Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
@tobyvogel.bsky.social
Third-country national in Brussels writing on EU policies and politics, Balkans, migration, democracy, information manipulation. Former journalist (RFE/RL, European Voice).
Co-founder, Democratization Policy Council @dpcglobal.bsky.social.
Views personal
Co-founder, Democratization Policy Council @dpcglobal.bsky.social.
Views personal
Pinned
Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
@tobyvogel.bsky.social
· Jul 20
Scrap the asylum system—and build something better
Rich countries need to separate asylum from labour migration
www.economist.com
Late to this but @economist.com published an editorial that is factually wrong, misleading (not to say manipulative) and presents a convoluted argument about how to build a better international protection system – essentially by scrapping international protection.
First, a couple of facts.
First, a couple of facts.
"sunshine" but some of us live in Brussels
The perfect morning routine: how to build a happy, healthy start to the day – from showers to sunshine
The perfect morning routine: how to build a happy, healthy start to the day – from showers to sunshine
You don’t have to wake at 5am or commit to hardcore exercise. But by working out a handful of habits that suit you, and introducing them slowly, you can change your life
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:13 PM
"sunshine" but some of us live in Brussels
Unpopular opinion: former civil servants should not be allowed to cash in on their government service. And please don't come moaning about the allegedly "low" public sector salaries. If you're in it for the money you picked the wrong career.
Remember Starmer's "urgent" review into foreign interference after Nathan Gill?
Well, there's already two ex-UK ambassadors working in Westminster on behalf of a pro-Russian foreign government whose de facto leader is under UK sanctions...
New on D4S: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-amba...
Well, there's already two ex-UK ambassadors working in Westminster on behalf of a pro-Russian foreign government whose de facto leader is under UK sanctions...
New on D4S: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-amba...
Ex-UK ambassadors are lobbyists for sanctioned pro-Russia genocide deniers
Labour MP calls for rules to be tightened after Democracy for Sale finds former diplomats paid to lobby for Republika Srpska
democracyforsale.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Unpopular opinion: former civil servants should not be allowed to cash in on their government service. And please don't come moaning about the allegedly "low" public sector salaries. If you're in it for the money you picked the wrong career.
December 25, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Reposted by Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
For Balkan Insight on the US National Security Strategy, what it means for the EU/Europe +, & the #WB6. This is a front on which a recalibrated policy led by the EU & other democracies could get real popular traction. But who could catalyze that overdue shift?
balkaninsight.com/2025/12/23/u...
balkaninsight.com/2025/12/23/u...
US Foreign Policy Reorientation Means EU Must Step Up Balkan Role
As the new US National Security Strategy highlights Washington’s pivot away from a rules-based democratic global order, the EU should focus hard on the one region where it can exert the most leverage ...
balkaninsight.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
For Balkan Insight on the US National Security Strategy, what it means for the EU/Europe +, & the #WB6. This is a front on which a recalibrated policy led by the EU & other democracies could get real popular traction. But who could catalyze that overdue shift?
balkaninsight.com/2025/12/23/u...
balkaninsight.com/2025/12/23/u...
Trying to remember - where did we hear the term enemy of the people before?
December 23, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Trying to remember - where did we hear the term enemy of the people before?
This is a good message and it was no doubt emotionally satisfying to post it - but seriously, the European Commission and other EU institutions need to get off X.
December 23, 2025 at 7:42 AM
This is a good message and it was no doubt emotionally satisfying to post it - but seriously, the European Commission and other EU institutions need to get off X.
Given the billions in interest that will have to come out of the EU budget, this take is as misguided as only Politico can be.
What exactly are the EU’s 27 members ultimately willing to contribute to save Ukraine?
Thursday night’s summit of European leaders in Brussels offered an answer: ideally, someone else’s money.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Thursday night’s summit of European leaders in Brussels offered an answer: ideally, someone else’s money.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Summit shows Europe still doesn’t want to pay to save Ukraine
Some northern countries have been sending cash to Kyiv for years, but many Europeans don’t see why they should.
www.politico.eu
December 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Given the billions in interest that will have to come out of the EU budget, this take is as misguided as only Politico can be.
As usual, it's all about business
This is how moral hazard looks like: you invest $$$ into Putin/Russia knowing the high risks, and then you scream for a bailout/protection when things go south.
Raiffeisen, Unicredit, etc. had plenty of time to exit Russia
#UkrainianView #EconSky
Raiffeisen, Unicredit, etc. had plenty of time to exit Russia
#UkrainianView #EconSky
Putin’s retaliation threat over frozen assets rattles EU capitals
Italy, Belgium and Austria worry about Russia moving against their companies
www.ft.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:12 AM
As usual, it's all about business
Dangerously misguided op-ed in @euobserver.com suggesting Ukraine has lost the war and should concede, and the Europeans, instead of standing up to Russian imperialism, should engage in diplomacy.
