Kristof Bender

FT headline "Stocks and bonds tumble as oil soars past $100 a barrel" and a chart indicating the rise in oil prices

FT: "Stocks and bonds tumble as oil soars past $100 a barrel"

Shouldn't that accelerate moving away from fossil fuels, at least in Europe?

1956: Hungary's communist leaders phone Moscow for help

2026: Hungary's postcommunist leaders phone Moscow for help

Very good!

Let’s get this right and make this commitment now. It won’t get any easier. It might become more difficult, however - while not less urgent; for Ukraine, of course, but also for ourselves. As much as Ukraine needs us, we too want to make sure Ukraine is on our side in any future standoff w/ Russia.

least allowed to join the Single Market, Schengen and get access to EU funds. All this as an interim
step, with full membership remaining the final goal.
With key EU members remaining non-commital, we see first signs of Ukraine’s leadership getting frustrated and angry. Angry people make mistakes.

The EU is about assuring democracy and peace for its members. Ukraine is fighting to become part of this “democratic peace”. It urgently needs a commitment by the EU that we pursue this goal together. No lowering of conditions, but a credible promise that if UKR meets the conditions, it will be at

Baden-Württemberg-Wahl: Grüne ziehen laut Umfrage mit CDU gleich Der Vorsprung ist dahin: Drei Tage vor der Wahl in Baden-Württemberg haben die Grünen laut dem ZDF-»Politbarometer« die CDU eingeholt. Zwei andere Parteien müssen um den Einzug in den Landtag bangen.

#BadenWürttemberg wählt in 3 Tagen - und nun sieht eine Umfrage Grüne und CDU gleichauf. Der Vorsprung von Nagel ist demnach futsch, Özdemir hat aufgeholt. Und noch sollen etwa jede|r dritte Wähler|in unentschlossen sein.

Russia’s aggression is being normalised. And don’t pretend sports isn’t political. Of course it is. Keep in mind that countless Russian athletes are members of its armed forces. They’re actual soldiers (!)

The US vs Canada in one graph

8000 dead or missing in 2025! Like in a war! We need to address the systematic brutality at the EU's external borders and show that it is possible to manage external borders in a humane, legal & effective way, through partnership agreements. This is about human lives. And about saving democracy.

‘No to war’: Sánchez doubles down after Trump threat to cut off trade with Spain PM says his country will not be complicit in growing conflict in Middle East ‘simply out of fear of reprisals from someone’

Spanish foreign minister Albares refutes Leavitt claims that Madrid now backs US / Israeli attacks on Iran

"She may be the White House press secretary, but I’m the foreign minister of Spain and I’m telling her that our position hasn’t changed at all.”

Offer the four freedoms to Ukraine, Moldova and the Balkans The EU should offer membership in the Single Market, including the four freedoms, as a credible and reachable interim goal to Ukraine, Moldova, and any of the six Western Balkan nations interested in ...

Y-day the idea of "reverse enlargement" (accession, conditions & benefits later) was killed by EU member states. Pressure to make an attractive offer to #Ukraine and reluctance among EU MS have collided. The #EU looks weak. It urgently needs to square this circle:
www.esiweb.org/proposals/of...

The UK, Iceland, of course Ukraine, Moldova and the Balkans ... the EU is attractive and still the best political invention the continent has ever seen.

After months of wrangling and an epic list of delays, the Commission has finally released its Industrial Accelerator Act.

This could turn into one of the EU’s most consequential industrial policy files in years - and the proposal is honestly not a bad place to start.

Some quick thoughts:

Hungarian veto proves EU needs less unanimity, says new Dutch PM "The Netherlands is back," Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten declared on his first trip to Brussels since taking office. #EuropeNews

Hungary's veto on the €90 billion loan to Ukraine proves the European Union needs less unanimity, says Rob Jetten, the new Dutch prime minister.

"We cannot explain to our constituents that Europe is sometimes way too slow," Jetten said on his first trip to Brussels since taking office.

Q: Commercial air travel is severely restricted in the Middle East. Thousands of Americans are stranded. Why wasn't there an evacuation plan?

