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Memes

So you want to rejoin the EU, eh?

The United Kingdom is debating whether to ask to rejoin the EU. It would be foolish of the EU to rush things: walk into a typical British pub or strike up a conversation in the suburbs, and you won’t have to wait long to

Memes

SOTEU over the years

Another SOTEU is just around the corner and it’s great for SEO to write an article about it just a few hours before it starts. It is hard to explain what SOTEU means when you work behind the scenes: there are always some

Geopolitics

How Georgia’s European Dream Turned Into a Nightmare

This is a long reportage about Georgia and its deeply concerning situation, it mixes personal memories with interviews of political leaders. You [...]

Interview

Born to run (and return) – a conversation with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Pt. II

In the previous part of the interview, we followed Toomas Hendrik Ilves from his youth in the US to his work as a journalist in Munich, until he [...]

Interview

A Lynx Off the Map - a conversation with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Pt. I

In Europe, few people have had as much impact on tech governance and the integration of the Baltic countries as Toomas Hendrik Ilves, professor [...]

Memes

WORDLEU

One five-letter acronym. Six guesses. Show you’re ready for EPSO.

Interview

Pour faire le portrait de la MEP Loiseau

Continuing my quest for ”cool people of the European Parliament”, I present you Nathalie Loiseau, former diplomat, former director of ENA [...]

Interview

The Diplomacy of the (Olympic) Javelins - a conversation with Baiba Braže

It is quite rare to find ministers among the politicians who share my memes on social media; Baiba Braže, incumbent Latvian minister of foreign [...]

Interview

Kallas of Duty - a conversation with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs

Kaja Kallas has been high on my list of cool people to meet for a couple of years. Not only did she inspire lots of memes, but she also [...]

Interview

Of Dinosaurs, Stars and Radio Receivers, a conversation with Andrius Kubilius

Defence and Space are very hot topics these days; at EU level they are energetically managed by Andrius Kubilius, a sixty-eight years old [...]

Research

The nitrogen reVolt, decarbonizing ammonia production in the EU

At DG MEME we keep hearing that the EU does not invest in research and that we lose our best minds to other continents. So I decided to go out [...]

Memes

The EU Atomic Bomb

Have you ever had that feeling of living in a continent that is not entirely ruled by insane people? Cool, then you’re probably in Europe, in Australia or in Antarctica. In a world full of mad autocrats it is only

Geopolitics

Elections on thin ice - a Journey to Greenland, the Outpost of Democracy

I started reading about Greenland after it made the headlines a few months ago, and I found it very fascinating: it is one of the biggest [...]

Interview

From Rags to Fishes - A conversation with Virginijus Sinkevičius

In my continuous effort to maintain a certain inter-institutional balance, I had the pleasure to interview the former (and youngest) European [...]

Interview

The Rīga’s mayor who brewed change: a coffee with Mārtiņš Staķis

It is the first time I venture out of my Commission comfort zone, interviewing a truly elected politician from the European Parliament. In these [...]

Interview

Inside Kafka’s Castle: a conversation with Martin Dvořák, Czech Minister of EU Affairs

At Colours of Ostrava , one of Czechia’s biggest culture and music festivals, I had the pleasure to meet and interview Martin Dvořák, the Czech [...]

Memes

The Day I published a Seven-million-views Reel

Among the many mysteries of social media, one of the greatest is people’s irresistible need to comment on absolutely everything. Why engage in written battles with complete strangers who will almost certainly

Interview

Mr. Schmit goes to Europe - a beer with the Socialists’ lead candidate

“I’m thirty-four and I am exhausted”, said Robin, who has been following the seventy-year-old Commissioner and lead candidate Nicolas Schmit in [...]

Interview

When Fabio met Uschi - Coffee & memes with Ursula von der Leyen

“P. S. Whether you accept it or not, don’t worry: I will not ask Charles Michel for a rebound interview” . This is the last line of the [...]

EU History

Size matters: a brief history of the EU enlargement

Enlargement is the French term by which we indicate the increase of the number of countries that belong to the European Union. The biggest growth happened in 2004, when the EU moved from fifteen to twenty-five countries

EU History

The history of the European Elections through their communication campaigns

The European Elections are not only one of the biggest democratic exercises in the world, they are also a huge communication campaign with the same goal since 1979: get people to vote. Join us in a roller-coaster of

Interview

A Family between War and Peace - A conversation with Gabrielius Landsbergis

Of the many politicians I follow online, no one communicates as clearly and effectively as the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) [...]

Interview

I’ve got you under my Schinas - A conversation on the European Way of Life

Interviewing Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, the Midday Matador, the Father-of-us-all DG COMMers, the EU’s favorite son... I didn’t think I [...]

Interview

EUmanitarian Aid - An Interview with Commissioner Lenarčič

It is with a certain apprehension that I follow the social media account of Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management: I know that [...]

