Jeremy Cliffe
Editorial Director and Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations (@ecfr.eu)
ecfr.eu/profile/jeremy-cliffe/
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- "The economic and financial distress Trump initiated in the US creates an opportunity for the eurozone – which issues the world’s second-most-important international currency – to capture some of the exorbitant privilege long enjoyed by the US." www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeMy long read for @ecfr.eu and probably the publication im most proud of in all my years doing this. A deep dive into how Russia retrenched in Libya, uses it to project power from Ukraine to the Sahel, and the many lessons Europe or other frontline states can learn from it ecfr.eu/publication/...
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeThese are Eurovisionary times.
- European sentiment, tested by external threats and internal doubts, is finding new life in the Trump era: not in grand declarations, but in a slow, stubborn commitment to endure and move forward, writes @pawelzerka.bsky.social @ecfrpower.bsky.social
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeJeremy and I wrote this over the weekend and it was supposed to be an optimistic piece. It still is, despite the rollercoaster ride of today‘s election. We see reason for hope when it comes to German foreign policy and the country’s role in Europe. ecfr.eu/article/from...
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeMerz is the first Chancellor to have started his political career as an MEP in Brussels
- Merz's (deep and heartfelt, albeit conservative) Europeanism v much on display on his flight to Paris this morning ⬇️ But will it survive contact with coalition strife, pressure from CDU right, German economic woes, late-night European Council summits...? bsky.app/profile/rike...
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeThis is a very good and sober overview on what is to come with Merz as the new chancellor. Cautiously optimistic, while not omitting the flaws and dangers that lie ahead. 👇👇
- Germany has been on the back foot in Europe over the past few years. Chancellor Merz's visits to Paris and Warsaw today beg the question: will that now change? Here's @jpuglierin.bsky.social's and my (very) cautiously upbeat assessment: ecfr.eu/article/from...
- Germany has been on the back foot in Europe over the past few years. Chancellor Merz's visits to Paris and Warsaw today beg the question: will that now change? Here's @jpuglierin.bsky.social's and my (very) cautiously upbeat assessment: ecfr.eu/article/from...
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeAbout time the EU comes up with a bigger retaliation package, now eyeing another €100 billion US goods. The time to increase pressure and waive your gun is now, not after the talks fail. Services retaliation remains mute, even though it could be very targeted. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeIndia said early Wednesday it had launched a military operation against Pakistan in a major escalation of tensions between the two neighbors. Read more: cnn.it/42MuwEn
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeBut we also warn that Merz could get dragged back from the world stage and into a new domestic political quagmire. Today has just made this more likely.
- Merz wins 2nd Bundestag vote and is duly elected Germany's new chancellor. Relief in ranks of new government - but what an illustration of the challenges he will face leading a small-majority coalition in fractious political times.
- Anxious expressions from Friedrich Merz and his prospective vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil with 2nd Bundestag vote about to start
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- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeThe whole of Europe looked to Berlin today in the hope that Germany would reassert itself as an anchor of stability and a pro-European powerhouse. That hope has been dashed. With consequences way beyond our borders.
- No further chancellor votes in Bundestag today. Possible second vote will be on Friday. Merz trips to Paris and Warsaw planned for tomorrow (presumably) out of the window. What a mess.
- Not a good start for Merz, to put it mildly. For all his foreign-policy ambition there’s a serious risk his chancellorship will be consumed by instability in Berlin (a narrow majority, rival power centers in the CDU/CSU, an unenthusiastic SPD, AfD rising, economy in doldrums…)
- Kanzlerwetter
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- Some observations on Friedrich Merz's incoming cabinet: 1/ relatively little federal executive experience 2/ more right-leaning than Merkel's grand coalitions 3/ centralised: Merz and Klingbeil THE two deciders 4/ foreign policy made in, and run from, the chancellery
- Good to see Klingbeil's "generation change" in SPD minister list eg @verena-hubertz.de (construction), Reem Alabali-Radovan (aid), @nataliepawlik.bsky.social (migration commissioner), @elisabethkaiser.bsky.social (eastern). Party moving beyond Schröder generation. www.tagesschau.de/inland/innen...
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- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeEurope is facing unprecedented economic security challenges. What can it do about it? Please join me and @agathedemarais.bsky.social for this @ecfr.eu webinar with Denis Redonnet. May 6 at 15 CET.
- 🧠💪 The EU lacks cohesive governance to deploy economic statecraft tools, undermining their impact and the bloc’s global credibility. @agathedemarais.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social have a solution. Join our @ecfr.eu webinar to learn more: 🔗 ecfr.eu/event/no-bra...
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- White smoke for Chancellor Merz www.tagesschau.de/eilmeldung/s...
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- Faced by a massive electricity cut, Spain's government is offering clear advice: 1) minimise travel 2) follow official information sources 3) use mobiles only for short calls, and emergency calls when absolutely necessary
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- Merz's 5 key names for Europe: - Johann Wadephul, foreign minister - Thorsten Frei, chancellery head - Jacob Schrot, head of new NSC - Günter Sautter, foreign-policy lead - Michael Clauss, Europe lead In short: Merzian loyalists and respected technocrats (Clauss is brilliant).
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- CDU announces its ministers in Merz's incoming government. Two key appointments for European observers: close Merz ally Thorsten Frei will head the chancellery and Johann Wadephul (@ecfr.eu council member) will be foreign minister. Points to a more consistent -and centralised- German foreign policy.
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- Indeed. Though generally Spain spends its defence budgets well:
- Spain's very own "Zeitenwende":
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- This. Spain has the good fortune to have vast wind and solar resources and the good sense to invest enthusiastically in them. It's on track to being Europe's green energy superpower.
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- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeIt may seem counterintuitive to issue more debt during a crisis. But in a world where US economic policy is unpredictable, safe asset diversification suddenly has value. And the EU’s best response to US tariffs is to issue more debt. My OpED at @bruegel.bsky.social www.bruegel.org/first-glance...
- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeThe thing about Europe: it's the actual land of the free now. Whatever problems Europe has - and it has plenty - it is looking pretty damn good by comparison these days. My Charlemagne this week www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
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- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeWell, judging by the lines on the US and NATO in the coalition agreement, you wouldn't think that Trump 2 was the decisive factor in Merz's U-turn on the debt brake.
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- CDU/CSU and SPD have reached a coalition deal. Announcement midday tomorrow.
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- Reposted by Jeremy CliffeEU trade ministers meeting this morning in Luxembourg to thrash out retaliatory measures vs Trump They will be briefed by Sefcovic on his recent trip to Beijing, with the potential diversion of Chinese overcapacity goods also likely a topic for discussion. Will follow events on this thread...
