Thu Nguyen
@onethuthree.bsky.social
Acting Co-Director, Jacques Delors Centre, Hertie School | all things EU institutional | previously Assistant Prof of EU con law | podcast: EU to go - Der Podcast für Europapolitik
Pinned
Thu Nguyen
@onethuthree.bsky.social
· Sep 24
If Europe keeps placating its own far right, how can it possibly stand up to Trump? | Thu Nguyen and Jannik Jansen
European leaders’ weakness is undermining the democratic principles on which the EU was built, say Thu Nguyen and Jannik Jansen from the Jacques Delors Centre
www.theguardian.com
Driven by fear of the far right, the EU is losing its compass, whether on migration, climate or Gaza. By undermining its own principles, Europe weakens its global position and risks losing not just dignity but political agency.
With @jannikjansen.bsky.social:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
With @jannikjansen.bsky.social:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
If we become a society of super-rich oligarchs and an underfunded state, it is the super-rich oligarchs that get to decide what to fund, what research to do - and what research not to do. They will set societal priorities.
Newly released files from the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein reveal that his ties to the scientific community were deeper than previously known.
go.nature.com/3Oq4Po2
go.nature.com/3Oq4Po2
Epstein files reveal deeper ties to scientists than previously known
Latest batch of documents show researchers consulting the financier and sex offender on publications, visas and more.
go.nature.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:20 AM
If we become a society of super-rich oligarchs and an underfunded state, it is the super-rich oligarchs that get to decide what to fund, what research to do - and what research not to do. They will set societal priorities.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
🎙️Neue Podcastfolge: Europa startet unter Druck ins Jahr 2026.
Wie handlungsfähig ist die EU?
@onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social sprechen darüber, was der Jahresauftakt über den Zustand der EU verrät und welche Weichen jetzt gestellt werden. www.delorscentre.eu/de/ueber-uns...
Wie handlungsfähig ist die EU?
@onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social sprechen darüber, was der Jahresauftakt über den Zustand der EU verrät und welche Weichen jetzt gestellt werden. www.delorscentre.eu/de/ueber-uns...
Podcast EU to go – Zwischen Krise und Kurswechsel - die EU in 2026
In der 57. Folge von EU to go sprechen Thu Nguyen und Nils Redeker darüber, was der turbulente Start ins Jahr 2026 über den Zustand der Europäischen Union verrät und welche Weichen jetzt für das gesam...
www.delorscentre.eu
February 6, 2026 at 3:26 PM
🎙️Neue Podcastfolge: Europa startet unter Druck ins Jahr 2026.
Wie handlungsfähig ist die EU?
@onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social sprechen darüber, was der Jahresauftakt über den Zustand der EU verrät und welche Weichen jetzt gestellt werden. www.delorscentre.eu/de/ueber-uns...
Wie handlungsfähig ist die EU?
@onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social sprechen darüber, was der Jahresauftakt über den Zustand der EU verrät und welche Weichen jetzt gestellt werden. www.delorscentre.eu/de/ueber-uns...
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
For the FES, I wrote a short brief about how mainstream party strategies have fueled far-right success. They move toward more anti-immigration positions to win voters back. This does not work, but shifts public opinion to the right. Parties then react to shifts in public opinion. A vicious cycle.
February 6, 2026 at 8:04 AM
For the FES, I wrote a short brief about how mainstream party strategies have fueled far-right success. They move toward more anti-immigration positions to win voters back. This does not work, but shifts public opinion to the right. Parties then react to shifts in public opinion. A vicious cycle.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
🎙️Eine neue Podcastfolge EU to go ist im Kasten.
Zum Jahresauftakt sprechen unsere Co-Direktor:innen @onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social über die großen Fragen für Europa 2026.
👉Was wird wichtig? Was kommt auf die EU zu?
Morgen geht die Folge online - stay tuned!
Zum Jahresauftakt sprechen unsere Co-Direktor:innen @onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social über die großen Fragen für Europa 2026.
👉Was wird wichtig? Was kommt auf die EU zu?
Morgen geht die Folge online - stay tuned!
February 5, 2026 at 4:18 PM
🎙️Eine neue Podcastfolge EU to go ist im Kasten.
