The proposal of @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu for culture under the EU’s next budget (MFF 28-34): the sector’s funding wld double to €2.2 billion & Creative Europe’s third strand wld be merged with CERV (democracy, citizens, equality, rights, values). Summary by CreativesUnite_eu on Instagram

It was great to attend @bfpg.bsky.social’s 2025 Annual Survey on UK public opinion on foreign policy yesterday. Britons trust the EU to act responsibly in the world (60%), believe the UK should strengthen trade relations with the EU (51%), view the EU as the UK’s closest ally (29%). Excellent news

The internet led to the multiplication of voices and the questioning of the perceived authority of cultural gatekeepers. This is obvious. What surprises me is the way how some of them happily contribute to their own demise by prioritising short-term deals over maintaining their hard-won reputation

It was great to attend the discussion Is a Dynamic Europe Possible? with Lord Roger Liddle and MEP Sandro Gozi at Europe House in London and to hear about forthcoming discussions in the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. Thanks to the Association of European Journalists for the invitation

Great to be at the UK Media Freedom Forum @fpcthinktank.bsky.social hosted by @citystgeorges.bsky.social. Crucial point by Nishant Lalwani from @theintlfund.bsky.social that is sometimes forgotten by policymakers: information and a free press are crucial to security.

Concordo com tudo. Mas ainda há diplomatas que não chegaram lá. Está humilhação talvez ajude (infelizmente). Foto do FT deste fim-de-semana

Nada chato! O que estou a ler e o que vou ler depois para ajudar a reflectir sobre políticas audiovisuais (da UE e a sua governança global)

Tenho esta do Instagram para troca. Portugal ao rubro

Excellent intervention by @stollmeyer.bsky.social at the European Green Academy. Democracy and security go hand in hand. The west is already at war, even if we don’t recognise it. It’s a war of subversion rather than domination. In this context, civil society is the backbone of resilience. #EGA2024

Percebo os nómadas digitais. Desculpem. Lisboa é linda de morrer

Amanhã (quarta) vou estar à conversa sobre políticas culturais no Museu do Chiado a partir das 18h. Se vierem digam olá 👋🏻

I mean, what the hell is this template? Who believes that this is clearer or more appealing than a standard word file? Also, I dream of the day when the EU understands that working with excellent designers can be as important as hiring excellent policymakers. One day!

As the end of the summer gets closer, I humbly suggest that all organisations that require CVs in Europass format ask themselves if *they* are the baddies.

Update. A caminho de casa num comboio que vai fazer 450km em menos de 3horas. Com direito a cadeira confortável, espaço para as pernas, serviço de mini bar, tempo para ver a paisagem e descansar, sem limites nos líquidos que trago comigo, com pegada ecológica minúscula… Qualidade de vida é isto.

To continue with the same theme (holidays, etc), I’ve been reading this book by Thomas Piketty with his chronicles for Le Monde since 2016 and *highly* recommend it. It’s a good summary of the intellectual limitations of current European socdem and a great lesson in how to communicate complex ideas

Ok, I’ve made up my mind about an important topic. Bathing in the Mediterranean is superior to bathing in the Atlantic but walking over pebbles is inferior to walking over sand. Therefore, all in all, Atlantic and Mediterranean beaches are equivalent.

Reskeet (ugh) with a pic and your age

38!