The Qatar Gate scandal now seems distant, and it is increasingly unlikely that Eva Kaili will face trial in Belgium for her alleged involvement in the corruption case. However, the integrity system within European lawmaking has developed. Although not far enough for many, it is moving in the right direction. In two handbook chapters on Lobbying in the European Union and in my recent yearbook article Interest Representation in the EU, I provided some overviews of the EU’s integrity framework.
Author: Bernd
Bernd Hüttemann (born December 8th, 1970 in Paderborn) is Secretary General of the European Movement Germany. Hes is board member of Transparency International Deutschland e.V. He studied political science, history and European law at the University of Bonn. He first worked for the Robert Bosch Stiftung as a PR consultant, then as a research assistant at the Institute for European Politics (“Institut für Europäische Politik“). From 2000 to 2003, he conducted programs of the German Foreign Office on the EU accession of Slovakia and Croatia, including as an advisor to the Slovak Government Office in Bratislava. Bernd Hüttemann began his career in European politics within the Young European Federalists (JEF) as head of office in Bonn and Brussels. Later, Hüttemann was honorary Secretary General of the Europa-Union Germany and from 2014 to 2020 Vice-President of the European Movement International.
Why Bluesky is the New Hope After the Fall of Twitter
How did Jerry Fish put it? “It takes balls to be a butterfly!” But Bluesky’s butterfly has made it. Over 10 million accounts is a clear statement against X. Moreover, Bluesky is a revival of the Twitter we once knew. The narcissistic Elon Musk, infatuated with Trump, had previously killed the Twitter bird with a simple X. But the butterfly of Bluesky won’t be easily stifled. It’s decentralized like Mastodon, but still professionally managed. This is encouraging.
Why Do I Miss Twitter?
Jon Worth once pointed it out to me: Twitter was an ideal platform for international networking without much fuss. Especially in my work related to European politics, Twitter was a central place for exchange. With over 7,000 followers, I may not have been at the top, but I still managed to reach beyond the usual bubbles in politics, academia, and journalism. I look back nostalgically at my Twitter history. During the financial crisis, there was no better platform for intelligent networking. The unnecessary Brexit, in particular, significantly invigorated the European political discourse. Berlin’s journalist bubbles were suddenly no longer important. You could communicate excellently between Brussels , the national capitals, but also with Maastricht, Florence, and Tartu. The contributions of Simon Hix and Ron Patz. who created the hashtag #EuCo for the European Council, were legendary.
What Set Twitter Apart from Other Social Media Platforms?
Twitter was the democratic among the channels. Networking and mutual optimization were more important than mere show-off, as we unfortunately see more and more in post-Bologna universities and PR schools. Posting, influencing, and engaging were also important on Twitter, but there was always a certain democratic collective intelligence. Bubbles on Twitter were more like a pluralistic foam bath. Twitter was a square, not a tower, as Niall Ferguson described it.
Then Came the Post-Fascist Musk…
An authoritarian narcissist killed Twitter. I am still on [X](https://x.com), but I am clearly preparing my eXodus. The first step is securing the good times of Twitter. Downloading all my tweets since October 2008 made me nostalgic but also determined to move on. But where to emigrate?
I first gave Mastodon a chance. Wonderfully decentralized, but somehow the mammoth didn’t move… I stayed afloat with LinkedIn, but it remained a Facebook for careerists…
The Second Chance I Gave to Bluesky
I only got the chance through a delayed invitation. I stayed offended and skeptical for a long time in the blue sky. But at least, there are very good guide for Bluesky.
But since this summer, I’ve been feeling the old Twitter vibe again. Initially, Bluesky was a purely green bubble with a few European academic sprinklings and Christian Democratic free spirits. The key to Bluesky’s success is Musk himself. His statements, such as claiming a “civil war is inevitable” after the racist attacks on open-minded England, have led to a massive exodus from X to Bluesky. Slowly, the EU bubble is awakening with #EUSky and #EurSky. As with Twitter, it is the Anglosaxons who are promoting the decentralized European discourse through social media.
The Game Changer for Me: Michiel van Hulten
Former MEP and head of Transparency International EU in Brussels, his Starter Packs EU Policy I and EU Policy Pack II, later MEPs and EU Bubble Journalist, were an excellent booster for my European job in the blue 🦋 sky. Just visit and follow everyone.
Why Bluesky Makes Sense
This became clear to me through the brilliant special edition of the podcast Quiet Riot on Bluesky with Rose – highly recommended.
At the EBD Network, we are currently preparing a campaign against X. The over 230 member organisations in the #EBDNetzwerk should soon no longer use X. But also the federal government and European institutions should no longer be impressed by Musk’s investments. X promotes fascist movements. The state and the EU should not be present on such platforms if they want to credibly oppose the fascist AfD.
Europe is always worth it
European Democracy, Solidarity, and Effectiveness. Before the summer, I had the opportunity to contribute to the European policy positioning of the Catholic Church in Germany.
#EuroComo future of Europe brain storming with Adenauer
Wanna get a forecast for the EU and Europe in 2030 and some insights of the strategic planning and soul of EPP, plus Think Tank expectations from more than 15 European Countries? Come to Cadenabbia! It was my 12th KAS Workshop on European Issues, vulgo #EuroComo, a great occassion for brainstorming and expert back ground talks in the first German Chancellor holiday Villa la Collina at Como Lake. As always, the event was a fantastic gathering of leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss and strategize on the key challenges and opportunities facing the EU. As I am not party affiliated, representing the biggest German network on EU affairs in Germany, I am particulary grateful, to get Chatham House ensured insights about the European Peoples Party and its German member party CDU and KAS. Very democratic.
