Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com
🇺🇸🇪🇺American by birth, European by choice
Brussels-based journalist www.DaveKeating.net
Find me on Substack: https://davekeating.substack.com/
Brussels-based journalist www.DaveKeating.net
Find me on Substack: https://davekeating.substack.com/
This fusion of the 🇺🇸🇬🇧 media, evident in this BBC crisis, is something I touch on in my book The Owned Continent, out 1 December.
BBC News made a choice in 2023 to axe BBC World and switch to being based from both London & Washington.
From ex-BBC Lewis Goodall: open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
BBC News made a choice in 2023 to axe BBC World and switch to being based from both London & Washington.
From ex-BBC Lewis Goodall: open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
November 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This fusion of the 🇺🇸🇬🇧 media, evident in this BBC crisis, is something I touch on in my book The Owned Continent, out 1 December.
BBC News made a choice in 2023 to axe BBC World and switch to being based from both London & Washington.
From ex-BBC Lewis Goodall: open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
BBC News made a choice in 2023 to axe BBC World and switch to being based from both London & Washington.
From ex-BBC Lewis Goodall: open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
My take on why 🇪🇺President von der Leyen and her centre-right EPP group are playing a dangerous game by planning to ally with the far right next week to pass the deregulation demanded by Trump: davekeating.substack.com/p/von-der-le...
November 8, 2025 at 12:43 PM
My take on why 🇪🇺President von der Leyen and her centre-right EPP group are playing a dangerous game by planning to ally with the far right next week to pass the deregulation demanded by Trump: davekeating.substack.com/p/von-der-le...
IPA, the EU international journalists union, has condemned the firing of an Italian journalist for asking a question in the Commission midday press briefing perceived as critical of Israel.
So far no indication that the Commission pressured Agenzia Nova to fire him.
So far no indication that the Commission pressured Agenzia Nova to fire him.
November 7, 2025 at 11:29 AM
IPA, the EU international journalists union, has condemned the firing of an Italian journalist for asking a question in the Commission midday press briefing perceived as critical of Israel.
So far no indication that the Commission pressured Agenzia Nova to fire him.
So far no indication that the Commission pressured Agenzia Nova to fire him.
Yet another implantation of an item from Project 2025 (which Trump claimed he had nothing to do with):
The resumption of testing nuclear weapons, which has been halted by all countries except North Korea since 1992 (but resumed last week by Russia).
The resumption of testing nuclear weapons, which has been halted by all countries except North Korea since 1992 (but resumed last week by Russia).
October 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Yet another implantation of an item from Project 2025 (which Trump claimed he had nothing to do with):
The resumption of testing nuclear weapons, which has been halted by all countries except North Korea since 1992 (but resumed last week by Russia).
The resumption of testing nuclear weapons, which has been halted by all countries except North Korea since 1992 (but resumed last week by Russia).
Exit polls in the Netherlands show the far-right defeated by the pro-EU D66 party in today's national election.
Will it bear out?
Will it bear out?
October 29, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Exit polls in the Netherlands show the far-right defeated by the pro-EU D66 party in today's national election.
Will it bear out?
Will it bear out?
Could the pro-EU D66 party be the surprise winner in today’s Dutch election?
It’s possible in this razor-tight race in which polls show voters may punish far-right PVV for their time in government (even if they come first again, they are likely to lose seats).
open.substack.com/pub/lamatina...
It’s possible in this razor-tight race in which polls show voters may punish far-right PVV for their time in government (even if they come first again, they are likely to lose seats).
open.substack.com/pub/lamatina...
October 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Could the pro-EU D66 party be the surprise winner in today’s Dutch election?
It’s possible in this razor-tight race in which polls show voters may punish far-right PVV for their time in government (even if they come first again, they are likely to lose seats).
open.substack.com/pub/lamatina...
It’s possible in this razor-tight race in which polls show voters may punish far-right PVV for their time in government (even if they come first again, they are likely to lose seats).
open.substack.com/pub/lamatina...
