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.
Henk is absolutely right. The way migration is visually represented here and elsewhere is not innocuous.
A map like this is why I wrote Free the Map (www.nai010.com/en/product/f...). Used in the Dutch election debate, it turns asylum seekers into thick invasion arrows. Invisiblized: how the own visa rules and pushbacks turn migration into a dangerous, deadly zigzag. Humanise cartography. Free the Map.
October 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Henk is absolutely right. The way migration is visually represented here and elsewhere is not innocuous.
A rare piece of good news to come out of Cyprus
Northern Cypriot Turks have today elected pro-federation candidate Tufan Erhürman for their new president by landslide victory. Erdoğan-backed Ersin Tatar, who promoted two-state solution for the divided island, has lost. Turkey still holds the key to any future talks. www.birgun.net/haber/kuzey-...
Kuzey Kıbrıs'ta 777 sandıktan 735'i açıldı: Tufan Erhürman oyların yüzde 63,28’ini aldı
Cumhurbaşkanı seçimine giden Kuzey Kıbrıs'ta 777 sandıktan 735’i açılırken, CTP Genel Başkanı Tufan Erhürman oyların yüzde 62,80’ini, Cumhurbaşkanı Ersin Tatar oyların yüzde 35,77’sini aldı.
www.birgun.net
October 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A rare piece of good news to come out of Cyprus
Reposted by Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
🚫 #StopBukBijela – protect the Drina & Piva rivers! Despite legal challenges, Republika Srpska is pushing ahead with the Buk Bijela dam, Montenegro – with Kruševo. No dams on the upper Drina! 🔗 bankwatch.org/stopbukbijela
Footage: Ante Gugić, moremedia.hr, Robert Oroz
Footage: Ante Gugić, moremedia.hr, Robert Oroz
October 15, 2025 at 10:36 AM
🚫 #StopBukBijela – protect the Drina & Piva rivers! Despite legal challenges, Republika Srpska is pushing ahead with the Buk Bijela dam, Montenegro – with Kruševo. No dams on the upper Drina! 🔗 bankwatch.org/stopbukbijela
Footage: Ante Gugić, moremedia.hr, Robert Oroz
Footage: Ante Gugić, moremedia.hr, Robert Oroz
If you're in London, Tirana, Amsterdam, Brussels, or Fribourg, go listen to a great scholar discuss an important topic.
"Girlhood At War" is going on tour.
Details will follow soon along with new dates for other European cities.
The book is available across all European and American online platforms.
All proceeds from book sales go to the children’s section of the public library in my hometown, Gjilan (Kosovo).
Details will follow soon along with new dates for other European cities.
The book is available across all European and American online platforms.
All proceeds from book sales go to the children’s section of the public library in my hometown, Gjilan (Kosovo).
October 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
If you're in London, Tirana, Amsterdam, Brussels, or Fribourg, go listen to a great scholar discuss an important topic.
Non-surprise of the month
October 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Non-surprise of the month
Nicosia, September 28, 2025
September 29, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Nicosia, September 28, 2025
Funny how libertarianism turns out to be a completely empty shell every time it’s put to the test
I'm a libertarian and that's why I believe thousands of US soldiers should be sent into American cities even if state authorities don't want them there.
Rand Paul: "Chicago is a nightmare. It is literally a war zone."
September 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Funny how libertarianism turns out to be a completely empty shell every time it’s put to the test
Some ideas are so evidently dumb you really don’t need to read beyond the headline
Keir Starmer pushes immigration front and centre to fight Nigel Farage
The prime minister believes a new digital ID scheme can help tackle illegal migration.
www.bbc.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Some ideas are so evidently dumb you really don’t need to read beyond the headline
The subtle art of persuasion
JERUSALEM (AP) - In 'unprecedented operation,' Israeli army takes over mobile phones of Gaza residents to carry Netanyahu UN speech live.
@apnews.com
@apnews.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The subtle art of persuasion
Reposted by Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
Quincy has been a f—ing disaster on every front and I urge any of my friends still affiliated with them to step down.
Tucker is spreading dangerous anti-Semitic lies, and he's being amplified by the bizarro alliance of the far left and far right at Quincy.
September 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Quincy has been a f—ing disaster on every front and I urge any of my friends still affiliated with them to step down.