TRUMP: Because it happened all very quickly

Von der Leyen, Kallas and a growing EU foreign policy turf war The EU’s top leadership is responding in parallel rather than tandem — as the bloc scrambles to find a united front amid war in the Middle East.

How disappointing and harmful to see VDL fighting and competing so much internally (also on tech competition) while she should make sure team Europe is strong and united in this instable world ↘️ www.politico.eu/article/iran...

Iran executes Khamenei’s plan to spread regional war Strikes on energy facilities and targets across Middle East form strategy devised to sow chaos in retaliation for US and Israeli attack

“This will continue, and there will be further escalation,” the regime insider said. “What did they expect? If the head of the Islamic republic is targeted, do they think nothing will happen?”

giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

We could have used these missiles to protect Ukraine. We chose not to. @anneapplebaum on the "To the Contrary" podcast.

Let's go!

Good piece in FT detailing Macron's speech on French nuclear deterrence. Confirms that FR will:
1) Increase arsenal (without providing exact numbers as per FR doctrine)
2) For 1st time, talks of deploying strategic assets abroad (but as @hfayet.bsky.social notes: priority is on aircraft...) 1/3

Allocating funds for new member states in the next EU budget is essential to the credibility of the accession process. Without it, grand speeches and ceremonious announcements remain empty words, writes Kristof Bender from the European Stability Initiative: shorturl.at/6CSKC

Opinion | Trump’s Strikes on Iran Were Unlawful. Here’s Why That Matters.

I wrote about the US strikes on Iran in June for @nytimes.com. It seems that we're about to watch a replay, but this time it could be far worse.

Like the June strikes, new strikes would be blatantly illegal under the U.S. constitution and international law.
1/

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/o...

Hungarian opposition groups quit to make way for Orbán challenger Péter Magyar is calling on remaining parties not to ruin chance for regime change

I understand the idea. If smaller parties step aside, Magyar’s Tisza party has better chances for a supermajority to dismantle Orban’s system. But isn’t it spooky, practically handing, if it works, absolute power from one guy to the next? @martapardavi.bsky.social
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

One Democratic congressman said the Department of Justice appeared to have broken a law requiring disclosure of all unclassified material by withholding files in which a minor accused the US president of sexual abuse. ft.trib.al/gPwQvBa

More - unsurprising, but nevertheless disgusting - details about the brutality of the Russian way of war and systemic contempt for human lives (towards their own troops, too).

The most mind-boggling thing is that tens of thousands still sign up monthly to go die in Ukraine

Call for Applications: Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence 2026 - BIRN We are offering 8 to 10 fellowships to journalists from Central and South Eastern Europe with compelling story ideas that require on-the-ground reporting, in-depth research, dedicated editorial suppor...

Great opportunity for journalists in central and south eastern europe: get funding and editorial support for your longform story. #BIRN @balkaninsight.com.web.brid.gy

More info on the link below:

birn.eu.com/news-and-eve...

Rechtsextreme Jugendkultur: "Es gibt Tage, da höre ich mehrmals pro Stunde das N-Wort" Gymnasiasten, die Hitler feiern oder Waffen bauen. Lehrer, die nicht mehr weiterwissen. An Schulen überall in Deutschland kippt gerade etwas – ins Rechtsextreme.

“Etwa 30 Prozent der 12- bis 25-Jährigen hätten mittlerweile eine gefestigt rechtsextreme Weltsicht oder sympathisierten damit,” sagt Soziologe Hurrelmann.

Rechtsextremismus an deutschen Schulen am Vormarsch, auch im Westen, auch in Gymnasien mit Akademiker-Kindern.

www.zeit.de/2026/07/rech...

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.

🚨🚨Biggest #EU news of today: #Iceland looks to fast-track vote on joining EU as referendum on EU accession could come as early as August, departing from original plan for 2027 ref. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/icel...

The US loudly demands from Europe that it takes care of its own security.

The US also loudly supports the outgoing Hungarian government that has for years been sabotaging with its veto the EU's efforts to tackle vital European security challenges.

Could the real US stand up?