Welcome to EU Tweets of the Week.
This week it’s Hungary’s Oil ban rout, Poland gets its EU payout, and Denmark ends
the opt-out.
So first this week we had the EU Council summit which was - let’s give it its proper name
- a shambles….
Literally an eleventh hour deal as EU leaders back a partial Russian oil ban just before
midnight reported EURACTIV's Kira Taylor.
It will cover "more than two thirds" of EU oil imports from Russia but falls short of
a complete ban she said.
AP Europe tweeted that Hungary's divisive leader has once again got his own way within
the European Union.
And Prime Minister Viktor Orban wasn't shy about trumpeting his success in leveraging
the bloc.
Cue the snark though - Viktor Orban Allowed To Keep Taking Daily Russian Crude Oil Baths
As Part Of ‘Cultural Heritage’ Carve-Out From EU Sanctions, tweeted Le Chou.
It wasn’t anything to joke about for Hungarian opposition MEP
Katalin Cseh though.
Orban navigated Hungary into a desperate dependency on Russian energy.
He then declares “victory” over the EU,
and brags about how HU families can sleep peacefully while a genocidal war is
ripping families apart.
Having tasted success at the summit though, the Orban government thought it would have
another stab at derailing the sanctions package.
Laurence Norman from The Wall Street Journal tweeted that the reason why EU ambassadors
who were meeting, the next day had not signed off on the sixth Russia sanctions package
yet was again Hungary, demanding Patriach Kirill
is removed from sanctions list.
Samuel Ramani said the desire to have the head of Russian Orthodox Church off the list
is a familiar grievance - meaning it’s what Putin wants…
One twitter user called in ridiculous saying Kirill literally provides the religious rationale
for Putin’s atrocities.
Is that the same Patriarch Kirill that is Spiritual Advisor to the Anti-Christ?
Asked Dextera Sinistre.
Now moving on to Poland.
The ⁦EU Commission splits over the approval of Poland’s 36 Billion-Euro coronavirus Aid
package tweeted Alberto Alemanno. Vice Presidents Vestager and Timmermans voting against & Commissioners
Ylva Johansson, Vera Jourova and Didier Reynders all objecting (but not present).
The MEP assistant handle suggested this is what it looked like When Von der Leyen overruled
the vote of her commissioners in charge of the #RuleOfLaw to unblock EU funds for Poland.
The Commission claims it will still control the payout of the money, reported EURACTIV's
Janos Ammann
MEP Daniel Freund wasn’t happy.
A Message to Europe's wannabe autocrats today, he tweeted. You can demolish the rule of law, backtrack
a little bit and Still be on the receiving end of EU billions.
Take a mile, give an inch said Duncan Robinson.
DG Meme picked out part of the Commission’s communique - “Strengthening important aspects
of the independence of the judiciary" is pure poetry they said.
And finally - two countries - Denmark and Croatia became more EU this week.
Denmark to join EU defence policy after historic vote reported EURACTIV.
So, so happy with the result of the Denmark referendum Tweeted Danish Commission Vice
President Vestager.
A firm Danish yes to participate in EU cooperation on defence and security.
Because we are stronger together she said.
Martini Seltzermayr said they’re delighted to meet the newest regiment of the EU army.
And Von der Leyen congratulated Croatia on making a significant step towards joining
the euro, the common currency.
Luka Ivan Jukic noticed the FT’s reporting of the story gave Croatia a rebrand as an
“Adriatic Country”
As a reward for joining the euro Croatia is now no longer a Balkan country he tweeted.
Alexander Clarkson tweeted that UK readers might be interested to know that Croatia will
have the euro and still have blue passports.
That’s all for this week.
If you’re snarking and larking in the EU twittersphere, use the hashtag EU tweets to
be featured in next week’s episode.
Jennifer will be back then.
Ta ra.