Zum Jahresauftakt sprechen unsere Co-Direktor:innen @onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social über die großen Fragen für Europa 2026.
👉Was wird wichtig? Was kommt auf die EU zu?
Morgen geht die Folge online - stay tuned!
Zum Jahresauftakt sprechen unsere Co-Direktor:innen @onethuthree.bsky.social & @nilsredeker.bsky.social über die großen Fragen für Europa 2026.
👉Was wird wichtig? Was kommt auf die EU zu?
Morgen geht die Folge online - stay tuned!
“Governments can buy into the zero-sum thinking of the far-right and retreat into isolation, scarcity, selfishness and decline. Or they can harness the very same forces that (..) have allowed our societies to thrive for centuries.“
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/o...
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/o...
Opinion | I’m the Prime Minister of Spain. This Is Why the West Needs Migrants.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:17 AM
“Governments can buy into the zero-sum thinking of the far-right and retreat into isolation, scarcity, selfishness and decline. Or they can harness the very same forces that (..) have allowed our societies to thrive for centuries.“
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/o...
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/o...
We’re heading into quite the electoral period for the EU: 15 national parliamentary elections (🇸🇮🇭🇺🇨🇾🇸🇪🇱🇻🇩🇰🇧🇬🇪🇪🇬🇷🇲🇹🇫🇮🇪🇸🇸🇰🇵🇱🇮🇹) and a few presidential elections (most notably 🇫🇷) in 2026 & 2027
Especially elections in Hungary, Slovakia (veto players) and France, Italy, Spain, Poland (big MS) will be ones to watch
Especially elections in Hungary, Slovakia (veto players) and France, Italy, Spain, Poland (big MS) will be ones to watch
February 4, 2026 at 5:58 PM
We’re heading into quite the electoral period for the EU: 15 national parliamentary elections (🇸🇮🇭🇺🇨🇾🇸🇪🇱🇻🇩🇰🇧🇬🇪🇪🇬🇷🇲🇹🇫🇮🇪🇸🇸🇰🇵🇱🇮🇹) and a few presidential elections (most notably 🇫🇷) in 2026 & 2027
Especially elections in Hungary, Slovakia (veto players) and France, Italy, Spain, Poland (big MS) will be ones to watch
Especially elections in Hungary, Slovakia (veto players) and France, Italy, Spain, Poland (big MS) will be ones to watch
"The other iron law of reactionary centrism – beyond the asymmetry that is hiding behind the seeming evenhandedness – is that only the left and liberals really have agency. The right just reacts – everything is always backlash, never a self-generated political project."
This is really worth a read:
This is really worth a read:
"The point is not that what progressives do must never be criticized; the point is that the relentless drive to find fault with both sides equally results in a sense of (false) equivalence among those taking cues from supposedly trustworthy centrists."
Beware of ‘anti-woke’ liberals: they attacked the left and helped Trump win | Jan-Werner Müller
So-called ‘reactionary centrist’ pundits proclaimed that there was a global ‘vibe shift’ in favor of the right. They were wrong
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:16 AM
"The other iron law of reactionary centrism – beyond the asymmetry that is hiding behind the seeming evenhandedness – is that only the left and liberals really have agency. The right just reacts – everything is always backlash, never a self-generated political project."
This is really worth a read:
This is really worth a read:
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
Great intervention by @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social on reactionary centrism, anti-wokeness, and the tendency to interpret the success of the right as backlash instead of as its own political project
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Beware of ‘anti-woke’ liberals: they attacked the left and helped Trump win | Jan-Werner Müller
So-called ‘reactionary centrist’ pundits proclaimed that there was a global ‘vibe shift’ in favor of the right. They were wrong
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Great intervention by @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social on reactionary centrism, anti-wokeness, and the tendency to interpret the success of the right as backlash instead of as its own political project
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Unsere Affiliate Policy Fellow @judithkohlenberger.bsky.social heute Morgen im Europe.Table über Spaniens Migrationspolitik und was der Rest von Europa daraus lernen kann: table.media/europe/table...
