Olivier Hoedeman
@olivierhoedeman.bsky.social
Corporate Europe Observatory @corporateeurope
- exposing the power of corporate lobbying in the EU.
- exposing the power of corporate lobbying in the EU.
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
The Commission is set to finally unveil the Democracy Shield 🛡️on 12 November! Here is what it will look like and what details will matter. 🧵
November 10, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The Commission is set to finally unveil the Democracy Shield 🛡️on 12 November! Here is what it will look like and what details will matter. 🧵
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
The Heritage Foundation, the intellectual engine behind the 922-page blueprint that has become the key policy manual for Donald Trump’s second term, is partnering with a constellation of European nationalist far-right movements to export its playbook.
The Heritage Foundation goes from MAGA to MEGA — Make Europe Great Again
On the agenda: pro-natalism, freedom of expression, opposing trans rights and fighting Chinese influence.
www.politico.eu
November 10, 2025 at 7:57 AM
The Heritage Foundation, the intellectual engine behind the 922-page blueprint that has become the key policy manual for Donald Trump’s second term, is partnering with a constellation of European nationalist far-right movements to export its playbook.
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
The prospect that the Brexit-pushing, Farage-promoting, Israeli-government-favouring BBC may now turn even more to the hard right is chilling.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack. With these resignations, it has given in | Jane Martinson
The corporation should have stood up to the Telegraph, Trump and the Tories. Now, its enemies know how little it takes for it to fold, says Jane Martinson, professor of financial journalism
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The prospect that the Brexit-pushing, Farage-promoting, Israeli-government-favouring BBC may now turn even more to the hard right is chilling.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
“The Omnibus fails to meet the constitutional standards the EU’s own legal order demands”.
That’s the conclusion reached by legal opinion endorsed by 100+ academics warning the Parliament about this dangerous precedent.
Read the opinion 👇 #Omnibus #CSRD #CSDDD
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
That’s the conclusion reached by legal opinion endorsed by 100+ academics warning the Parliament about this dangerous precedent.
Read the opinion 👇 #Omnibus #CSRD #CSDDD
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 10, 2025 at 6:33 AM
“The Omnibus fails to meet the constitutional standards the EU’s own legal order demands”.
That’s the conclusion reached by legal opinion endorsed by 100+ academics warning the Parliament about this dangerous precedent.
Read the opinion 👇 #Omnibus #CSRD #CSDDD
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
That’s the conclusion reached by legal opinion endorsed by 100+ academics warning the Parliament about this dangerous precedent.
Read the opinion 👇 #Omnibus #CSRD #CSDDD
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
🇪🇺 #Alcohol profits before #PublicHealth and #Democracy?
How the new “EU Wine Package” reveals a troubling imbalance between public interest and private influence.
No public health assessment and the European Parliament and health civil society are being bypassed.
euobserver.com/eu-political...
How the new “EU Wine Package” reveals a troubling imbalance between public interest and private influence.
No public health assessment and the European Parliament and health civil society are being bypassed.
euobserver.com/eu-political...
Lack of transparency of EU's new wine proposals will cause a hangover
The EU Wine Package — a broad reform of the rules for how wine should be produced, marketed, and labelled across the EU — is moving forward with unusual speed and limited transparency.
euobserver.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:05 AM
🇪🇺 #Alcohol profits before #PublicHealth and #Democracy?
How the new “EU Wine Package” reveals a troubling imbalance between public interest and private influence.
No public health assessment and the European Parliament and health civil society are being bypassed.
euobserver.com/eu-political...
How the new “EU Wine Package” reveals a troubling imbalance between public interest and private influence.
No public health assessment and the European Parliament and health civil society are being bypassed.
euobserver.com/eu-political...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
November 9, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
The EU AI Act was supposed to be the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation, but it’s being systematically weakened by corporate lobbying at every stage - from initial negotiations to implementation.
November 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The EU AI Act was supposed to be the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation, but it’s being systematically weakened by corporate lobbying at every stage - from initial negotiations to implementation.
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Beyond concerning,
The European Commission is reportedly considering delaying parts of its landmark AI Act following heavy lobbying from U.S. tech giants and pressure from Washington.
Thread
Please read!
substack.com/@europeanpow...
The European Commission is reportedly considering delaying parts of its landmark AI Act following heavy lobbying from U.S. tech giants and pressure from Washington.
Thread
Please read!
substack.com/@europeanpow...
