime. ugyeszseg.hu/vademeles-az...

ugyeszseg.hu

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Centre for European Reform @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Europe needs to rapidly improve its deterrence. A new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social / Hanns Seidel Foundation paper by @armida.bsky.social outlines key steps European governments can take in the next 1-2 years to accelerate rearmament, readiness and deterrence efforts. Read here: buff.ly/rwfLU1S

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Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Ideology for the masses, money for the elites.

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Kipakol az Integritás Hatóság elnöke: A 16 év ára

This is some incredible number. The Integrity Authority was set up under EU milestones to tackle corruption. We did not hear much of its work. Now its head claims that both him and his wife was harassed & threatened by the previous government youtu.be/FgaI-YT2hTQ?...

youtu.be

YouTube video by DE! Akcióközösség

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AI used to hunt Viktor Orbán’s alleged corruption

There was a Fidesz ideologue who once said, "What you call corruption is the essence of the system." Seems he was right but we're just learning by how much. The Integrity Authority estimates Orban's rule cost Hungary €160B(!) in corruption. That equals ~2/3 of 🇭🇺 GDP. www.ft.com/content/0c44...

ft.com

Head of Hungary’s anti-graft body says €160bn may have been siphoned off during ex-PM’s 16 years in power

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Der (europäische) Föderalist @foederalist.eu · 09/06/2026

In May 2026, votes in the EP resembled those of times past: with majorities based on the cooperation of EPP, S&D and Renew, no votes decided by the far right, and a fine example of a very broad supermajority. By NICOLAI VON ONDARZA #EUanalytics

foederalist.eu

EU Analytics – April 2026 review: A swing back to the European Parliament of old

Ein Blog über die Demokratie in Europa

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Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

This Wednesday I will join #DemocracyDrinks of @defenddemocracy.eurosky.social in Brussels. All welcome!

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Zselyke Csaky @zecsaky.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Yes, that's a possibility and an important point too. Let's see how things unfold long term!

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Centre for European Reform @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

“I think this is crunch time on enlargement. So what is realistic? We will see after the June European Council,” @milanninberlin.bsky.social told @zecsaky.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast, listen here: buff.ly/TBagUtJ

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Tineke Strik @tinekestrik.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The Hungarian prosecutor just dropped the case against the organiser of Pécs Pride arguing that organising Prides is not crime, referring to the EU Court of Justice judgement on HU’s anti LGBTIQ-law. A very encouraging step in the restoration of the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary!

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Zselyke Csaky @zecsaky.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

This is an important point & why Hungary’s democratic restoration *may* be easier than that of Poland. When institutions behave as they should, there is less of a need for complete overhaul — the problem is not structural. It’s early days though and clearly doesn’t apply to all institutions.

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Zselyke Csaky @zecsaky.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

With Hungary lifting its veto on accession for Ukraine (and Moldova) and the Western Balkans Summit coming tomorrow, @milanninberlin.bsky.social was indeed correct that it's crunch time for enlargement. Listen to our latest podcast below 👇 www.ft.com/content/c78f...

ft.com

Hungary lifts 17-month veto on Ukraine’s EU membership bid

Also in this newsletter: Talking tough and acting soft on migration

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That's certainly a possibility and a positive outcome. But it would depend on how cleverly (and transparently) the funding is done.

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Well, we wish! And I'm sure Brussels would love another can of worms right now haha.

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Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

There are reasons to tread carefully, even if the enthnic HU minority is small in Ukraine. From a foreign policy perspective, if Ukraine becomes a member state, Hungary wouldn't want its current laws to set an example for the larger minorities in Romania and Slovakia.

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Reposted by Zselyke Csaky

Just in: Peter Magyar says a deal with Ukraine on minority rights could be reached "as soon as this week", paving the way to lift the veto on Kyiv's accession. The IGC on the first cluster could take place on 15 June after the FAC meeting in Luxembourg. Things are definitely moving!

euronews.com

Magyar teases deal on Hungarian minority to lift veto on Kyiv's EU bid

Magyar says he is "very optimistic" about a deal on minority rights in Ukraine after years of political impasse. An agreement between Budapest and Kyiv on the delicate matter would allow for EU access...

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As @daliborrohac.bsky.social points out in the article, even a couple million goes a long way in Europe's funding environment. And there will surely be interest in that money now that Hungary's Fidesz-linked money pot is fast drying up.

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