Migration: Warum Spanien bei der Einwanderung auf neue Wege setzt – und was der Rest Europas daraus lernen kann
Statt auf Abschreckung und Abschottung zu setzen, ermöglicht Spanien die Regularisierung von Einwanderern. Das Land hat im Gegensatz zu seinen europäischen Nachbarländern die Vorteile von Immigration ...
table.media
February 3, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Unsere Affiliate Policy Fellow @judithkohlenberger.bsky.social heute Morgen im Europe.Table über Spaniens Migrationspolitik und was der Rest von Europa daraus lernen kann: table.media/europe/table...
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
"Perhaps most dispiriting for many Europeans was realising the French had been right all along."
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
Europe’s five stages of grief for the transatlantic alliance
From denial to bargaining to acceptance that the world has changed
www.economist.com
January 31, 2026 at 11:10 AM
"Perhaps most dispiriting for many Europeans was realising the French had been right all along."
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
Agreed. One problem in the debate is also that everyone understands something different under coalition of the willing. For some it’s intergovernmental action outside EU, for others its enhanced cooperation etc using EU institutions. So everyone is advocating for it but with different things in mind
“Coalitions of the willing” are back in vogue. Internationally, that makes sense. But in the EU context, I don’t buy the hype. In fact, it leads to the wrong conclusions and risks weakening the one institutional framework that actually gives Europe collective power in a world without rules.
Thread:
Thread:
January 30, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Agreed. One problem in the debate is also that everyone understands something different under coalition of the willing. For some it’s intergovernmental action outside EU, for others its enhanced cooperation etc using EU institutions. So everyone is advocating for it but with different things in mind
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
Max is right. The strategy has to be about creating momentum that brings everyone along.
On capital market integration in particular, this means strengthening existing EU initiatives - not running a six-member-state sideshow.
From what I understand, that’s the direction for now.
On capital market integration in particular, this means strengthening existing EU initiatives - not running a six-member-state sideshow.
From what I understand, that’s the direction for now.
This is huge. And my guess is that this doesn't lead to a two speed Europe but a mass bandwagon effect. If the Six agree others will almost all follow.
Six European economies vow to drive progress on stalled projects www.reuters.com/business/ger...
January 30, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Max is right. The strategy has to be about creating momentum that brings everyone along.
On capital market integration in particular, this means strengthening existing EU initiatives - not running a six-member-state sideshow.
From what I understand, that’s the direction for now.
On capital market integration in particular, this means strengthening existing EU initiatives - not running a six-member-state sideshow.
From what I understand, that’s the direction for now.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
Friedrich Merz just now:
“In recent weeks, we’ve felt some of the happiness that comes with self-respect. Let us make something of this newly stirring self-confidence among Europeans.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvQQ...
“In recent weeks, we’ve felt some of the happiness that comes with self-respect. Let us make something of this newly stirring self-confidence among Europeans.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvQQ...
Live: Friedrich Merz' Regierungserklärung
YouTube video by DIE ZEIT
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Friedrich Merz just now:
“In recent weeks, we’ve felt some of the happiness that comes with self-respect. Let us make something of this newly stirring self-confidence among Europeans.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvQQ...
“In recent weeks, we’ve felt some of the happiness that comes with self-respect. Let us make something of this newly stirring self-confidence among Europeans.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvQQ...
Full speech here: www.zdfheute.de/video/regier...
Bundeskanzler: Regierungserklärung von Merz zur Außenpolitik
Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz gibt im Bundestag eine Regierungserklärung zur außenpolitischen Lage ab. Verfolgen Sie die Rede und die Aussprache im Anschluss hier live.
www.zdfheute.de
January 29, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Full speech here: www.zdfheute.de/video/regier...
Merz on EU in Bundestag today: „In last weeks, we have felt the joy of self-respect. Let’s build on this new developing self-confidence.“
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
January 29, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Merz on EU in Bundestag today: „In last weeks, we have felt the joy of self-respect. Let’s build on this new developing self-confidence.“
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
Emphasizes European unity, which he clearly sees as European concept, not just EU. Explicitly refers to European states at CoW meeting in Paris as show of 🇪🇺unity
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
A real change in how Germany approaches the EU is happening. Berlin used to prioritise the unity of the 27 and now seems much more open towards coalitions of the willing.