Labour’s AI Growth Zones: The Corporate Land Grab Disguised as Innovation
How Starmer’s government is carving up Britain into deregulated fiefdoms for Big Tech, without asking a single community
substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Beyond concerning,
The European Commission is reportedly considering delaying parts of its landmark AI Act following heavy lobbying from U.S. tech giants and pressure from Washington.
Thread
Please read!
substack.com/@europeanpow...
The European Commission is reportedly considering delaying parts of its landmark AI Act following heavy lobbying from U.S. tech giants and pressure from Washington.
Thread
Please read!
substack.com/@europeanpow...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Wikidata has been recognized as a digital public good by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) 🎉
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
October 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Wikidata has been recognized as a digital public good by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) 🎉
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Amid misinformation, Wikipedia's volunteer community stands out. Editors uphold neutrality, verify sources, and log every edit.
Without corporate ads, its scale and transparent governance make it a beacon of trust. Learn more ➡️ w.wiki/7zfT
Without corporate ads, its scale and transparent governance make it a beacon of trust. Learn more ➡️ w.wiki/7zfT
November 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Amid misinformation, Wikipedia's volunteer community stands out. Editors uphold neutrality, verify sources, and log every edit.
Without corporate ads, its scale and transparent governance make it a beacon of trust. Learn more ➡️ w.wiki/7zfT
Without corporate ads, its scale and transparent governance make it a beacon of trust. Learn more ➡️ w.wiki/7zfT
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Strategic autonomy for ya
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure on.ft.com/4r4SAfR
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure on.ft.com/4r4SAfR
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure
Brussels is set to water down part of its strict digital rule book as it aims to make bloc more competitive
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Strategic autonomy for ya
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure on.ft.com/4r4SAfR
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure on.ft.com/4r4SAfR
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Is democracy losing to demands from US big tech? The European Commission is moving.
“A number of companies, including Facebook & Instagram owner Meta, have warned that the EU’s approach to regulating AI risks cutting the continent off from accessing cutting-edge services”
www.ft.com/content/af6c...
“A number of companies, including Facebook & Instagram owner Meta, have warned that the EU’s approach to regulating AI risks cutting the continent off from accessing cutting-edge services”
www.ft.com/content/af6c...
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure
Brussels is set to water down part of its strict digital rule book as it aims to make bloc more competitive
www.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Is democracy losing to demands from US big tech? The European Commission is moving.
“A number of companies, including Facebook & Instagram owner Meta, have warned that the EU’s approach to regulating AI risks cutting the continent off from accessing cutting-edge services”
www.ft.com/content/af6c...
“A number of companies, including Facebook & Instagram owner Meta, have warned that the EU’s approach to regulating AI risks cutting the continent off from accessing cutting-edge services”
www.ft.com/content/af6c...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
A second look at the leaked draft of the @ec.europa.eu’s AI omnibus: Fundamental rights authorities are set to have their powers clarified down.
Read my article at @euractiv.com:
www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Read my article at @euractiv.com:
www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Commission to weaken rights protectors in AI Act revamp | Euractiv
A draft of the Commission's digital omnibus for AI, obtained by Euractiv, lays out plans for its AI Office to gain more enforcement powers at the expense of national watchdogs
www.euractiv.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:21 AM
A second look at the leaked draft of the @ec.europa.eu’s AI omnibus: Fundamental rights authorities are set to have their powers clarified down.
Read my article at @euractiv.com:
www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Read my article at @euractiv.com:
www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Trump and his billionaire buddies protect tax secrecy so corporations can continue to make big bucks, all whilst claiming there is no money for health, education or pay rises for workers. Daniel Bertossa, @psiglobalunion.bsky.social
#UNtaxConvention #TaxJustice2025 bit.ly/taxjustice25
#UNtaxConvention #TaxJustice2025 bit.ly/taxjustice25
November 5, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Trump and his billionaire buddies protect tax secrecy so corporations can continue to make big bucks, all whilst claiming there is no money for health, education or pay rises for workers. Daniel Bertossa, @psiglobalunion.bsky.social
#UNtaxConvention #TaxJustice2025 bit.ly/taxjustice25
#UNtaxConvention #TaxJustice2025 bit.ly/taxjustice25
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
If guaranteeing essentials sounds radical in 2025, it speaks to how far we’ve drifted from democracy’s core promise. Markets will not save democracy.
My new piece for @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My new piece for @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Zohran Mamdani shows how Democrats can defeat authoritarians like Trump | Isabella Weber
Democrats have two choices: fight to make life affordable again for ordinary people or watch voters embrace authoritarians
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If guaranteeing essentials sounds radical in 2025, it speaks to how far we’ve drifted from democracy’s core promise. Markets will not save democracy.