Europolitan

EUROPOLITAN, the Sober Fashion Magazine

In this page we collect all the issues of EUROPOLITAN, the EU Bubble’s fictional fashion magazine which is published every year on Valentine’s Day. Special thanks to LM, AH, MT, RAS and RJ for helping the creative

Interview

Quo Va(l)dis? A conversation with EVP Dombrovskis

Since I was a trainee at the Commission I was always intrigued by Valdis Dombrovskis: his institutional smiles, his precise statements, his [...]

EU History

European elections 1979: the first massive EU communication campaign

Turning points in history often go unnoticed; but the European Community did not want this to happen to the first direct EU elections ever held, forty-four years ago. The elections were set for 1979 (from 7 to 10 June)

EU History

The European Defense Community: a case of treaty interruptus

Jean Monnet, the architect of the European Union, linked his political future to the creation of a pan-European military force: before the ’strategic autonomy’ mantra, there were a proposal, an agreement and a Treaty

EU History

Dinosaurs and humans living together – a (very) special Eurobarometer

2024 will be EU election year and the 50 anniversary of the Eurobarometer . Some sources say it started in 1973, but we will follow the ”official line”. To celebrate it, we are sharing with you a bit of EU history: the

EU History

The Schuman Plan as seen by cartoonists in the Fifties

10 cartoons published in the aftermath of the 9 May declaration to celebrate Europe Day. The ones who liked it 1. Sew-man Schuman sewing France and Germany together. The safety pins (the Maginot Line , built in 1930 to

EU History

Jean Monnet in four quotes

Three quotes by him, one about him; a short overview of his personality and vision. ”Papers are fine, reports are fine…but what counts is the understanding of the citizens. Nothing is more dangerous than confusion” ”We

EU History

How the euro was announced in the (first) twelve EU countries

This €-nostalgia page is dedicated to all the millennials who lived through the transition from their national currency to the €, our currency, whatever it takes! By the end of February 2002 the period of dual

Interview

Memories of a Vestagiaire

DG MEME had the pleasure to interview Margrethe Vestager , Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Digital [...]

Interview

Along the Baltic Way’s memory lane

Brave, daring and adventurous are not the first adjectives that come to mind when thinking about EU functionaries; the tabloid narrative wants [...]

Memes

Season’s greetings

While Belgium introduced COVID restrictions for Santa Claus (“he can come down the chimney but he must leave through the window, climbing down the gutter”), DG MEME was given a glimpse of a few last-minute letters to

Interview

In the beginning was the Word: conversation with the creator of the term Brexit

Today we welcome Peter Wilding , solicitor, media director for the Conservatives, proud remainer, political commentator and, last but not the [...]

Memes

Calendar and Gadgets for 2021

Let’s say it: 2020 was not our favorite year, that’s why we decided to celebrate the new year with a few new gadgets and a couple of amazing calendars. Support DG MEME and make a eurocrat happy with these gifts! DG MEME

Memes

Is the EU Communication improving?

Let’s face it, despite an army of officials, consultants and green screens, the EU Communication rarely hits the target: most citizens are unaware of what the EU is or does, they don’t follow or interact with the

Interview

Parlement, the Interview

With Europe Day approaching and no way to celebrate it in person, we decided to binge-watch the TV series Parlement , a political comedy set in [...]

Interview

Fuck the EU, Ingeborg’s Monologue

Parlament is a very entertaining TV series set in the European Parliament (we interviewed one of its creators a few days ago). Ingeborg’s [...]

Memes

I am Charles (2020)

Colonel Charles Michel lives an isolated life in the deserted ruins of Brussels, unsure if any other COVID19 uninfected humans are left. Michel’s daily routine includes short walks to the European Parliament, searching

Memes

Interview with the Virus

We’re here today with Dr. COVID19 Corona, one of the global celebrities of this century. How do you feel today, Dr. Corona? A bit weak, many people respected social distancing and this is causing me troubles sleeping at

Memes

The European Council Explained with Pizza

There is a nice group of friends that regularly meet for dinner in the European capital. Today Leo couldn’t attend because of a bad flu that made him lose weight, but the others are having a great time: Viktor is

Memes

Ten things you can say in bed and at a Commissioner’s Hearing

Commissioners-designate, i. e. the Commissioners proposed by the President-elect of the European Commission, must be approved by the European Parliament. That’s why they appear in front of the respective parliamentary

Memes

What is the European Way of Life, anyways?

Margaritis Schinas, the Commissioner-designate for ”Protecting our European Way of Life” , is not in charge yet but he is already swamped with emails, calls and owls from citizens, national governments and members of the

Memes

The 2019 Eurovision/Spitzenkandidaten Debate

Fun facts #1 All candidates have short hair (no, Violeta Tomič doesn’t count. You didn’t even know she was running anyways) #2 Commission candidates speak better English than Parliament candidates (sorry, guys, it’s the

Memes

Reservoir Jackals (2019)

The police filmed a violent settling of accounts between two rival gangs in the small town of Röszke. The conflict arose to determine who had precedence in using anti-migrants feelings to distract public opinion from the

Memes

The Termaynal (2019)

When Theresa, a tourist from the fictitious land of Free England , arrives at Zavantem International Airport in Brussels, No-deal Brexit breaks out in her country and she finds herself caught up in international