Martin 马丁 Holterman
@martinned.bsky.social
Gamekeeper turned poacher turned gamekeeper. Ex-consultant, ex-CMA, ex-Ofwat, ex-EUI. Tweets and RTs (occasionally) reflect personal views, but never anyone else's.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Breakdown of today's vote in the EP on the Ukraine loan facility with a new type of graph by member state.
This shows neatly the huge support in the Nordics and Baltics, the low one in France (due to the RN) and the stark exception of Hungary, where even the opposition Tisza Party voted against.
This shows neatly the huge support in the Nordics and Baltics, the low one in France (due to the RN) and the stark exception of Hungary, where even the opposition Tisza Party voted against.
February 11, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Breakdown of today's vote in the EP on the Ukraine loan facility with a new type of graph by member state.
This shows neatly the huge support in the Nordics and Baltics, the low one in France (due to the RN) and the stark exception of Hungary, where even the opposition Tisza Party voted against.
This shows neatly the huge support in the Nordics and Baltics, the low one in France (due to the RN) and the stark exception of Hungary, where even the opposition Tisza Party voted against.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
As expected, all three votes today on the aspects of the 'safe third countries' list at EU level were carried by the EPP with the three far-right parties.
Each of the votes looked like a variation of this (data via @howtheyvote.eu):
Each of the votes looked like a variation of this (data via @howtheyvote.eu):
February 10, 2026 at 1:48 PM
As expected, all three votes today on the aspects of the 'safe third countries' list at EU level were carried by the EPP with the three far-right parties.
Each of the votes looked like a variation of this (data via @howtheyvote.eu):
Each of the votes looked like a variation of this (data via @howtheyvote.eu):
🤦♂️
There we have it, the first price undertaking deal in the EU-China EV saga
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
February 10, 2026 at 11:55 AM
🤦♂️
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
We don't send you surveys to find out how satisfied you were with the driver who put your parcel in the bin just before it was emptied. We just need to maximise the opportunities for you to accept cookies so we can track you and sell data.
February 10, 2026 at 11:20 AM
We don't send you surveys to find out how satisfied you were with the driver who put your parcel in the bin just before it was emptied. We just need to maximise the opportunities for you to accept cookies so we can track you and sell data.
That's going to be tough for Petra Vlhova, having to make up 10.07 seconds against Mikaela Shiffrin in the slalom leg of today's team combined. Still, good to have her back!
February 10, 2026 at 10:45 AM
That's going to be tough for Petra Vlhova, having to make up 10.07 seconds against Mikaela Shiffrin in the slalom leg of today's team combined. Still, good to have her back!
Today in "Americans struggling with English":
The word you're looking for is "swing"...
The word you're looking for is "swing"...
Enten: "Trump's base with non-college voters is absolutely collapsing ... he's underwater by 9 points. That's a 23 point switcheroo."
February 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Today in "Americans struggling with English":
The word you're looking for is "swing"...
The word you're looking for is "swing"...
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Andy Burnham prepares to lead his Northern legions across the River Trent
February 9, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Andy Burnham prepares to lead his Northern legions across the River Trent
"Bezorgers zien dat meer mensen pakketjes buitenshuis willen ophalen."
Ja, zo kun je het ook noemen. Je levert jarenlang een waardeloze dienst zonder zicht op verbetering, en verbaast je dan als mensen hun pakje helemaal niet meer laten bezorgen.
fd.nl/bedrijfsleve...
Ja, zo kun je het ook noemen. Je levert jarenlang een waardeloze dienst zonder zicht op verbetering, en verbaast je dan als mensen hun pakje helemaal niet meer laten bezorgen.
fd.nl/bedrijfsleve...
Grote gemeenten willen meer grip op groei pakketautomaten
Nu de pakketkluis opdoemt in supermarkt, sportclub en op straat komen gemeenten tussenbeide. De vier grote steden willen afspraken maken over de hoeveelheid pakketkluizen en -punten in binnensteden en waar ze komen te staan.
fd.nl
February 9, 2026 at 12:32 PM
"Bezorgers zien dat meer mensen pakketjes buitenshuis willen ophalen."
Ja, zo kun je het ook noemen. Je levert jarenlang een waardeloze dienst zonder zicht op verbetering, en verbaast je dan als mensen hun pakje helemaal niet meer laten bezorgen.
fd.nl/bedrijfsleve...