My new piece for @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My new piece for @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
EU-based companies continue to export thousands of tonnes of banned pesticides to Kenya and other countries, even though the food it helps produce is often then exported back to the EU, new research has confirmed.
Boomerang effect: pesticides banned in EU are shipped back in Kenyan food exports
EU-based companies continue to export thousands of tonnes of banned pesticides to Kenya and other countries, even though the food it helps produce is often then exported back to the EU, new research has confirmed.
euobserver.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
EU-based companies continue to export thousands of tonnes of banned pesticides to Kenya and other countries, even though the food it helps produce is often then exported back to the EU, new research has confirmed.
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
💥Russian Orthodox priest Hilarion (Grigory Alfeyev) – now heading the Czech branch, formerly Hungary’s – seen at the FSB HQ shooting range on Moscow’s Lubyanka Square, in the basement once used by the KGB for torture & executions.
📹 @vsquare.bsky.social @denikn.cz | More: vsquare.org/goulash-puti...
📹 @vsquare.bsky.social @denikn.cz | More: vsquare.org/goulash-puti...
October 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
💥Russian Orthodox priest Hilarion (Grigory Alfeyev) – now heading the Czech branch, formerly Hungary’s – seen at the FSB HQ shooting range on Moscow’s Lubyanka Square, in the basement once used by the KGB for torture & executions.
📹 @vsquare.bsky.social @denikn.cz | More: vsquare.org/goulash-puti...
📹 @vsquare.bsky.social @denikn.cz | More: vsquare.org/goulash-puti...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
"For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention and distort reality."
Trump AI deepfakes glorify himself, trash rivals.
In a parallel reality, Donald Trump reigns as king, fighter pilot, and Superman, and his political opponents are cast as criminals and laughingstocks -- an unprecedented weaponization of AI imagery by a sitting American president
u.afp.com/SeHr
In a parallel reality, Donald Trump reigns as king, fighter pilot, and Superman, and his political opponents are cast as criminals and laughingstocks -- an unprecedented weaponization of AI imagery by a sitting American president
u.afp.com/SeHr
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
"For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention and distort reality."
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Vorig jaar namen de EU lidstaten gezamenlijk 113 fossiele lobbyisten mee naar COP29. Daar wordt het veel te heet van. 🌍 🔥
De geloofwaardigheid van de EU staat onder druk, het moet echt beter! Met meer dan 100 organisaties zeiden wij tegen Hoekstra: neem geen fossiele lobbyisten mee naar COP30. 🇧🇷
De geloofwaardigheid van de EU staat onder druk, het moet echt beter! Met meer dan 100 organisaties zeiden wij tegen Hoekstra: neem geen fossiele lobbyisten mee naar COP30. 🇧🇷
A letter signed by more than 100 organisations was sent to Hoekstra, asking not to bring fossil fuel lobbyists to COP30 🇧🇷
👍 Promisingly, there were no lobbyists in the official EU delegation last year
👎EU Member States still brought 113 lobbyists
✉️: fossilfreepolitics.org/news/cop30-l...
#COP30
👍 Promisingly, there were no lobbyists in the official EU delegation last year
👎EU Member States still brought 113 lobbyists
✉️: fossilfreepolitics.org/news/cop30-l...
#COP30
More than 100 organisations tell Hoekstra not to bring fossil fuel lobbyists to COP30! - Fossil Free Politics
As COP30 approaches, we're now calling on the EU's climate chief, Commissioner Wopka Hoekstra, to not bring fossil fuel lobbyists to the UN climate talks again this year, and to push member states to ...
fossilfreepolitics.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Vorig jaar namen de EU lidstaten gezamenlijk 113 fossiele lobbyisten mee naar COP29. Daar wordt het veel te heet van. 🌍 🔥
De geloofwaardigheid van de EU staat onder druk, het moet echt beter! Met meer dan 100 organisaties zeiden wij tegen Hoekstra: neem geen fossiele lobbyisten mee naar COP30. 🇧🇷
De geloofwaardigheid van de EU staat onder druk, het moet echt beter! Met meer dan 100 organisaties zeiden wij tegen Hoekstra: neem geen fossiele lobbyisten mee naar COP30. 🇧🇷
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
On Monday 10Nov at 13:30CET @jakubpat.bsky.social, journalist and editor-in-chief of @denikreferendum.cz will join @voxeurop.bsky.social to discuss (in Eng) the political situation in Czechia, which, at least on paper, is soon going to have the worst government in the EU.
Join them to find out more!
Join them to find out more!