Non-surprise of the day – Commission continues stonewalling on its funding and enabling of the so-called Libyan "coast guard"
EU dismisses demands to stop funding Libyan Coast Guard after shooting attack
The European Commission has dismissed civil society demands to cut Libyan Coast Guard funding after they shot up a charity rescue vessel in late August.
euobserver.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Non-surprise of the day – Commission continues stonewalling on its funding and enabling of the so-called Libyan "coast guard"
Holy sh*t
▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░ 73.22%
September 25, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Holy sh*t
Excuse me, Sir?
I understand the point being made: recognition cannot be a substitution for a strategy. But this is just complete nonsense.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/w...
I understand the point being made: recognition cannot be a substitution for a strategy. But this is just complete nonsense.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/w...
September 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Excuse me, Sir?
I understand the point being made: recognition cannot be a substitution for a strategy. But this is just complete nonsense.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/w...
I understand the point being made: recognition cannot be a substitution for a strategy. But this is just complete nonsense.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/w...
Turkey has also been occupying for half a century more than one-third of the EU member state where I've been working most of this summer, but I guess we're too polite to bring this up 🤷🏼
Good meeting with President Erdoğan on the margins of the Two-State solution conference at the #UNGA. Turkey is an important partner in supporting Ukraine, participating in the efforts of the Coalition of the Willing. We will continue to work together for a just and lasting peace.
September 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Turkey has also been occupying for half a century more than one-third of the EU member state where I've been working most of this summer, but I guess we're too polite to bring this up 🤷🏼
Top headline game from The Guardian
September 22, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Top headline game from The Guardian
We all know von der Leyen is a control freak – no news there. But shame on these newspapers for playing along and in effect deceiving their readers.
newsletter.euractiv.com/mail/3da3399...
newsletter.euractiv.com/mail/3da3399...
September 22, 2025 at 6:15 AM
We all know von der Leyen is a control freak – no news there. But shame on these newspapers for playing along and in effect deceiving their readers.
newsletter.euractiv.com/mail/3da3399...
newsletter.euractiv.com/mail/3da3399...
Half a million dead because of a bunch of thin-skinned, childish racists.
Latest projection suggests that more than 505,000 adults and kids have died due to USAID's illegal dismantling by Musk, Rubio, and Lewin
Source: www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
Source: www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
September 22, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Half a million dead because of a bunch of thin-skinned, childish racists.
Sunder (and James) is right. One of the remarkable things happening in the US, the UK, and elsewhere is that the boundaries of acceptable public speech and action – the shared norms that hold our societies together – have dramatically shifted.
"Today, in 2025, the norm has broken down. Too many thugs and racists feel as though they have been granted permission to behave terribly" - James O'Malley's blog
September 22, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Sunder (and James) is right. One of the remarkable things happening in the US, the UK, and elsewhere is that the boundaries of acceptable public speech and action – the shared norms that hold our societies together – have dramatically shifted.
This is a welcome move, even if it's a substitute for an actual strategy.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
September 21, 2025 at 3:08 PM
This is a welcome move, even if it's a substitute for an actual strategy.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
So obvious even the Times caught on to it
September 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
So obvious even the Times caught on to it
Here's another one
NYTimes really driving me up the wall these days (and giving @nytpitchbot.bsky.social a run for its money) with framings and headlines like this one.
So an article about the government stifling free speech is a story of “success” and “efficacy” is it?
So an article about the government stifling free speech is a story of “success” and “efficacy” is it?
September 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Here's another one
I'm probably overly sensitive - but doesn't this sound borderline admiring?
September 18, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I'm probably overly sensitive - but doesn't this sound borderline admiring?
Just days after the EPP decided to review the status of Vučić's SNS, the (EPP) President of the European Parliament receives one of Vučić's most aggressive associates, Ana Brnabić.
Big mistake.
Big mistake.
September 12, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Just days after the EPP decided to review the status of Vučić's SNS, the (EPP) President of the European Parliament receives one of Vučić's most aggressive associates, Ana Brnabić.
Big mistake.
Big mistake.
Anyone understand what Politico are trying to say here? Because I sure don't...
September 12, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Anyone understand what Politico are trying to say here? Because I sure don't...