Antoaneta Dimitrova
@antoanetadl.bsky.social
Political scientist @Leiden University
European politics, institutions, Central and Eastern Europe, democracy, authoritarianism, governance, EU enlargement, public administration reform
European politics, institutions, Central and Eastern Europe, democracy, authoritarianism, governance, EU enlargement, public administration reform
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Candidate countries waiting to enter the EU must make geopolitical choices and align with the bloc on fundamental questions before joining the bloc, Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of EU enlargement, has told Euronews.
EU candidate countries must choose sides before joining bloc, Commissioner Kos tells Euronews
Candidate countries waiting to enter the EU must make geopolitical choices and align with the bloc on fundamental questions before joining the bloc, Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of EU enlargement, has told Euronews.
l.euronews.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Candidate countries waiting to enter the EU must make geopolitical choices and align with the bloc on fundamental questions before joining the bloc, Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of EU enlargement, has told Euronews.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
👇👇
Today's crazy world, data point #473: My mom helps out in a food pantry in rural Germany. And they now got contacted by American soldiers and civil servants from a nearby US-army base, because people have not received salaries for months because of the government shutdown...
November 6, 2025 at 10:26 AM
👇👇
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Former Foreign Minister of Lithuania, said it plainly:
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇
November 6, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Former Foreign Minister of Lithuania, said it plainly:
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇
"Putin never escalates when we help Ukraine. He escalates when we don't help enough."
This isn't philosophy. It's a pattern. Weakness invites aggression. Support raises the cost. 👇
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Liberal-progressive party D66 wins election, Dutch media report
Liberal-progressive party D66 wins election, Dutch media report
Party will take lead in first round of talks to form coalition government after securing majority of votes
The Dutch liberal-progressive party D66 won the most votes in Wednesday’s general election, the news agency ANP has reported, putting its 38-year-old leader, Rob Jetten, on course to become the youngest prime minister in the Netherlands.
While the last few thousand votes are still being counted, Dutch media reported on Friday that Geert Wilders’ anti-immigration, anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV) could no longer win. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Liberal-progressive party D66 wins election, Dutch media report
An extremely direct and far reaching first panel at the #Internationalexpertforum on #Ukraine. Defense, security and does the West have a plan? Many good statements but perhaps best from @JaroslawaBarbieri 1/3
Ukrainian resilience is not an unlimited resource
www.for-ua.eu/uk/attitude
Ukrainian resilience is not an unlimited resource
www.for-ua.eu/uk/attitude
International Expert Forum on Ukraine - Program
Program
of the
International Expert Forum on Ukraine (ForUA) 2025
Jointly organized by
ERGOSUM, ForumKonstanz and University of Konstanz
Date: 31 October 2025
Venue: Senate Room V1001, University of ...
www.for-ua.eu
October 31, 2025 at 11:34 AM
An extremely direct and far reaching first panel at the #Internationalexpertforum on #Ukraine. Defense, security and does the West have a plan? Many good statements but perhaps best from @JaroslawaBarbieri 1/3
Ukrainian resilience is not an unlimited resource
www.for-ua.eu/uk/attitude
Ukrainian resilience is not an unlimited resource
www.for-ua.eu/uk/attitude
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Van der Plas: 'Van de Tweede Kamer is bekend dat er wel veel D66-mensen zitten'
Van der Plas: 'Van de Tweede Kamer is bekend dat er wel veel D66-mensen zitten'
Caroline van der Plas heeft geen hoge pet op van de Tweede Kamer. Volgens de BBB-voorvrouw is algemeen bekend dat er veel D66-mensen in de Kamer zitten.
speld.nl
October 30, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Van der Plas: 'Van de Tweede Kamer is bekend dat er wel veel D66-mensen zitten'
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Good to remind people today that the Netherlands has an über-proportional electoral system with only one electoral district: it means that you only need 0,67% (100%/150 seats) of the national vote to get a seat. It makes it possible for even very small parties to get seats.
October 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Good to remind people today that the Netherlands has an über-proportional electoral system with only one electoral district: it means that you only need 0,67% (100%/150 seats) of the national vote to get a seat. It makes it possible for even very small parties to get seats.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
1 op de 3 mensen moet in de zorg werken – hij komt al een paar keer terug https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/10/28/1-op-de-3-mensen-moet-in-de-zorg-werken-hij-komt-al-een-paar-keer-terug-a4911134
October 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
1 op de 3 mensen moet in de zorg werken – hij komt al een paar keer terug https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/10/28/1-op-de-3-mensen-moet-in-de-zorg-werken-hij-komt-al-een-paar-keer-terug-a4911134
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
🚨🚨Excellent news: After three years of reasoning, pleading and conceding, the EU has had enough.