Ja, zo kun je het ook noemen. Je levert jarenlang een waardeloze dienst zonder zicht op verbetering, en verbaast je dan als mensen hun pakje helemaal niet meer laten bezorgen.
fd.nl/bedrijfsleve...
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Overall I think we are now at 9 female cabinet ministers out of 21 positions named so far, which is not bad. But some parties ratios are woeful - and the Netherlands seems about as close to getting a female prime minister as it does to hosting the Winter Olympics
VVD justice minister David van Weel, asked why only 3 of his party's 9 cabinet members were women, replied: “We selected on quality.”
D66 just appointed the first female lieutenant-general in the Dutch army as housing minister.
The quality's there if you look for it.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
D66 just appointed the first female lieutenant-general in the Dutch army as housing minister.
The quality's there if you look for it.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Luitenant-generaal Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan wordt minister van Volkshuisvesting namens D66
D66 heeft luitenant-generaal bij de Luchtmacht Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan voorgedragen als minister van Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening. Dat meldt de partij maandag op haar website. Boekholt-...
www.nrc.nl
February 9, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Overall I think we are now at 9 female cabinet ministers out of 21 positions named so far, which is not bad. But some parties ratios are woeful - and the Netherlands seems about as close to getting a female prime minister as it does to hosting the Winter Olympics
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Tim Allan, Keir Starmer’s director of communications, has just quit his Downing Street role:
“I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success."
“I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success."
February 9, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Tim Allan, Keir Starmer’s director of communications, has just quit his Downing Street role:
“I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success."
“I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success."
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Big news: the European Commission has told Meta that its exclusion of rival AI assistants from WhatsApp is anti-competitive, and ordered it to reverse the policy.
This is very fast by the EC's standards; the original investigation was only opened in December.
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
This is very fast by the EC's standards; the original investigation was only opened in December.
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Commission notifies Meta of possible interim measures to reverse exclusion of third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp
The European Commission has sent a Statement of Objections to Meta, setting out its preliminary view that Meta breached EU antitrust rules by excluding third party Artificial Intelligence (‘AI\') assi...
ec.europa.eu
February 9, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Big news: the European Commission has told Meta that its exclusion of rival AI assistants from WhatsApp is anti-competitive, and ordered it to reverse the policy.
This is very fast by the EC's standards; the original investigation was only opened in December.
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
This is very fast by the EC's standards; the original investigation was only opened in December.
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Sure, Teletekst, het probleem met Bad Bunny was zijn “kritische houding”.
February 9, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Sure, Teletekst, het probleem met Bad Bunny was zijn “kritische houding”.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Francesca Lollobrigida, local hero of Italy in her last Winter Olympic Games, set an Olympic record to win gold in the women’s 3000m speed skating final 🇮🇹
AND it happened on her 35th birthday 🥳
Live updates: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
AND it happened on her 35th birthday 🥳
Live updates: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
February 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Francesca Lollobrigida, local hero of Italy in her last Winter Olympic Games, set an Olympic record to win gold in the women’s 3000m speed skating final 🇮🇹
AND it happened on her 35th birthday 🥳
Live updates: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
AND it happened on her 35th birthday 🥳
Live updates: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
Klinkt goed, zo'n D66 stad. Ik denk alleen niet dat het gaat gebeuren. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Column | In de D66-stad voel ik me niet thuis
Ik denk dat Rob Jetten een goede premier is voor Nederland. Hij is vrolijk, open, competent, beminnelijk en kameleonesk genoeg. Daar kunnen we best even mee vooruit. En toch staat zijn politiek, die v...
www.nrc.nl
February 6, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Klinkt goed, zo'n D66 stad. Ik denk alleen niet dat het gaat gebeuren. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
I've never heard the EP's centrist coalition referred to as "Venezuela" before, but I guess it makes sense. Red, Yellow, and Blue.
(@nvondarza.bsky.social's blog post is worth reading!)
www.foederalist.eu/2026/02/eu-a...
(@nvondarza.bsky.social's blog post is worth reading!)
www.foederalist.eu/2026/02/eu-a...
EU Analytics – January 2026 review: The unpredictability of a shifting EU political landscape
Ein Blog über die Demokratie in Europa
www.foederalist.eu
February 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM
I've never heard the EP's centrist coalition referred to as "Venezuela" before, but I guess it makes sense. Red, Yellow, and Blue.
(@nvondarza.bsky.social's blog post is worth reading!)
www.foederalist.eu/2026/02/eu-a...