Next step is initiative by Finance minister Klingenbeil to build an avant-garde with 🇫🇷🇵🇱🇮🇹🇳🇱🇪🇸:
Next step is initiative by Finance minister Klingenbeil to build an avant-garde with 🇫🇷🇵🇱🇮🇹🇳🇱🇪🇸:
Six EU countries hold call in push for 'two‑speed' Europe
Ministers from six leading European economies, including Germany and France, will discuss on Wednesday plans to push ahead with joint projects without the rest of the EU, to facilitate agile decision-...
www.reuters.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:47 PM
A real change in how Germany approaches the EU is happening. Berlin used to prioritise the unity of the 27 and now seems much more open towards coalitions of the willing.
Next step is initiative by Finance minister Klingenbeil to build an avant-garde with 🇫🇷🇵🇱🇮🇹🇳🇱🇪🇸:
Next step is initiative by Finance minister Klingenbeil to build an avant-garde with 🇫🇷🇵🇱🇮🇹🇳🇱🇪🇸:
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
I find it so disheartening to listen to politicians - minister and similar levels - who keep saying things like “we should, one might, it would be good…” AS IF IT IS NOT THEM WHO SHOULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Who are you talking to, this is YOUR JOB.
Who are you talking to, this is YOUR JOB.
January 28, 2026 at 9:45 AM
I find it so disheartening to listen to politicians - minister and similar levels - who keep saying things like “we should, one might, it would be good…” AS IF IT IS NOT THEM WHO SHOULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Who are you talking to, this is YOUR JOB.
Who are you talking to, this is YOUR JOB.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
Please. This is absurd. Europe can certainly deter Russia and defend itself if its focused and determined. Perpetuating a sense of European helplessness may help Rutte bureaucratically but its 1. wrong 2. prevents action. 3. willfully blind: the US ain't coming to defend Europe.
“If anyone thinks here… that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming,” Nato SecGen Mark Rutte told the European Parliament. “You can’t.”
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
Europe must stop ‘dreaming’ about defence without US, Rutte warns
[FREE TO READ] Nato chief says continent cannot afford to replace American security umbrella
as.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Please. This is absurd. Europe can certainly deter Russia and defend itself if its focused and determined. Perpetuating a sense of European helplessness may help Rutte bureaucratically but its 1. wrong 2. prevents action. 3. willfully blind: the US ain't coming to defend Europe.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
The European Parliament is keeping the EU–US trade deal on ice - at least for now.
Seems sensible to me. Until it’s clear what the Greenland framework actually entails, and whether it credibly takes coercive US tariffs off the table, Europe would be unwise to put that leverage away.
Seems sensible to me. Until it’s clear what the Greenland framework actually entails, and whether it credibly takes coercive US tariffs off the table, Europe would be unwise to put that leverage away.
No decision taken on resumption of EU-US ordinary legislative procedures today. Up to EP negotiating team to do so before @EP_trade committee of 23-24 February. EP negotiating team will meet again next Wednesday, 4 February, to reassess the situation
January 26, 2026 at 4:49 PM
The European Parliament is keeping the EU–US trade deal on ice - at least for now.
Seems sensible to me. Until it’s clear what the Greenland framework actually entails, and whether it credibly takes coercive US tariffs off the table, Europe would be unwise to put that leverage away.
Seems sensible to me. Until it’s clear what the Greenland framework actually entails, and whether it credibly takes coercive US tariffs off the table, Europe would be unwise to put that leverage away.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
Der Mechanismus ist bekannt: Gewalt & Militarisierung werden an den Grenzen eingeübt und normalisiert, die Bevölkerung an brutales Vorgehen & eine "harte Hand" gewöhnt, bis diese auch ins Innere der Gesellschaft und auf privilegierte Gruppen (weiße Protestant:innen, Staatsbürger:innen) ausgreifen.
January 26, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Der Mechanismus ist bekannt: Gewalt & Militarisierung werden an den Grenzen eingeübt und normalisiert, die Bevölkerung an brutales Vorgehen & eine "harte Hand" gewöhnt, bis diese auch ins Innere der Gesellschaft und auf privilegierte Gruppen (weiße Protestant:innen, Staatsbürger:innen) ausgreifen.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
X's AI tool Grok reportedly produced 3 million sexual deepfakes in 11 days - today the Commission reacted and opened another formal investigation into X under the Digital Services Act.