On Monday, the EU's MS are expected to back a new bill that will permanently cut #Russian gas supplies to #Hungary and #Slovakia — whether they like it or not. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
On Monday, the EU's MS are expected to back a new bill that will permanently cut #Russian gas supplies to #Hungary and #Slovakia — whether they like it or not. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
EU countries move to pull plug on Russian gas to Hungary and Slovakia
The two Central European countries have long spurned a phaseout. Now, EU capitals are ready to overrule them.
www.politico.eu
October 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🚨🚨Excellent news: After three years of reasoning, pleading and conceding, the EU has had enough.
On Monday, the EU's MS are expected to back a new bill that will permanently cut #Russian gas supplies to #Hungary and #Slovakia — whether they like it or not. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
On Monday, the EU's MS are expected to back a new bill that will permanently cut #Russian gas supplies to #Hungary and #Slovakia — whether they like it or not. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Meanwhile, the EU Commission is busy working on the next rule of law country report for Slovakia due in July 2026... after rewarding local autocrat with €799M last October on the basis of a reality-denial assessment #PlusCaChange
www.politico.eu/article/eu-r...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-r...
October 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Meanwhile, the EU Commission is busy working on the next rule of law country report for Slovakia due in July 2026... after rewarding local autocrat with €799M last October on the basis of a reality-denial assessment #PlusCaChange
www.politico.eu/article/eu-r...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-r...
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
🚨🚨 Brussels wants to grab another €25B from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but @ec.europa.eu is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but @ec.europa.eu is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
Brussels wants to grab another €25B from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but the European Commission is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu
October 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
🚨🚨 Brussels wants to grab another €25B from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but @ec.europa.eu is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but @ec.europa.eu is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
As Slovak prime minister Fico says he is not interested in more sanctions on Russia, ahead of the European Council next week, I looked at some of his domestic backsliding initiatives open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
Eroding Slovak democracy one action at a time:
Draft constitutional amendments and university speeches
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:29 AM
As Slovak prime minister Fico says he is not interested in more sanctions on Russia, ahead of the European Council next week, I looked at some of his domestic backsliding initiatives open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
Finally! It was time👇🏻
Democracy is under attack in Bulgaria.
We want a Bulgaria that is free, democratic! 🇧🇬🇪🇺
That's why we have secured an urgent parliament debate next week.
We demand:
🔵Release Varna Mayor Kotsev & opposition representatives
🔵Restore democratic institutions
🔵Protect EU funds
We want a Bulgaria that is free, democratic! 🇧🇬🇪🇺
That's why we have secured an urgent parliament debate next week.
We demand:
🔵Release Varna Mayor Kotsev & opposition representatives
🔵Restore democratic institutions
🔵Protect EU funds
October 16, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Finally! It was time👇🏻
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Dismissals without oversight:
A few days later, on 9 and 11 September, he moved to fire the CLO, CFO, and COO without consulting the Works Council, which was a breach of Dutch corporate rules.
A few days later, on 9 and 11 September, he moved to fire the CLO, CFO, and COO without consulting the Works Council, which was a breach of Dutch corporate rules.
October 14, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Dismissals without oversight:
A few days later, on 9 and 11 September, he moved to fire the CLO, CFO, and COO without consulting the Works Council, which was a breach of Dutch corporate rules.
A few days later, on 9 and 11 September, he moved to fire the CLO, CFO, and COO without consulting the Works Council, which was a breach of Dutch corporate rules.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Corporate culture issues:
A long-serving finance head resigned, saying Nexperia had become a “purely Chinese company” where top-down decisions were imposed without proper governance
A long-serving finance head resigned, saying Nexperia had become a “purely Chinese company” where top-down decisions were imposed without proper governance
October 14, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Corporate culture issues:
A long-serving finance head resigned, saying Nexperia had become a “purely Chinese company” where top-down decisions were imposed without proper governance
A long-serving finance head resigned, saying Nexperia had become a “purely Chinese company” where top-down decisions were imposed without proper governance
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Sobering words from the German intelligence services - “We must not sit back and assume that a possible Russian attack would come in 2029 at the earliest. We are already under fire today.”
For deterrence now we must take the necessary decisions now.
www.euractiv.com/news/german-...
For deterrence now we must take the necessary decisions now.
www.euractiv.com/news/german-...
German spy chief says Russia won't shy from military confrontation | Euractiv
Germany’s foreign intelligence chief, Martin Jaeger, warned on Monday that Russia posed a direct threat and the current “icy peace” with the EU could erupt at any moment into “heated confrontation”. J...
www.euractiv.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Sobering words from the German intelligence services - “We must not sit back and assume that a possible Russian attack would come in 2029 at the earliest. We are already under fire today.”
For deterrence now we must take the necessary decisions now.
www.euractiv.com/news/german-...
For deterrence now we must take the necessary decisions now.
www.euractiv.com/news/german-...
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Kremlin tactics spotted ahead of Netherlands’ election.
It is precisely its less visible nature that makes the influence of foreign interference in Western democracies so insidious.
defenddemocracy.eu/kremlin-tact...
It is precisely its less visible nature that makes the influence of foreign interference in Western democracies so insidious.
defenddemocracy.eu/kremlin-tact...