#EUCO latest: It looks like leaders have given their assent to the 2040 climate target, in exchange for a commitment by the Commission to continue slashing climate laws to add 'flexibility', and to add a review clause.
link.europa.eu/qV4VDr
link.europa.eu/qV4VDr
October 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
#EUCO latest: It looks like leaders have given their assent to the 2040 climate target, in exchange for a commitment by the Commission to continue slashing climate laws to add 'flexibility', and to add a review clause.
link.europa.eu/qV4VDr
link.europa.eu/qV4VDr
🇺🇦President @ZelenskyyUa speaking to #EUCO press now, as we wait to see if 🇧🇪Belgium drops its reparations veto.
"I hope that they will make a positive political decision in one way or another to help Ukraine with funds, based on frozen assets," he says.
"I hope that they will make a positive political decision in one way or another to help Ukraine with funds, based on frozen assets," he says.
October 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
🇺🇦President @ZelenskyyUa speaking to #EUCO press now, as we wait to see if 🇧🇪Belgium drops its reparations veto.
"I hope that they will make a positive political decision in one way or another to help Ukraine with funds, based on frozen assets," he says.
"I hope that they will make a positive political decision in one way or another to help Ukraine with funds, based on frozen assets," he says.
#EUCO defence conclusions now out.
The Commission's white paper gets short shrift and is full of language meant to rule out the EU taking a leadership role on defence.
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
The Commission's white paper gets short shrift and is full of language meant to rule out the EU taking a leadership role on defence.
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
October 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
#EUCO defence conclusions now out.
The Commission's white paper gets short shrift and is full of language meant to rule out the EU taking a leadership role on defence.
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
The Commission's white paper gets short shrift and is full of language meant to rule out the EU taking a leadership role on defence.
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
October 23, 2025 at 10:43 AM
...but I don't know what to make of this interaction between Sanchez and 🇪🇺foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas.
October 23, 2025 at 10:07 AM
...but I don't know what to make of this interaction between Sanchez and 🇪🇺foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas.
🇪🇸Sanchez may be being shunned by his fellow centre-left leader 🇩🇰Frederiksen, but he's getting a friendly greeting from centre-right 🇪🇺Parliament speaker Roberta Metsola as the #EUCO summit starts.
October 23, 2025 at 10:06 AM
🇪🇸Sanchez may be being shunned by his fellow centre-left leader 🇩🇰Frederiksen, but he's getting a friendly greeting from centre-right 🇪🇺Parliament speaker Roberta Metsola as the #EUCO summit starts.
Entering #EUCO summit, 🇪🇸PM Sanchez says Spain is supporting Ukraine
His centre-left PES 🇪🇺group skipped their normal pre-Council meeting today, ostensibly b/c they had their Congress last week in Amsterdam. But Sanchez was the only 🇪🇺PM who showed up to it (shunned by 🇩🇰Denmark's Frederiksen?)
His centre-left PES 🇪🇺group skipped their normal pre-Council meeting today, ostensibly b/c they had their Congress last week in Amsterdam. But Sanchez was the only 🇪🇺PM who showed up to it (shunned by 🇩🇰Denmark's Frederiksen?)
October 23, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Entering #EUCO summit, 🇪🇸PM Sanchez says Spain is supporting Ukraine
His centre-left PES 🇪🇺group skipped their normal pre-Council meeting today, ostensibly b/c they had their Congress last week in Amsterdam. But Sanchez was the only 🇪🇺PM who showed up to it (shunned by 🇩🇰Denmark's Frederiksen?)
His centre-left PES 🇪🇺group skipped their normal pre-Council meeting today, ostensibly b/c they had their Congress last week in Amsterdam. But Sanchez was the only 🇪🇺PM who showed up to it (shunned by 🇩🇰Denmark's Frederiksen?)
