Henrique Laitenberger
@toenlaiten.bsky.social
EU federalist, liberal, football fan, historian | Head of 🇪🇺 Affairs for Technology Industries of Finland | Views are mine.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
I still can't get over my amazement about Finland, of all countries, having a relatively strong military by European standards.
Just shows how far the dismantling of European militaries went, I guess.
Just shows how far the dismantling of European militaries went, I guess.
This would be great but it’s kinda funny that Germany would still have a small total force + reserve than Finland (wartime strength 280,000 and total reserve about 900,000)
www.ft.com/content/6cbf...
www.ft.com/content/6cbf...
November 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I still can't get over my amazement about Finland, of all countries, having a relatively strong military by European standards.
Just shows how far the dismantling of European militaries went, I guess.
Just shows how far the dismantling of European militaries went, I guess.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
I am not a lawyer, just a historian, but one fundamental problem with the political debate about the EU, especially in English publications is that the whole principle of the acquis communnitaire is not understood or taken seriously. The EU is a framework of rules, not an alliance.
November 6, 2025 at 7:45 AM
I am not a lawyer, just a historian, but one fundamental problem with the political debate about the EU, especially in English publications is that the whole principle of the acquis communnitaire is not understood or taken seriously. The EU is a framework of rules, not an alliance.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
None of us should put pressure on Zelenskyy when it comes to territorial concessions. We should all put pressure on Russia to stop its aggression. Appeasement never was a road to a just and lasting peace.
October 19, 2025 at 6:05 PM
None of us should put pressure on Zelenskyy when it comes to territorial concessions. We should all put pressure on Russia to stop its aggression. Appeasement never was a road to a just and lasting peace.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
We will never forget the horror of the Hamas attacks on 7 October and the pain they caused to innocent victims, their families and the entire people of Israel, two years ago.
We honour their memory by working tirelessly for peace.
We honour their memory by working tirelessly for peace.
October 7, 2025 at 6:39 AM
We will never forget the horror of the Hamas attacks on 7 October and the pain they caused to innocent victims, their families and the entire people of Israel, two years ago.
We honour their memory by working tirelessly for peace.
We honour their memory by working tirelessly for peace.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
Regardless of any genuine and heartfelt empathy for the innocent people in Gaza -
anyone marching today to cheer Hamas and celebrate the anniversary of 7 October 2023 is, to put it simply, the scum of the earth.
anyone marching today to cheer Hamas and celebrate the anniversary of 7 October 2023 is, to put it simply, the scum of the earth.
October 7, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Regardless of any genuine and heartfelt empathy for the innocent people in Gaza -
anyone marching today to cheer Hamas and celebrate the anniversary of 7 October 2023 is, to put it simply, the scum of the earth.
anyone marching today to cheer Hamas and celebrate the anniversary of 7 October 2023 is, to put it simply, the scum of the earth.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
Reform are now coming after people with permanent residency. It'll be citizens next. No one is safe from authoritarian governments.
September 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reform are now coming after people with permanent residency. It'll be citizens next. No one is safe from authoritarian governments.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
NB for all the (justifiable) criticism of Starmer right now, we also have a Conservative leader who won't criticise even those who think she isn't English or should be deported.
Failures of our two main parties to deal with the moment are leaving a huge hole to be exploited.
Failures of our two main parties to deal with the moment are leaving a huge hole to be exploited.
September 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM
NB for all the (justifiable) criticism of Starmer right now, we also have a Conservative leader who won't criticise even those who think she isn't English or should be deported.
Failures of our two main parties to deal with the moment are leaving a huge hole to be exploited.
Failures of our two main parties to deal with the moment are leaving a huge hole to be exploited.
It is utterly baffling that the UK Government refuses to see that silence and appeasement only embolden the extremists that are actively laying the axe on Britain's democracy, rule of law, and open society. They sense the weakness and will not stop, contrary to what Downing Street hopes.