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Commission investigates Grok and X\'s recommender systems under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has launched a new formal investigation against X under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
ec.europa.eu
January 26, 2026 at 1:50 PM
X's AI tool Grok reportedly produced 3 million sexual deepfakes in 11 days - today the Commission reacted and opened another formal investigation into X under the Digital Services Act.
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Here is what the investigation is about ⬇️🧵
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
📢 Announcement | We’re delighted to welcome Ulrike Sapiro as Managing Director of the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation.
Her leadership will guide the integration of the foundations’ strengths, boosting our collective impact across Europe.
#DelorsFoEFoundation
Her leadership will guide the integration of the foundations’ strengths, boosting our collective impact across Europe.
#DelorsFoEFoundation
January 26, 2026 at 12:22 PM
📢 Announcement | We’re delighted to welcome Ulrike Sapiro as Managing Director of the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation.
Her leadership will guide the integration of the foundations’ strengths, boosting our collective impact across Europe.
#DelorsFoEFoundation
Her leadership will guide the integration of the foundations’ strengths, boosting our collective impact across Europe.
#DelorsFoEFoundation
Ich war gestern Abend zu Gast bei Anke Plättner in der phoenix Runde zum Thema “Trump gegen Europa - Bietet Brüssel ihm die Stirn?“.
Die ganze Diskussion mit Christoph Heugen (ehem. MSC), Julian Heissler (WiWo) und Paul Ronzheimer (Bild) gibt’s hier: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...
Die ganze Diskussion mit Christoph Heugen (ehem. MSC), Julian Heissler (WiWo) und Paul Ronzheimer (Bild) gibt’s hier: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...
January 23, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Ich war gestern Abend zu Gast bei Anke Plättner in der phoenix Runde zum Thema “Trump gegen Europa - Bietet Brüssel ihm die Stirn?“.
Die ganze Diskussion mit Christoph Heugen (ehem. MSC), Julian Heissler (WiWo) und Paul Ronzheimer (Bild) gibt’s hier: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...
Die ganze Diskussion mit Christoph Heugen (ehem. MSC), Julian Heissler (WiWo) und Paul Ronzheimer (Bild) gibt’s hier: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
You may have missed it amidst the chaos of the last few days, but there is a new high-level EU report in town: A Franco-German task force led by Jörg Kukies and Christian Noyer presented recommendations to tackle the scale-up financing gap.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
January 23, 2026 at 1:12 PM
You may have missed it amidst the chaos of the last few days, but there is a new high-level EU report in town: A Franco-German task force led by Jörg Kukies and Christian Noyer presented recommendations to tackle the scale-up financing gap.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
Here is what it says and why you should care about it.
Reposted by Thu Nguyen
Trump gegen Europa – bietet Brüssel ihm die Stirn?
Gestern war @onethuthree.bsky.social zu Gast in der #phoenixrunde. Zusammen Paul Ronzheimer, Christoph Heusgen und Julian Heißler diskutierte sie über Europas Handlungsfähigkeit gegenüber Trump.
Zum Nachschauen: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...
Gestern war @onethuthree.bsky.social zu Gast in der #phoenixrunde. Zusammen Paul Ronzheimer, Christoph Heusgen und Julian Heißler diskutierte sie über Europas Handlungsfähigkeit gegenüber Trump.
Zum Nachschauen: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...
January 23, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Trump gegen Europa – bietet Brüssel ihm die Stirn?
Gestern war @onethuthree.bsky.social zu Gast in der #phoenixrunde. Zusammen Paul Ronzheimer, Christoph Heusgen und Julian Heißler diskutierte sie über Europas Handlungsfähigkeit gegenüber Trump.
Zum Nachschauen: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...
Gestern war @onethuthree.bsky.social zu Gast in der #phoenixrunde. Zusammen Paul Ronzheimer, Christoph Heusgen und Julian Heißler diskutierte sie über Europas Handlungsfähigkeit gegenüber Trump.
Zum Nachschauen: www.phoenix.de/sendungen/ge...