The agenda item at today's 🇪🇺#EUCO summit on 'climate & competitiveness' is chiefly about undoing some of the climate legislation that was passed during the 2019-2024 term (partly due to a 🇺🇸command).
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
October 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The agenda item at today's 🇪🇺#EUCO summit on 'climate & competitiveness' is chiefly about undoing some of the climate legislation that was passed during the 2019-2024 term (partly due to a 🇺🇸command).
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
Big ❓ for 🇺🇳#COP30: Will the EU PMs decide to scrap the planned 2040 target?
🇬🇷Greek PM Mitsotakis, also from Merz & von der Leyen's conservative EPP group, also enters #EUCO calling for a reevaluation of the EU's efforts to fight climate change.
"We should allow more time...ensuring that we don’t place unnecessary burdens on European industries.”
"We should allow more time...ensuring that we don’t place unnecessary burdens on European industries.”
October 23, 2025 at 9:01 AM
🇬🇷Greek PM Mitsotakis, also from Merz & von der Leyen's conservative EPP group, also enters #EUCO calling for a reevaluation of the EU's efforts to fight climate change.
"We should allow more time...ensuring that we don’t place unnecessary burdens on European industries.”
"We should allow more time...ensuring that we don’t place unnecessary burdens on European industries.”
German Chancellor #Merz speaks at length as he enters #EUCO about the need to gut EU climate regulations (a 🇺🇸 demand).
He chastises the 🇪🇺Parliament for rejecting the #Omnibus proposal to scrap EU corporate reporting requirements and adjust the carbon border levy yesterday.
He chastises the 🇪🇺Parliament for rejecting the #Omnibus proposal to scrap EU corporate reporting requirements and adjust the carbon border levy yesterday.
October 23, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Dutch PM Dick Schoof says entering #EUCO summit that he backs Belgium's call for sharing the reparations risk.
"Europe and the G7 as a whole must stand behind this, not Belgium alone," he says.
"Europe and the G7 as a whole must stand behind this, not Belgium alone," he says.
October 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Dutch PM Dick Schoof says entering #EUCO summit that he backs Belgium's call for sharing the reparations risk.
"Europe and the G7 as a whole must stand behind this, not Belgium alone," he says.
"Europe and the G7 as a whole must stand behind this, not Belgium alone," he says.
Entering the #EUCO summit, Belgian PM De Wever says he has 3 conditions for agreeing to the Russian asset confiscation today: shared risk, joint guarantees and all EU countries do the same.
“If the coalition of the willing is not willing to be the coalition of the bill, it has no sense to carry on"
“If the coalition of the willing is not willing to be the coalition of the bill, it has no sense to carry on"
October 23, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Entering the #EUCO summit, Belgian PM De Wever says he has 3 conditions for agreeing to the Russian asset confiscation today: shared risk, joint guarantees and all EU countries do the same.
“If the coalition of the willing is not willing to be the coalition of the bill, it has no sense to carry on"
“If the coalition of the willing is not willing to be the coalition of the bill, it has no sense to carry on"
Costa was referring to the disagreement over confiscating €140bn in Russian assets and giving it to Ukraine.
Belgium is objecting because that money is based at Euroclear here in 🇧🇪 and they are worried they will be sued. 🇧🇪PM Bart De Wever wants a guarantee 🇪🇺 will cover them.
Belgium is objecting because that money is based at Euroclear here in 🇧🇪 and they are worried they will be sued. 🇧🇪PM Bart De Wever wants a guarantee 🇪🇺 will cover them.
October 23, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Costa was referring to the disagreement over confiscating €140bn in Russian assets and giving it to Ukraine.
Belgium is objecting because that money is based at Euroclear here in 🇧🇪 and they are worried they will be sued. 🇧🇪PM Bart De Wever wants a guarantee 🇪🇺 will cover them.
Belgium is objecting because that money is based at Euroclear here in 🇧🇪 and they are worried they will be sued. 🇧🇪PM Bart De Wever wants a guarantee 🇪🇺 will cover them.