And why not throw in some Kremlin talking points while we're at it
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
And why not throw in some Kremlin talking points while we're at it
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
December 19, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Dangerously misguided op-ed in @euobserver.com suggesting Ukraine has lost the war and should concede, and the Europeans, instead of standing up to Russian imperialism, should engage in diplomacy.
And why not throw in some Kremlin talking points while we're at it
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
And why not throw in some Kremlin talking points while we're at it
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
Big deal: Ukraine gets the financing it needs to resist Russia's war of extermination
Big deal: EU does foreign policy* through joint borrowing
Big deal: EU sidesteps national vetoes to act decisively
But thanks to Merz and VDL and their stubbornness it looks like a failure
Big deal: EU does foreign policy* through joint borrowing
Big deal: EU sidesteps national vetoes to act decisively
But thanks to Merz and VDL and their stubbornness it looks like a failure
December 19, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Big deal: Ukraine gets the financing it needs to resist Russia's war of extermination
Big deal: EU does foreign policy* through joint borrowing
Big deal: EU sidesteps national vetoes to act decisively
But thanks to Merz and VDL and their stubbornness it looks like a failure
Big deal: EU does foreign policy* through joint borrowing
Big deal: EU sidesteps national vetoes to act decisively
But thanks to Merz and VDL and their stubbornness it looks like a failure
Riiiiight
Historical revisionism kicks in even before history is made
Let me guess, the source is a senior European Commission official?
www.ft.com/content/e569...
Historical revisionism kicks in even before history is made
Let me guess, the source is a senior European Commission official?
www.ft.com/content/e569...
December 19, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Riiiiight
Historical revisionism kicks in even before history is made
Let me guess, the source is a senior European Commission official?
www.ft.com/content/e569...
Historical revisionism kicks in even before history is made
Let me guess, the source is a senior European Commission official?
www.ft.com/content/e569...
The unthinkable becomes reality overnight: EU joint borrowing to finance Ukraine, leaving out the three objecting member states. Or as the saying goes, where there's a will there's a way.
🚨 The latest conclusions say the EU will trigger Article 20 of enhanced cooperation to ensure that any mobilisation of EU resources to guarantee joint debt "will not have an impact on the financial obligations of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia," as previously reported by Euronews.
🚨 Bombshell at #EUCO at almost 2 am: António Costa has proposed to use common borrowing to meet Ukraine's most immediate financial needs while technical work on the reparations loan continues in the coming months.
Messy mix-match solution. Leaders are still discussing.
Messy mix-match solution. Leaders are still discussing.
December 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
The unthinkable becomes reality overnight: EU joint borrowing to finance Ukraine, leaving out the three objecting member states. Or as the saying goes, where there's a will there's a way.
4 years of imperialist, genocidal warfare by Russia hasn't been enough to wipe that smugness off the face of certain Western European leaders (in this case, Bart de Wever) or diminished their propensity for condescension.
www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...
www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...
December 19, 2025 at 6:52 AM
4 years of imperialist, genocidal warfare by Russia hasn't been enough to wipe that smugness off the face of certain Western European leaders (in this case, Bart de Wever) or diminished their propensity for condescension.
www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...
www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...
Another white elephant taking shape in the heart of Brussels: an entire neighborhood has been gutted to make way for a subway line that may never get built. (And just for the record: I'm in favor of Metro 3, in principle...)
Het college van de Stad Brussel heeft de MIVB gevraagd om de metrowerken aan het Zuidpaleis voorlopig on hold te zetten. “We willen niet dat het Zuidpaleis vernield wordt als metro 3 er niet komt."
Stad Brussel vraagt MIVB om metrowerf Zuidpaleis stil te leggen
Het college van de Stad Brussel heeft de MIVB gevraagd om de metrowerken aan het Zuidpaleis voorlopig on hold te zetten. “We willen niet dat het Zuidpaleis vernield wordt als metro 3 er niet komt."
short.bruzz.be
December 18, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Another white elephant taking shape in the heart of Brussels: an entire neighborhood has been gutted to make way for a subway line that may never get built. (And just for the record: I'm in favor of Metro 3, in principle...)
The older I get the more convinced I am that the one of the main home-made threats to our liberal democracies is the inexorable pull of the status quo, or to put it differently, our leaders' complacency. Every time the worst fails to happen they take it as evidence that the policy's working.
As some EU leaders lose sight of the big picture in Russia’s war of aggression, reminder of 2 of my pieces: this on consequences if Ukraine loses: www.cer.eu/publications... ; & this on what Europe must do to ensure it doesn't: www.cer.eu/publications.... Only change: funding UA is now more urgent.
Does it matter if Ukraine loses?
Ukraine is retreating and Russia is advancing, militarily and politically. Western leaders seem to underestimate both the impact of Ukraine’s defeat and the West’s ability to prevent it.
www.cer.eu
December 18, 2025 at 10:22 AM
The older I get the more convinced I am that the one of the main home-made threats to our liberal democracies is the inexorable pull of the status quo, or to put it differently, our leaders' complacency. Every time the worst fails to happen they take it as evidence that the policy's working.
