Paula Soler
@pausoler98.bsky.social
EU Politics, defence, finance and space at The Parliament Magazine | '23 Master’s Degree in the EU & China | Brussels
🇪🇸 Why is Spain taking a different path from the rest of NATO on defense spending? My latest examines the thinking behind Madrid's capabilities-based approach, and the question that will ultimately determine its success: can it deliver the military capabilities NATO needs? buff.ly/9irVOm4
Madrid’s military mathematics
Spain is resisting NATO's spending target, arguing that military strength should be measured by capability, not budgets. But can its approach deliv...
buff.ly
🇹🇷 For NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and U.S. President Donald Trump, the two-day summit in the Turkish capital was a "tremendous success." But behind the shared triumphalism, the meeting told two very different stories. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Europe has long been forged through crises. To do so again on defense, the EU will need to develop new institutional capabilities. That was the stark assessment offered by Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius at the European Industry Forum in Brussels. 📺 youtu.be/QZsMoteHQyQ
Andrius Kubilius: the EU’s peacetime defense architecture no longer fits
YouTube video by The Parliament Events
youtu.be
With @pausoler98.bsky.social for The Parliament Magazine: who will defend Europe? Beyond budgets and equipment, the real challenge is people. Recruitment is under pressure, retention even more so.
Europe needs women in uniform — its militaries aren’t delivering
The European Union’s rearmament drive demands more troops. But bringing in and keeping women requires more than access to enlistment.
theparliamentmagazine.eu
As Europe rearms, integrating women is becoming a strategic necessity. With aging populations, relying on men alone won’t cut it. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Europe needs women in uniform — its militaries aren’t delivering
The European Union’s rearmament drive demands more troops. But bringing in and keeping women requires more than access to enlistment.
theparliamentmagazine.eu
🇭🇺 MEP Daniel Freund said in an interview that member states and EU leaders have ignored "the Orbán problem" for too long and that the bloc should move to cut Hungary out of sensitive negotiations immediately. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Q+A: Should the EU punish Hungary ahead of next month’s vote?
MEP Daniel Freund said in an interview that member states and EU leaders have ignored 'the Orbán problem' for too long and that the bloc should mov...
theparliamentmagazine.eu
At the Munich Security Conference, public relief masked private skepticism as European leaders questioned whether Washington’s vision of the Western alliance leaves room for Europe’s own worldview. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Rubio’s Munich message deepens transatlantic doubts
At the Munich Security Conference, public relief masked private skepticism as European leaders questioned whether Washington’s vision of the Wester...
theparliamentmagazine.eu
Long viewed as a symbolic safeguard rather than a NATO substitute, Article 42.7 is now being tested against a changing security environment in which European deterrence, readiness and coordination are no longer theoretical concerns. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
🇪🇸 makes the case for more migration At a time when most European governments are hardening both rhetoric and rules around migration, Spain is betting on an opposite strategy: telling its public why migration matters. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Spain makes the case for more migration
While Europe warns of migrant pressure, Spain uses newcomers to power its economy — and its model is being quietly emulated.
theparliamentmagazine.eu
As European countries flirt with conscription and other schemes to recruit new soldiers to, compulsory military service is still unlikely to return in full force across the continent. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
Why Europe isn’t ready for a return to compulsory military service
As European countries flirt with conscription and other schemes to recruit new soldiers in order to beef up their defence capabilities, the real is...
theparliamentmagazine.eu
Modern EU equality policies must also address the challenges faced by men and boys, particularly to counter polarisation and backlash against gender equality, Magnus Heunicke, Danish minister of Gender Equality, told Euronews. W/ @martairaola.bsky.social ✍🏽 www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
What should be men’s role in the EU’s equality policies?
While progress for women remains central, EU policymakers warn that ignoring men’s challenges risks deepening a growing gender divide among young voters—one that could strengthen anti-feminist forces ...
euronews.com
☀️🌡️ 'Bruselas, ¿te quiero?' Olas de calor, incendios, alertas sanitarias: ¿está la UE preparada? es.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Olas de calor, incendios, alertas sanitarias: ¿está la UE preparada?
Este verano, las olas de calor han provocado 16.500 muertes más en Europa, y junto con las inundaciones y las sequías han costado 43.000 millones de euros al bloque. ¿Está la UE demasiado centrada en ...
es.euronews.com
One year after Mario Draghi’s landmark competitiveness report, which called for “radical change” not to lag behind the US and China, has the EU acted — or just reacted? www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
A year on from Draghi’s call for radical change: Has the EU delivered?
One year after Mario Draghi’s landmark competitiveness report, which called for “radical change” not to lag behind the US and China, has the EU acted — or just reacted? #EuropeNews
euronews.com
📣 Despite being designed to give citizens a voice in EU policymaking, the European Citizens’ Initiatives are struggling to gain traction, with only 10 out of 144 proposals receiving a response from the Commission. Is this tool truly empowering citizens? www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Are European Citizens' Initiatives missing the mark?
Despite being designed to give citizens a voice in EU policymaking, the European Citizens’ Initiatives are struggling to gain traction, with only 10 out of 144 proposals receiving a response from the ...
euronews.com
🇪🇺 ‘Becoming Ursula: a two-faced EU Commission chief?’ As Season 2 gets underway, followers of her first term might be wondering if they’re still watching the same show. Team work with the masters @gerardofortuna.bsky.social @martairaola.bsky.social ✋ www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
The two faces of Ursula: Reinvention or deception at the EU's helm?