A live discussion with @jakubpat.bsky.social / @denikreferendum.cz - Monday 10 November 2025 - 13:30 CET
via @voxeurop.bsky.social
#PulseEurope
voxeurop.eu/en/event/and...
via @voxeurop.bsky.social
#PulseEurope
voxeurop.eu/en/event/and...
Live | Andrej Babiš puts Czechia back in the populist camp
Andrej Babiš is an admirer of Viktor Orban, but what are his relationships with Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump? How does he see the war in Ukraine, or his neighbours, or the European Union? 21 years ...
voxeurop.eu
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 AM
On Monday 10Nov at 13:30CET @jakubpat.bsky.social, journalist and editor-in-chief of @denikreferendum.cz will join @voxeurop.bsky.social to discuss (in Eng) the political situation in Czechia, which, at least on paper, is soon going to have the worst government in the EU.
Join them to find out more!
Join them to find out more!
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
🔴 A Climate Law for Polluters, Confirmed.
Europe’s new 2040 #ClimateTarget locks in loopholes, not real climate action.
Offsets, carbon removals, and review clauses won’t phase out fossil fuels — they just buy time for polluters.
Read our statement 👇
www.realzeroeurope.org/resources/pr...
Europe’s new 2040 #ClimateTarget locks in loopholes, not real climate action.
Offsets, carbon removals, and review clauses won’t phase out fossil fuels — they just buy time for polluters.
Read our statement 👇
www.realzeroeurope.org/resources/pr...
November 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM
🔴 A Climate Law for Polluters, Confirmed.
Europe’s new 2040 #ClimateTarget locks in loopholes, not real climate action.
Offsets, carbon removals, and review clauses won’t phase out fossil fuels — they just buy time for polluters.
Read our statement 👇
www.realzeroeurope.org/resources/pr...
Europe’s new 2040 #ClimateTarget locks in loopholes, not real climate action.
Offsets, carbon removals, and review clauses won’t phase out fossil fuels — they just buy time for polluters.
Read our statement 👇
www.realzeroeurope.org/resources/pr...
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
Gates' subtle anti-renewables messaging, possibly related to his investments in small modular nuclear reactors, was well known, but this is next level: financially supporting a guy whose core business it is to argue for less climate action.
“Bill Gates Gave $3.5M to Think Tank Run by Climate Crisis Denier Bjorn Lomborg" by Rei Takver for @desmog.com:
www.desmog.com/2025/11/05/b...
www.desmog.com/2025/11/05/b...
Bill Gates Gave $3.5M to Think Tank Run by Climate Crisis Denier Bjorn Lomborg
Tax records reveal that the billionaire’s foundation has donated for years to Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center.
www.desmog.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Gates' subtle anti-renewables messaging, possibly related to his investments in small modular nuclear reactors, was well known, but this is next level: financially supporting a guy whose core business it is to argue for less climate action.
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
“Regeringen met autoritaire neigingen zijn slim. Ze bezitten en controleren media waarmee ze de samenleving becommentariëren en mensen zwartmaken, en ze gebruiken de tactiek van de kikker in de kokende pan. Je neemt mensen langzaam hun rechten af, zodat ze het niet merken.”
Rechters en activisten in Polen hebben een zware klus aan het herstellen van de door PiS vernietigde rechtsstaat
Hoe bescherm je de democratie als polarisatie en populisme de overhand hebben? Op reis langs Poolse rechters, burgeractivisten en journalisten die onder grote druk terugvechten. Wat hebben zij ons te ...
www.groene.nl
November 6, 2025 at 6:33 AM
“Regeringen met autoritaire neigingen zijn slim. Ze bezitten en controleren media waarmee ze de samenleving becommentariëren en mensen zwartmaken, en ze gebruiken de tactiek van de kikker in de kokende pan. Je neemt mensen langzaam hun rechten af, zodat ze het niet merken.”
Reposted by Olivier Hoedeman
⚠️ Efforts to delegitimise, defund or restrict civil society are no longer isolated. They are appearing across Europe – including here in Brussels.
Without an independent civil society, corporate lobbies will fill the void. Important protections will be rolled back in the name of “efficiency.”
Without an independent civil society, corporate lobbies will fill the void. Important protections will be rolled back in the name of “efficiency.”
November 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
⚠️ Efforts to delegitimise, defund or restrict civil society are no longer isolated. They are appearing across Europe – including here in Brussels.
Without an independent civil society, corporate lobbies will fill the void. Important protections will be rolled back in the name of “efficiency.”
Without an independent civil society, corporate lobbies will fill the void. Important protections will be rolled back in the name of “efficiency.”