According to local health authorities in Vareš, near the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, all 44 blood samples from residents near a Western-backed mine tested positive for lead, with 17 people showing levels requiring an urgent medical response. The cantonal and entity authorities have been sitting...
Masovno trovanje ljudi olovom u Varešu, vlasti ZDK šute! | 6yka
Zdravstvena ispitivanja stanovništva na području Vareša pokazala su šokantne rezultate, jer je kod svih testiranih osoba utvrđena prisutnost olova u krvi. S ...
6yka.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:14 AM
According to local health authorities in Vareš, near the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, all 44 blood samples from residents near a Western-backed mine tested positive for lead, with 17 people showing levels requiring an urgent medical response. The cantonal and entity authorities have been sitting...
He's right but I don't think that this message is going to be received even if it's sent - and that's a big if given the dire state of EU leadership these days
Zelenskyy ahead of the EU summit: “The outcome of this meeting – the result Europe produces – must make Russia feel that its desire to continue the war next year is pointless, because Ukraine will have support. This rests entirely with Europe; Europe must make this choice.”
December 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM
He's right but I don't think that this message is going to be received even if it's sent - and that's a big if given the dire state of EU leadership these days
In an unusual move just a year into her tenure, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is replacing the head of her private office, Marko Makovec.
Marko Makovec odhaja z mesta šefa kabineta evropske komisarke Marte Kos
Slovenski diplomat Marko Makovec odhaja s položaja vodje kabineta evropske komisarke za širitev EU-ja Marte Kos. Kot so pojasnili v kabinetu, se je komisarka odločila za spremembe načina delovanja svo...
www.rtvslo.si
December 17, 2025 at 7:35 AM
In an unusual move just a year into her tenure, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is replacing the head of her private office, Marko Makovec.
Serbia staying away from tonight's EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels, which even before Vučić's move promised to be a non-event
Vucic says Serbia will not attend EU-Western Balkans Summit
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Tuesday that he will not attend the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels and that Serbia will not send any representati
n1info.rs
December 17, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Serbia staying away from tonight's EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels, which even before Vučić's move promised to be a non-event
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December 15, 2025 at 6:25 AM
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Reposted by Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
if these kids were conservative influencers, it would not have been "things can happen"
December 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
if these kids were conservative influencers, it would not have been "things can happen"
The other dog that didn’t bark: Greenland.
I don’t think for a second that taking it from Denmark - arguably the US’s most steadfast ally in the whole world - is off the table at all.
I don’t think for a second that taking it from Denmark - arguably the US’s most steadfast ally in the whole world - is off the table at all.
It's the dog that didn't bark.
But that wasn't really true: the National Security Strategy is 100% consistent with J.D.'s speech, which means that we should have taken Munich as the moment to start building resilience and planning for the headwinds ahead.
But that wasn't really true: the National Security Strategy is 100% consistent with J.D.'s speech, which means that we should have taken Munich as the moment to start building resilience and planning for the headwinds ahead.
December 12, 2025 at 7:47 PM
The other dog that didn’t bark: Greenland.
I don’t think for a second that taking it from Denmark - arguably the US’s most steadfast ally in the whole world - is off the table at all.
I don’t think for a second that taking it from Denmark - arguably the US’s most steadfast ally in the whole world - is off the table at all.
Question: who exactly is doing the blocking? Anyone's got any ideas?
UN agency warns displaced Gazans face floods, as emergency supplies blocked reut.rs/48Utk3r
UN agency warns displaced Gazans face floods, as emergency supplies blocked
Hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans face flooding of their tents and shelters by heavy rains, and materials for shelters and sandbags are not being allowed to enter the enclave, the U.N. International Organization for Migration said on Friday.
reut.rs
December 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Question: who exactly is doing the blocking? Anyone's got any ideas?
We’re betraying the very people who put their lives on the line for our agendas, just because the West is once again having a nervous breakdown over immigration.
Germany drops promise to resettle hundreds of Afghans
Interior ministry will tell 640 people awaiting sanctuary ‘there is no longer any political interest in their being admitted’
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
We’re betraying the very people who put their lives on the line for our agendas, just because the West is once again having a nervous breakdown over immigration.
The US wants to smash the EU to pieces but also promises Ukraine EU accession by 2027
New: Ukraine would be earmarked to join the EU by 2027 under a fast-tracked proposal being discussed in US-brokered negotiations to end Russia’s war, in a move that would rewrite the bloc’s accession procedures.
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/e504...
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/e504...
Ukraine would join EU by 2027 under draft peace plan
Fast-track entry to bloc being discussed by US and Ukrainian officials backed by Brussels in drive to end Russia’s war
www.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The US wants to smash the EU to pieces but also promises Ukraine EU accession by 2027