As Ursula von der Leyen beds down for her second term as European Commission president - almost unrecognisable from her first - many are wondering if she has truly changed course, or is simply reveali...
euronews.com
A stockpile of US-funded contraceptives worth $10 million is in limbo in a Belgian warehouse after the closure of USAID. The US government plans to incinerate them, despite their expiration date being between 2027 and 2031. @pausoler98.bsky.social and @martairaola.bsky.social have the story.
$10M in US-funded contraceptives sit in limbo in Europe
Contraceptives valued at $10 million stored in Europe face destruction following the closure of a key American aid agency, amid backlash from global health groups calling for redistribution. #EuropeNe...
euronews.com
Here we go: the political battle over the €2 trillion budget has officially begun, and fracture lines among member states have already emerged. "No country is ready to accept the budget as it is today," said Marie Bjerre, Denmark's minister. Story with @pausoler98.bsky.social.
EU countries begin political battle over €2 trillion budget
The political battle over the next EU budget has officially begun. #EuropeNews
euronews.com
✍🏽 The EU’s efforts to rearm face a hidden vulnerability: a heavy reliance on critical raw materials. To reduce these dependencies, Brussels is pushing for domestic extraction, recycling, and diversification — but implementation remains a major challenge. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Critical raw materials — the key to enabling the EU to rearm
The EU’s efforts to rearm face a hidden vulnerability: a heavy reliance on critical raw materials. To reduce these dependencies, Brussels is pushing for domestic extraction, recycling, and diversifica...
euronews.com
Germany floats return to conscription if volunteer plan fails https://on.ft.com/3T6SKn3
Germany floats return to conscription if volunteer plan fails
Berlin aims to more than double army reserves in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
on.ft.com
🏳️🌈 The EU’s so-called Equal Treatment directive — aimed at extending protection against discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation — has reached a dead end, several EU officials told Euronews. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
After 17 years, EU anti-discrimination bill hits a dead end
Despite broad support from the member states, opposition from a few countries has blocked progress on the Equal Treatment directive, prompting the Commission to shift focus to non-legislative measures...
euronews.com
Phrases dealing with climate, women and security have been rephrased in new NATO legislation, in a bid to avoid retaliation by the Trump administration.
NATO downplays climate and gender language to appease Trump
The U.S. president has gone on the warpath against DEI and the alliance is falling into line.
politico.eu
Companies traditionally focused purely on defence are increasingly launching into the space sector. Although space and defence have always been connected, the focus has been so far on civilian use rather than military space capabilities — but that is now changing. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Europe's defence sector bets on space amid growing geopolitical threat
In recent years, defence companies have stepped up their involvement in space projects, prompting calls for more EU-level coordination and investment. #EuropeNews
euronews.com
Do you really want to understand what EVP Fitto just proposed for the unspent EU cohesion funds? Read @gerardofortuna.bsky.social ‘s story here ⬇️ www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Water and defence - but not bullets: EU reallocates regional funds
The EU executive has invited member states to redirect regional spending - accounting for one-third of the EU budget - toward various strategic areas such as water resilience and affordable housing, i...
euronews.com
The EU executive proposed in early March a five-point plan to rearm and reach defence readiness by 2030. In an interview with Euronews, EU defence commissioner said that he expects MS to make use of options proposed in the plan instead of issuing more joint debt. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
EU not ready for Eurobonds to boost defence spending, says Kubilius
The EU executive proposed in early March a five-point plan to rearm and reach defence readiness by 2030. In an exclusive interview, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius told Euronews he expects me...
euronews.com
🆕 Member states must spend more, better and European, EU Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius and the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas urge in a draft of the upcoming White Paper on the Future of European Defence, seen by @euronews.com www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
More, better, European: White Paper maps path for EU rearmament
Next week, the EU Commission will present the White Paper on the Future of European Defence, with guidelines on how to boost production and defence readiness in the face of possible Russian military a...
euronews.com
🪖 European Parliament sidelined from new 'rearm Europe’ plan "Bypassing Parliament with Article 122 is a mistake. Europe's democracy stands on two pillars: its citizens and its member states, (and) we need both for our security," Weber said in Strasbourg. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
European Parliament sidelined from new 'rearm Europe’ plan
Some MEPs deplored the Commission's use of Article 122 of the Treaty to avoid a vote on the newly proposed €150 billion instrument for defence funding. Others are less concerned. #EuropeNews
euronews.com
💜 Despite progress for women's and girls' rights around the world, these gains are fragile. In 2024, one in four countries in the world reported a setback in women's rights, according to a new report by UN Women. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
World 'more gender equal than ever', but progress is fragile, UN warns
Despite progress for women's and girls' rights around the world, these gains are fragile. In 2024, one in four countries in the world reported a setback in women's rights, according to a new report by...
euronews.com
💰 Are you lost with all the talks on defence funding? Do you wanna know how the EU is planning to rearm the continent? I got you this time with a very long explainer on the five options on the table (and some future ideas). Check the whole story and video here: www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
How can the EU unlock up to €800bn for its ‘rearmament plan’?
The EU Commission has unveiled plans to borrow €150 billion to fund a major rearmament push. This joint borrowing proposal comes in the form of loans rather than grants—an idea largely rejected by so-...
euronews.com
🚨 Von der Leyen announces the 5-point ‘Rearm Europe’ plan. The Commission is proposing member states to direct more funds towards defence-related investments, including cohesion programs. Plus, a new instrument of €150bn on loans for air and missile defence, drones, military mobility…
Europe’s defence sector needs more than just funding— it needs talent, industry representatives say. Read the full story at @euronews.com www.euronews.com/business/202...
‘Skilled workers wanted’: The defence sector struggles to find talent
The EU defence sector is increasingly struggling with finding workers with the skills needed to match the sector needs, industry representatives say – Why? What profiles are they looking for and what ...
euronews.com