Kremlin tactics spotted ahead of Netherlands' election — Defend Democracy
The battle for Europe is also being fought online. While in the West it is not that visible, precisely that makes foreign interference so treacherous.
defenddemocracy.eu
October 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Kremlin tactics spotted ahead of Netherlands’ election.
It is precisely its less visible nature that makes the influence of foreign interference in Western democracies so insidious.
defenddemocracy.eu/kremlin-tact...
It is precisely its less visible nature that makes the influence of foreign interference in Western democracies so insidious.
defenddemocracy.eu/kremlin-tact...
In my substack, I follow the erosion of democracy in parts of Europe that are not often in the spotlight. This week, I wrote about trash as a tool in the authoritarian toolbox:
open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
Trash is just another tool in the authoritarian toolbox
Or how Sofia became like Naples
open.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
In my substack, I follow the erosion of democracy in parts of Europe that are not often in the spotlight. This week, I wrote about trash as a tool in the authoritarian toolbox:
open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
open.substack.com/pub/antoanet...
Voorstellen #EUCO van iets minder unanimiteit in #toetredingsonderhandelingen gaan echt over kleine aanpassingen. Als de #EU een aantal hoofdstukken opent voor onderhandeling met QMV, dan kunnen kandidaten onderhandelen en moeten toch is de laatste stap van die cluster afronden met unanimiteit. 1/3
October 3, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Voorstellen #EUCO van iets minder unanimiteit in #toetredingsonderhandelingen gaan echt over kleine aanpassingen. Als de #EU een aantal hoofdstukken opent voor onderhandeling met QMV, dan kunnen kandidaten onderhandelen en moeten toch is de laatste stap van die cluster afronden met unanimiteit. 1/3
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
Vandaag is het 3 oktober. Leiden viert het Leids Ontzet. In 1574 brak de stad het Spaanse beleg. Niet met overleg, maar door vol te houden en de tiran te verjagen. Toch geloven sommigen nog steeds dat je tirannen kunt paaien met redelijkheid.
October 3, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Vandaag is het 3 oktober. Leiden viert het Leids Ontzet. In 1574 brak de stad het Spaanse beleg. Niet met overleg, maar door vol te houden en de tiran te verjagen. Toch geloven sommigen nog steeds dat je tirannen kunt paaien met redelijkheid.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
And sure thing nobody seems to know where these drones detected over Europe come from. or who piloting them .
just some mystical drones coming from a mystical place where all the wild drones live
just some mystical drones coming from a mystical place where all the wild drones live
September 27, 2025 at 5:52 PM
And sure thing nobody seems to know where these drones detected over Europe come from. or who piloting them .
just some mystical drones coming from a mystical place where all the wild drones live
just some mystical drones coming from a mystical place where all the wild drones live
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
👇🏻
Nederland mag zich gelukkig prijzen met zo veel expertise op het gebied van uiterst-rechts, waaronder:
@sldelange.bsky.social
@mrooduijn.bsky.social
@lindabos.bsky.social
Andrej Zaslove
@leoniedejonge.bsky.social (helaas nu in 🇩🇪)
Marcel Lubbers
Luister naar ze! 🙏
@sldelange.bsky.social
@mrooduijn.bsky.social
@lindabos.bsky.social
Andrej Zaslove
@leoniedejonge.bsky.social (helaas nu in 🇩🇪)
Marcel Lubbers
Luister naar ze! 🙏
September 27, 2025 at 12:49 PM
👇🏻
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
NATO reports two Hungarian Gripen fighters were scrambled from Šiauliai, Lithuania on Sept 25 as part of NATO Baltic Air Policing, intercepting three Russian MiG-31s, a Su-30 and a Su-35 flying close to Latvian airspace.
September 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
NATO reports two Hungarian Gripen fighters were scrambled from Šiauliai, Lithuania on Sept 25 as part of NATO Baltic Air Policing, intercepting three Russian MiG-31s, a Su-30 and a Su-35 flying close to Latvian airspace.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
🇨🇿 Petr Pavel: If Russia wins this unjust war, it will legitimize the triumph of brute force.
September 24, 2025 at 2:40 PM
🇨🇿 Petr Pavel: If Russia wins this unjust war, it will legitimize the triumph of brute force.
Reposted by Antoaneta Dimitrova
If you are a U.S. taxpayer, know that $20 billion are about to be used to bailout Argentina’s IMF backed libertarian economic experiment of shock doctrine and austerity, which took only a year and a half to complete collapse like a house of cards.
Bessent says US in talks with Argentina over $20bn swap line on.ft.com/42Om1YL
Bessent says US in talks with Argentina over $20bn swap line
Proposed measure comes as Trump administration seeks to support Javier Milei’s libertarian government
on.ft.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:07 PM
If you are a U.S. taxpayer, know that $20 billion are about to be used to bailout Argentina’s IMF backed libertarian economic experiment of shock doctrine and austerity, which took only a year and a half to complete collapse like a house of cards.