Great to be back European Parliament with warm memories of my time as MEP. Days full of discussions on the EU’s foreign and security policy and the special role of parliamentary diplomacy in it.

La rentrée all-star!

3 days until first state begins mail voting (Sept 6. in NC) 7 days until the ABC debate in Philadelphia on Sept. 10 13 days until early voting starts (Sept. 16 in PA) 28 days until VP debate on Oct. 1 62 days until Election Day on Nov. 5!

The big question is whether competition could fall (directly) under EVP Thierry Breton, which would mean a historic shift in the EU's competition policy (less open trade, more "strategic autonomy" — or protectionism, as many would call it)

Ce mercredi dans la #Matinale de France Inter A 8h20, Frédéric Encel (Frédéric Encel), Vincent Lemire (vincent lemire) et Rym Momtaz (Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز) sont les invités de Nicolas Demorand pour parler de la situation au Proche-Orient #Le710Inter

It’s safe to now declare that Monsieur Smolar has now made it in DC. Kidding aside - *run* to buy his book, it is one of the most beautifully written and poignant, both funny and somber, books I’ve read over the past 5 years.

EU should double the size of its budget, cut farming subsidies, and include the UK in a defence production single market, Bruegel experts say in their pitch to the new commission All the details in today’s Financial Times Europe Express ft.com/content/8f6a52…

LOL. 400,000 israéliens ont manifesté en sept 1982 pour demander une enquête. La Commission Kahan a conclu qu’Israel avait une responsabilité indirecte, et Sharon a dû démissionner. mais si on suit le raisonnement de ce monsieur ils étaient tous des “ennemis” d’Israel.

This. Many of us have repeatedly brought this up since October, but alas to no avail. And the consequences may prove to be cataclysmic, when taken together with other global shifts happening. Better buckle up.

I'm delighted to announce that MIT SSP has received a transformative gift from the Stanton Foundation to create a Center for Nuclear Security Policy. And even more delighted that my long-time colleague, Vipin Narang, will serve as its first director. news.mit.edu/2024/mit-secur…

Indeed. And Netenyahu’s been doing this for a while. Today, earlier this week and in Sept 2023 at UNGA, to show just 3 examples of his erasure of Palestinian territories. And a deafening silence from those who were pearl-clutching at university students a few months ago.

Aug 31, US officials: discussing nuts and bolts of implementation Sept 2, US tabling “final FINAL - for real - bridging proposal” Sept 4: couple sticking points that may or may not actually be the heart of the problem and dealbreakers Very best diplomacy, 100% effective.

Excellent piece by my brilliant colleague Gwendolyn Sasse on the connections between domestic and international politics. German regional elections show how East-West Germany’s problems are weaponised for Russia’s war aims Carnegie Europe carnegieendowment.org/europe/strateg…

Macron’s priority was appointing a PM who wldnt tear apart his biggest eco reforms, not loftier political ideals despite the narrative around the snap elex, so he was never going to appoint a PM from the leftist coalition (that saved many of his MPs). That’s politics.

But irrespective of Barnier’s own politics, his appt as PM is a turning point: in a parliament split into thirds, Macron’s Center chose to make Le Pen’s RN far-right the kingmaker, instead of the Leftist Coalition because the LFI far-left was deemed more toxic than the far-right.

The other takeaway since the snap elex is how immature/weak French parliamentary politics are, and how dominant the President is in the Vth Republic despite losing 2 successive elex. Barnier was appointed 51 days later w/o a coalition program agreed, or a government makeup.

Why was Michel Barnier chosen as French prime minister? Listen to Rym Momtaz, from Carnegie Europe, on the latest episode of #BBCNewscast bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

Latest: US has told allies that #Iran has sent short-range ballistic missiles to #Russia. So far, hundreds sent. Sanctions being worked up by U.S., EU and partners. Story with Michael R. Gordon

🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron recently appointed Michel Barnier as the country's new prime minister. 💫 What are the key takeaways that you need to know? Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز, Editor in Chief of Strategic Europe, explains ➡️ youtube.com/watch?v=LGqwdK…

Harari as a living example that bestselling allows you to say bold unsubstantiated allegations and get away with it