Given the context and the crowd, despite Musk’s weasel words, this was a call for violence against the British state, from a foreign national who controls a major propaganda engine, and has engineered it to monetise hate
September 14, 2025 at 12:25 PM
It is utterly baffling that the UK Government refuses to see that silence and appeasement only embolden the extremists that are actively laying the axe on Britain's democracy, rule of law, and open society. They sense the weakness and will not stop, contrary to what Downing Street hopes.
This is by no means an original take, but with every added day of mayhem, I catch myself trying to recall what it was like when the primary sources of information for societies were not platforms powered by opaque, manipulative algorithms that confront you with extreme content 24/7.
September 13, 2025 at 10:23 AM
This is by no means an original take, but with every added day of mayhem, I catch myself trying to recall what it was like when the primary sources of information for societies were not platforms powered by opaque, manipulative algorithms that confront you with extreme content 24/7.
"This has to be Europe's Independence Moment" - channelling her inner Thomas J. Whitmore, Ursula von der Leyen has probably delivered the defining #SOTEU of her Presidency.
More combative than ever about Europe's need to stand united, she set out the stall for the rest of her tenure.
More combative than ever about Europe's need to stand united, she set out the stall for the rest of her tenure.
September 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM
"This has to be Europe's Independence Moment" - channelling her inner Thomas J. Whitmore, Ursula von der Leyen has probably delivered the defining #SOTEU of her Presidency.
More combative than ever about Europe's need to stand united, she set out the stall for the rest of her tenure.
More combative than ever about Europe's need to stand united, she set out the stall for the rest of her tenure.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
Brexit stoked the belief among the UK Right that pursuing a maximalist agenda is a path to victory. The surrender of much of the UK political establishment to Brexit delusions encouraged the UK Far Right to move more quickly to seize control of the Conservatives and impose their agenda on Britain
August 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Brexit stoked the belief among the UK Right that pursuing a maximalist agenda is a path to victory. The surrender of much of the UK political establishment to Brexit delusions encouraged the UK Far Right to move more quickly to seize control of the Conservatives and impose their agenda on Britain
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
Whoever writes that "all wars end with negotiations" should be refuted by an decent foreign affairs journal, because it is not true in modern times.
1. World War I ended with revolution in Russia in1917 and Germany in 1918. /1
1. World War I ended with revolution in Russia in1917 and Germany in 1918. /1
August 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Whoever writes that "all wars end with negotiations" should be refuted by an decent foreign affairs journal, because it is not true in modern times.
1. World War I ended with revolution in Russia in1917 and Germany in 1918. /1
1. World War I ended with revolution in Russia in1917 and Germany in 1918. /1
For the first time in ages, I have ample time to post and I intend to use that window of opportunity unwisely by jumping on this bandwagon.
Go ahead, make your day.
Go ahead, make your day.
For every like, I will post one non-political opinion
July 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
For the first time in ages, I have ample time to post and I intend to use that window of opportunity unwisely by jumping on this bandwagon.
Go ahead, make your day.
Go ahead, make your day.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
Trump is working on regime change in Europe — fact, not conspiracy theory
Trump is working on regime change in Europe — fact, not conspiracy theory
On 27 May, an official document, The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe, calling for regime change in European countries was published, written by a senior adviser for the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in the US State Department, writes Caroline de Gruyter.
euobserver.com
July 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Trump is working on regime change in Europe — fact, not conspiracy theory
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
Commission will present its proposal for an EU intermediary climate target for 2040.
Technology Industries of Finland is supporting a 90 % emissions reduction target. Union can offer global leadership to protect the planet – all while bolstering its own competitiveness, says @toenlaiten.bsky.social
Technology Industries of Finland is supporting a 90 % emissions reduction target. Union can offer global leadership to protect the planet – all while bolstering its own competitiveness, says @toenlaiten.bsky.social
Why the EU Literally Cannot Afford A Weakened Climate Target
The effects of climate change are becoming more and more evident: every year, new temperature records are being registered and extreme weather events are becoming part of the everyday reality of Europ...
teknologiateollisuus.fi
June 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Commission will present its proposal for an EU intermediary climate target for 2040.
