Misc. European politics

[Ungnome]

Wonder how much the backlash against Trump worldwide affected the results. If so, there's a silver lining outside of the US at least.

 

[Anonymous X]

Iceland looks to fast-track vote on joining EU

A referendum on resuming membership talks had been expected in 2027, but could come as early as this August.

www.politico.eu

Hurry up and join, you buggers. There’s no excuse not to.

 

[wonko the sane?]

Said the guy from a country that seemed to be in a ridiculous hurry to walk away...

 

[Ungnome]

Hehe, well Anonymous X didn't vote for Brexit. He didn't want any of what happened, IIRC.

 

[wonko the sane?]

Oh, well aware. Just poking a little fun. I mean, just think about the context of "no excuse not to" coming from britain.

 

[Anonymous X]

Oh, Iceland's population is barely above 400,000, so smaller than the conurbation in England that I live in. So it makes sense to join and - as a small nation - get the capacity to be able to punch way above their weight class. Besides, Iceland is already paying into EU strucutral funds as a member of the EEA, so joining up properly gets them full representation in the European Parliament other institutions for the same outlay.

(I'm also in favour of as many non-memberstates as possibe joining the EU in order to make Britain look even more ridiculous.)

 

[Dekafox]

EU court adviser says banks must immediately refund phishing victims

Athanasios Rantos, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), has issued a formal opinion suggesting that banks must immediately refund account holders affected by unauthorized transactions, even when it's their fault.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Do it. Banks understandably don't want to eat these losses, so they'll find a way to crack down on this jive.

 

[Pocket]

broke: cracking down on scammers
woke: giving wealthy private businesses an incentive to do it for you at their own expense

 

[Dekafox]

Pretty good recent speech from the German president. Thread of excerpts: https://bsky.app/profile/adamjschwarz.bsky.social/post/3mht5qdgx3c2n

"Just as I believe our relationship with Russia can never return to what it was before 24 Feb 2022... we cannot turn back the clock on the transatlantic relationship to where it was prior to 20 Jan 2025. The rift is too deep and the trust that has been lost in US great-power politics is too great."

"In the transatlantic relationship, too, we must wean ourselves off dependencies that make us vulnerable... Achieving European sovereignty in defence and technology is a project that will take generations to complete. However, the magnitude of the task must no longer be used to delay taking action."

"The current US Administration has a totally different worldview to ours – one that does not care about established rules, partnership and long-standing trust. No, we cannot change that. Yes, we have to deal with it. But we have no reason whatsoever to take on this worldview for ourselves."

"Great powers may survive in a world without rules. Indeed, in the short term, they may even benefit. That does not apply to us. Nor does it apply to the overwhelming majority of countries. That, after all, should be the bridge which we now build! This connects us with so many other people."

"Foreign policy does not become more persuasive when we do not designate a violation of international law as such. We have already had to deal with this in the Gaza War and we have to deal with it in the Iran War, too. This war is a violation of international law – there is little doubt about that."

"International law is not like an old glove that we should remove when others do so.... This Europe would be lost in a world without law and rules, as the European Union itself is built on law and rules. It would collapse like a house of cards if we took on the worldview of brute power."

"Europe cannot be powerful if we adapt to the zeitgeist of ruthlessness. We can only be powerful if we stand up against this zeitgeist! ...We need to reinforce what has made us strong. The united Europe enjoys prosperity, peace, freedom and cultural influence because we show consideration."

"Foreign service, I truly want to encourage you not to lose your compass! ...Foreign policy will always need four pillars: military strength so we are taken seriously; wise diplomacy to find solutions and forge alliances; soft power... and an international order to provide a framework & direction."

If you want to read it in its entirety: https://www.bundespraesident.de/Sha...-Jahre-AA-ENGL.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3

 

[Ungnome]

Viktor Orban is out!!! One less authoritarian in power!!! Good news for Europe and LGBTQ+ Hungarians(or Hungarians in general, really)!!

 

[wonko the sane?]

Can't wait to see what the EU can do without a russian mole and obstructionist in the way of progress.

 

[Ungnome]

I'm hoping it's part of a trend and right-wing authoritarians everywhere now have a lot to worry about.