Pieter Cleppe is the editor-in-chief of BrusselsReport.eu, an online magazine covering EU politics. He is on Twitter @pietercleppe.
Oxfam’s Disinformation Agenda

Oxfam’s Disinformation Agenda

Oxfam complains about growing inequality. There is just one problem: the figures don’t add up.

February 13, 2024
Europe’s Climate Consensus Is Unraveling  

Europe’s Climate Consensus Is Unraveling  

The European Union’s drive for ever more intrusive regulations to combat climate change are being met with resistance from member states. Despite the Commission’s best efforts to push the Green Deal, exorbitant economic costs and voter discontent has sparked a renewed interest in nuclear energy.

August 18, 2023
Post-Brexit UK Struggles to Strike the Right Balance on Trade Regulation

Post-Brexit UK Struggles to Strike the Right Balance on Trade Regulation

It speaks well for the UK that it does not follow the EU’s very restrictive approach. Perhaps its recent modest successes will inspire the UK to focus more on the opportunities offered by Brexit.

July 6, 2023
As the EU Neglects Its Core Business, EU Regulation Gets Out of Control

As the EU Neglects Its Core Business, EU Regulation Gets Out of Control

Fundamentally, the core of the problem is the EU’s adherence to the precautionary principle, which comes with a deeply unscientific intolerance for any risk.

May 24, 2023
Decoupling is Happening, So Europe Must Avoid Alienating Allies

Decoupling is Happening, So Europe Must Avoid Alienating Allies

Tensions between Southeast Asia and the European Union seem to be on the rise.

May 4, 2023
The European Commission Is Undermining EU Cooperation

The European Commission Is Undermining EU Cooperation

The EU is far from perfect, but there was a time when it at least supported a framework that guaranteed free and fair competition between member states. It is tragic to see the European Commission undermining this very thing.

March 18, 2023
Greater Trade With Southeast Asia as an Alternative to Russia and China

Greater Trade With Southeast Asia as an Alternative to Russia and China

The West should attempt to compensate for any trade destruction, justified on the basis of geo-security, by opening up trade with parts of the world that are broadly friendly with the West. Southeast Asia is most certainly such a region.

January 31, 2023
The Creeping Radicalization of ‘Climate Activism’

The Creeping Radicalization of ‘Climate Activism’

Greenpeace openly supports the ‘climate actions,’ pays the lawyers’ bills, and provides space, materials, and know-how. Direct funding comes from the US-based Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), which has already spent $5 million this year.

November 29, 2022
European Governments Scoring an Own-Goal by Leaving the Energy Charter Treaty

European Governments Scoring an Own-Goal by Leaving the Energy Charter Treaty

To abandon the CRT is not just a bad thing for traditional energy investments, but also for renewable energy investment. Clearly, for many greens, hatred for the private sector trumps their support for renewables.

November 12, 2022
Why the West Should Hold Off on Normalising Relations With Iran

Why the West Should Hold Off on Normalising Relations With Iran

Trade with hostile nations is always not a bad idea—after all, interdependence can increase the chances of peace. Yet some European countries were perhaps naïve to pursue a normalisation of relations with Iran so eagerly.

October 18, 2022
EU Environmental Policies are Out of Control

EU Environmental Policies are Out of Control

At the EU level, environmental policies are mostly being continued as if there were no Russian invasion of Ukraine or large-scale energy crisis.

September 9, 2022
The Bill has Come Due for Germany and Europe

The Bill has Come Due for Germany and Europe

Germany’s excessive energy dependence on Russia is not the outcome of a natural process, but rather the consequence of policies that have been irresponsibly made and artificially imposed.

July 26, 2022