Technology Industries of Finland is supporting a 90 % emissions reduction target. Union can offer global leadership to protect the planet – all while bolstering its own competitiveness, says @toenlaiten.bsky.social
Technology Industries of Finland is supporting a 90 % emissions reduction target. Union can offer global leadership to protect the planet – all while bolstering its own competitiveness, says @toenlaiten.bsky.social
This lovely thread reminds me of my plan to wholly rely on the Tesco Meal Deal (priced at £2.50 back in the magical days of 2011) for lunch to save money in my first year of uni.
I had to abandon that plan after two months due to the actual nausea I developed at the mere sight of a Tesco sandwich.
I had to abandon that plan after two months due to the actual nausea I developed at the mere sight of a Tesco sandwich.
Back in the Twitter glory days I had a long-running thread where I was attempting to taste and rate every single sandwich available on the Tesco meal deal. Sadly Elon had to come along and ruin that, so I'm left with no other choice: I'm starting again. On here. Let's go ...
June 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This lovely thread reminds me of my plan to wholly rely on the Tesco Meal Deal (priced at £2.50 back in the magical days of 2011) for lunch to save money in my first year of uni.
I had to abandon that plan after two months due to the actual nausea I developed at the mere sight of a Tesco sandwich.
I had to abandon that plan after two months due to the actual nausea I developed at the mere sight of a Tesco sandwich.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
The EU's 2040 climate target will be 90% but softened with flexibilities, with international carbon credits being one of the options discussed, Teresa Ribera told me — while warning against “a big watering down of our 2040 domestic action" through such flexibilities.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Brussels to propose ‘pragmatic’ 90 percent climate target for 2040
In an interview with POLITICO, EU climate chief Teresa Ribera warns against watering down the goal too much.
www.politico.eu
May 28, 2025 at 7:17 AM
The EU's 2040 climate target will be 90% but softened with flexibilities, with international carbon credits being one of the options discussed, Teresa Ribera told me — while warning against “a big watering down of our 2040 domestic action" through such flexibilities.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
I'm firmly of the view that a ban is the best option: even leaving aside that TikTok is owned and controlled by a hostile authoritarian power, the nature of the platform is such that it fragments the public and rewards misinformation - it's not something that can easily be turned to progresive ends
May 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I'm firmly of the view that a ban is the best option: even leaving aside that TikTok is owned and controlled by a hostile authoritarian power, the nature of the platform is such that it fragments the public and rewards misinformation - it's not something that can easily be turned to progresive ends
One really must feel for Harry Kane. Never in his lifetime have Tottenham Hotspur won a major trophy - and then suddenly win a European cup two years after he leaves.
May 21, 2025 at 9:03 PM
One really must feel for Harry Kane. Never in his lifetime have Tottenham Hotspur won a major trophy - and then suddenly win a European cup two years after he leaves.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Brexit made the principle that feeling trumps fact policy orthodoxy in Westminster, far beyond the question of UK-EU relations. Once politicians knew they could get away with ignoring difficult tradeoffs and sell comforting fairytales, the game was up.
Starmer's anti-immigrant speech today wasn't just a moral and political embarrassment. It was also an intellectual embarrassment.
inews.co.uk/opinion/star...
inews.co.uk/opinion/star...
May 12, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Brexit made the principle that feeling trumps fact policy orthodoxy in Westminster, far beyond the question of UK-EU relations. Once politicians knew they could get away with ignoring difficult tradeoffs and sell comforting fairytales, the game was up.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
If a dozen German MPs decide to ignore the parliamentary majority constellations, the rise of the AfD, the erosion of the transatlantic relationship, a coalition agreement, and an SPD grassroots vote because of their personal dislike of Friedrich Merz, the problem is not Friedrich Merz.
May 6, 2025 at 10:47 AM
If a dozen German MPs decide to ignore the parliamentary majority constellations, the rise of the AfD, the erosion of the transatlantic relationship, a coalition agreement, and an SPD grassroots vote because of their personal dislike of Friedrich Merz, the problem is not Friedrich Merz.