Speaking alongside President Zelenskyy, 🇪🇺Council chair Costa says Ukraine has the EU's full support.
"Dear Volodymyr, welcome to your house," he says, referring to Ukraine as "a future member of the European Union.
He says Ukraine will get the military funding it needs for '26 & '27.
"Dear Volodymyr, welcome to your house," he says, referring to Ukraine as "a future member of the European Union.
He says Ukraine will get the military funding it needs for '26 & '27.
October 23, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Speaking alongside President Zelenskyy, 🇪🇺Council chair Costa says Ukraine has the EU's full support.
"Dear Volodymyr, welcome to your house," he says, referring to Ukraine as "a future member of the European Union.
He says Ukraine will get the military funding it needs for '26 & '27.
"Dear Volodymyr, welcome to your house," he says, referring to Ukraine as "a future member of the European Union.
He says Ukraine will get the military funding it needs for '26 & '27.
🇺🇦President Zelenskyy is arriving now at the #EUCO summit in Brussels.
He was first invited as a show of support after the telling off he got from 🇺🇸President Trump last week. But breaking news overnight that Trump has cancelled his Putin meeting and sanctioned Russia has changed the context.
He was first invited as a show of support after the telling off he got from 🇺🇸President Trump last week. But breaking news overnight that Trump has cancelled his Putin meeting and sanctioned Russia has changed the context.
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
🇺🇦President Zelenskyy is arriving now at the #EUCO summit in Brussels.
He was first invited as a show of support after the telling off he got from 🇺🇸President Trump last week. But breaking news overnight that Trump has cancelled his Putin meeting and sanctioned Russia has changed the context.
He was first invited as a show of support after the telling off he got from 🇺🇸President Trump last week. But breaking news overnight that Trump has cancelled his Putin meeting and sanctioned Russia has changed the context.
From the pre-#EUCO summit briefings today, it's clear Europe's ultra-Atlanticist governments are determined to throw up every roadblock possible to sovereign EU defence.
In response to the white paper, we're hearing over and over that Commission should not be in driver's seat.
In response to the white paper, we're hearing over and over that Commission should not be in driver's seat.
October 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
From the pre-#EUCO summit briefings today, it's clear Europe's ultra-Atlanticist governments are determined to throw up every roadblock possible to sovereign EU defence.
In response to the white paper, we're hearing over and over that Commission should not be in driver's seat.
In response to the white paper, we're hearing over and over that Commission should not be in driver's seat.
The title of the 🇪🇺Commission work programme being unveiled today, "Europe's Independence Moment", is at odds with the US dependence 🇪🇺President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu and national leaders are locking the union into, writes @eddywax.bsky.social in today's Rapporteur newsletter:
October 21, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The title of the 🇪🇺Commission work programme being unveiled today, "Europe's Independence Moment", is at odds with the US dependence 🇪🇺President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu and national leaders are locking the union into, writes @eddywax.bsky.social in today's Rapporteur newsletter:
It is a shame this heavily Washington-influenced Politico hit job doesn't mention the *reason* Sanchez opposes the spending
He's the only 🇪🇺leader calling out Trump's extortion for what it is, and calling for independent European defence
Obviously the 🇺🇸military-industrial complex doesn't like that
He's the only 🇪🇺leader calling out Trump's extortion for what it is, and calling for independent European defence
Obviously the 🇺🇸military-industrial complex doesn't like that
October 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM
It is a shame this heavily Washington-influenced Politico hit job doesn't mention the *reason* Sanchez opposes the spending
He's the only 🇪🇺leader calling out Trump's extortion for what it is, and calling for independent European defence
Obviously the 🇺🇸military-industrial complex doesn't like that
He's the only 🇪🇺leader calling out Trump's extortion for what it is, and calling for independent European defence
Obviously the 🇺🇸military-industrial complex doesn't like that