(@nvondarza.bsky.social's blog post is worth reading!)
www.foederalist.eu/2026/02/eu-a...
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Here’s a poem called ‘Message to the 14-Year-Old Me’.
February 5, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Here’s a poem called ‘Message to the 14-Year-Old Me’.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Still the greatest list ever complied.
February 3, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Still the greatest list ever complied.
The Belgian army is being split into a Dutch-speaking brigade, stationed in Flanders, and a French-speaking brigade, stationed in Wallonia.
(And yes, because it's Belgium, they're called the 1st and 7th brigades.)
(And yes, because it's Belgium, they're called the 1st and 7th brigades.)
Vandaag richt Defensie de 1e en de 7e Brigade van de Landmacht opnieuw op.
Toch betekent dat niet dat België nu 7 plots brigades heeft. De benamingen zijn historische keuzes. "Niet bevorderlijk voor de duidelijkheid", klinkt het.
Toch betekent dat niet dat België nu 7 plots brigades heeft. De benamingen zijn historische keuzes. "Niet bevorderlijk voor de duidelijkheid", klinkt het.
Defensie richt 1e en 7e Brigade weer op: waarom? | VRT NWS: nieuws
Vandaag richt Defensie de 1e en de 7e Brigade van de Landmacht opnieuw op. "Een historisch moment en een gevolg van de hervorming en versterking van de Landmacht", horen we. Waarom is die heroprichtin...
vrtnws.be
February 3, 2026 at 10:24 AM
The Belgian army is being split into a Dutch-speaking brigade, stationed in Flanders, and a French-speaking brigade, stationed in Wallonia.
(And yes, because it's Belgium, they're called the 1st and 7th brigades.)
(And yes, because it's Belgium, they're called the 1st and 7th brigades.)
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Vandaag richt Defensie de 1e en de 7e Brigade van de Landmacht opnieuw op.
Toch betekent dat niet dat België nu 7 plots brigades heeft. De benamingen zijn historische keuzes. "Niet bevorderlijk voor de duidelijkheid", klinkt het.
Toch betekent dat niet dat België nu 7 plots brigades heeft. De benamingen zijn historische keuzes. "Niet bevorderlijk voor de duidelijkheid", klinkt het.
Defensie richt 1e en 7e Brigade weer op: waarom? | VRT NWS: nieuws
Vandaag richt Defensie de 1e en de 7e Brigade van de Landmacht opnieuw op. "Een historisch moment en een gevolg van de hervorming en versterking van de Landmacht", horen we. Waarom is die heroprichtin...
vrtnws.be
February 3, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Vandaag richt Defensie de 1e en de 7e Brigade van de Landmacht opnieuw op.
Toch betekent dat niet dat België nu 7 plots brigades heeft. De benamingen zijn historische keuzes. "Niet bevorderlijk voor de duidelijkheid", klinkt het.
Toch betekent dat niet dat België nu 7 plots brigades heeft. De benamingen zijn historische keuzes. "Niet bevorderlijk voor de duidelijkheid", klinkt het.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
De NL broeikasgasemissie steeg in januari met 0,4 Mton (+3%) tov jan25.
Stijging: koeler weer (+0,5 Mton) en groei stroomexport (+0,8 Mton).
Daling: energiebesparing (-0,3 Mton), groei hernieuwbaar (-0,2 Mton) en minder industriële productie (-0,4 Mton).
#grafiekvandedag
Stijging: koeler weer (+0,5 Mton) en groei stroomexport (+0,8 Mton).
Daling: energiebesparing (-0,3 Mton), groei hernieuwbaar (-0,2 Mton) en minder industriële productie (-0,4 Mton).
#grafiekvandedag
February 3, 2026 at 8:02 AM
De NL broeikasgasemissie steeg in januari met 0,4 Mton (+3%) tov jan25.
Stijging: koeler weer (+0,5 Mton) en groei stroomexport (+0,8 Mton).
Daling: energiebesparing (-0,3 Mton), groei hernieuwbaar (-0,2 Mton) en minder industriële productie (-0,4 Mton).
#grafiekvandedag
Stijging: koeler weer (+0,5 Mton) en groei stroomexport (+0,8 Mton).
Daling: energiebesparing (-0,3 Mton), groei hernieuwbaar (-0,2 Mton) en minder industriële productie (-0,4 Mton).
#grafiekvandedag