Probably the friendliest region in France – from Cluny to the river Loire #berndscamino
From Cluny, 240 kilometres and an astonishing 4,400 metres up and down into the Loire Valley. After Burgundy, which was spoilt by infrastructure, I arrived in a varied mountainous region far removed from tourists, which was perhaps hard to beat in terms of friendliness. Great people, wine bliss spirituality and wonderful nature meant there was never a dull moment. I also completed 2,000 kilometres from Berlin to Santiago on this stage, which I celebrated properly at Saint-Haon-le-Châtel. Even though I haven’t quite reached the pilgrim metropolis of Le Puy-en-Velay yet, I suspect that the lonely pilgrimage with its difficult but individually hospitable search for accommodation will soon come to an end. After Cluny, the highlights were great hosts: whether Marian sisters or private accommodation with a vineyard, everything was there. I even met two real pilgrims and a lovely ex-Berliner at the end of the route. But I also enjoyed the individual experience of my journey again. Was it the last reasonably lonely stage before the dreaded mass pilgrimage begins on the Via Podiensis?
- 2,092 km since Berlin on my way to Santiago:
- The friendliest region so far, with few but fine spiritual experiences, even in the vineyard
- like the German regions Weserberg/Sauerland with lots of animals: 200 cows, 80 sheep, 90 horses, 40 pigs, 1 snake, 10 llamas, 5 donkeys, 50 dogs, 30 cats
- My route on Komoot and my pinctures on Instagram #berndscamino
#berndscamino in Burgundy
Varied, delicious and unhealthy you hike in Burgundy. If you want, you can also immerse yourself in the spiritual world of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern times. In Burgundy, I have made more than half of my St. James Way since Berlin. Somewhere between Beaune and Taizé was half-time on my route to Santiago. Now, I have arrived in the former monastic center of Europe, in Cluny. So there are still 1,799 km ahead of me. My stage this time was a very mixed surprising 10 days, with varied nature, lots of weather changes and alternating spirituality. The people I met were very special this time. Since I took two mental and physical rest days in Citeaux and Taizé, there were completely new insights. More in German
- 1.903 km done on my way to Santiago
- Much spirituality on the way: tasty and blessed
- From now on I will not get rid of the vineyards for the time being
- My way at Komoot and in Instagram #berndscamino
Through Grand-Est to Burgundy #berndscamino
Hot, poor and surprisingly hospitable was my last route! 2022 was my first year of pilgrimage on my long journey from Berlin to Santiago de Compostela after the terrible pandemic that had kept us all in check. It was going to be an incredibly hot tour through an exciting as well as poor area in the east of France, through the former regions of Lorraine, Champagne to Burgundy, with beautiful historic places like Neufchâteau, Langres, Marcilly-en-Bassigny or such an enchanted place as Lamarche. The pilgrim infrastructure was as bad as the people were hospitable. And it was hot, very hot. 👣 More in German
- 1684 km completed since Berlin on my way to Santiago
- From now on the rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea
- My journey on Komoot and my way on Instagram
Networked Democratic Diplomacy A democratic Europe needs a new kind of public diplomacy.
For several years, media outlets and independent democratic organizations have come under systematic pressure in many European countries. Minority rights are under attack. Even the independence of the judiciary is now open to question. The belief in self-correction in democratic societies continues to wane. The troublesome situation in Hungary and Poland is not just a national matter of European Union law being misapplied in specific member states. Various regulations and sanctions do offer some hope in the situation, including Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) with the EU framework for strengthening the rule of law as well as the rule of law mechanism. But will stricter monitoring and more consistent enforcement be enough? Perhaps what is missing is a consistent commitment to democratic checks and balances? In this context, Germany’s foreign and European policies need to do more to support cross-border democracy. My article in Internationale Politik Quarterly.
Lobbyism in Berlin and Brussels – University teaching 2022
Lobbyism in war, in a pandemic… seriously? My first proseminar in presence takes place this time in Passau and Berlin. Space for orientation on how lobbyism works in the multi-level system even in extreme times of tension and danger. The focus is on Berlin’s role in EU lobbying. In the engine room of German European policy, there is of course a balancing of interests. An extreme example is the massive and successful lob
bying of Russian state-owned corporations on German energy policy despite opposition in Brussels and other capitals. At the same time, the Bundestag, under public pressure, has started to regulate lobbying, following the EU model. How much further will the Europeanisation of interest balancing and legislation go? The students try to solve all this with me in the proseminar EU Lobbyism in Berlin and Brussels on the basis of theories and empirical research.
Crossing Borders
So different and yet so similarly beautiful are the paths in Europe. Je suis arrivé en France! I was supposed to go from Trier to Toul in 2021. The last few metres of my journey towards Santiago took me through the German countryside. And only for Schengen was I in Luxembourg again. Then I dived into the Grand Est of France, with a surprisingly beautiful amount of history and stories. In a roundabout way, I saw villages that my grandfather entered as a prisoner after the Second World War and left as a friend. Of course, it was another pandemic tour. The most annoying borders on my way were drawn by a virus.
