Associate Prof, Uni Bologna, Economics of climate, natural resources. Tweeting also as citizen, 🇫🇮/🇪🇺/🇮🇹. Views mine but TBH mostly borrowed. RT = RT.
Bologna, Emilia Romagna
Joined July 2020
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I wrote a policy piece for @EconPolEurope Forum, w/ Rick van der Ploeg and Tony Venables. We argue that decisive 'big push' green industrial policy is needed to convince firms & households that, without a doubt, the green transition is going to happen. 1/N cesifo.org/en/publications/2…
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Finland joins France’s forward nuclear deterrence program.
The defence partnership between Finland and France is deepening.
Our cooperation took a significant step forward this summer when France announced its contribution of troops to NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland. Today, we took a new step forward as Finland joined the French forward deterrence initiative.
The initiative is first and foremost about strengthening European security. It reinforces Europe’s responsibility for its own defence and helps prevent escalation.
The French initiative does not replace or overlap with NATO’s nuclear deterrence. Finland’s foremost priority is to act as part of NATO and the European Union.
Finland does not intend to station nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
We got off easy relative to many other countries located east of Stettin and Trieste, but make no mistake - Finland during the Cold War was not some kind of paradise on earth or shining beacon of political freedom.
Finland back then was ruled by the same president for *25 years*, with Moscow using threats of invasion to force the opposition candidate to stand down. The composition of the Finnish government was essentially determined by the Soviet embassy, while Kekkonen had his portrait emblazoned on the currency. It was a period of shame that was endured to ensure national survival, and it explains Finnish attitudes to Russia — and Ukraine — today.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Let’s not kid ourselves. Russia uses negotiations as a weapon of war. But that doesn’t mean Europe can’t turn the tables.
/1
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Projection is also internal: the debate over whether and how to talk splits European opinion not just on talking, but about the war. And it means that when Europeans look for Europe on Ukraine, they can’t find it.
/6
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Unfortunately, Europe is currently projecting the opposite: the navel-gazing over whether to talk and whom to send saps European morale and boost’s Moscow’s sense that time is on its side. That makes a Russian climb-down less likely.
/5
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
How does NATO survive as a meaningful alliance when the leadership of its dominant member is compromised by relations with its primary adversary? European NATO has been deeply complacent about this issue, but that's a luxury we no longer have.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Europe had over two years to defend Ukraine with Biden behind us. We wasted them, and now may have to defend Ukraine with Trump behind Russia. That’s not American voters’ fault, it’s European leaders’ fault.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Some Ukrainians think Trump may bring resolution to Putin's bloody war. But it's clear any 'deal' imposed by US will be unacceptable to Kyiv, and result in loss of territory, and capitulation. Ukraine will carry on fighting. The question is whether Europe can or will step up ..
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
We’ve been talking about Trump proofing Europe for over a year now. the time has come to do something. Standing united, and protecting our economies, security and above all democracies is as existential as ever
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
A grim moment for #Kyiv. A second Trump presidency means the probable end of US military assistance to Ukraine. The country's troops are already outgunned on the battlefield, with Russia advancing at the fastest rate since 2022. East - most of Donetsk oblast - may be lost in 2025
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Es ist unser Europa und wir haben nur dieses eine. Wenn die USA ausfallen, dann muss europäische Sicherheit europäisch werden. Das ist jetzt von allen Regierungen in Europa zu erwarten. Sie müssen in Zeiten des Krieges dieser historischen Aufgabe gerecht werde. #USAElection2024
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Vielleicht der schwierigste Moment in der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik, zur inneren Strukturkrise kommen nun massive außenwirtschaftliche und sicherheitspolitische Herausforderungen, auf die wir nicht vorbereitet sind (trotz der vielen Mahnungen). Wir müssen jetzt umschalten.1/n
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Solange sie noch können: die demokratischen Parteien in Deutschland sollten zusammenkommen und Verteidungsinvestitionen von der Schuldenbremse ausnehmen, damit Deutschland and Europa geopolitisch handlungsfähig werden. 3/n
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
The UK immediately needs to:
- Increase defence spending rapidly (rather than shrinking its army)
- Focus its military strategy on deterring Russian aggression in Europe (rather than confronting ‘global threats’)
- Work with European allies to defend Europe under a NATO that doesn’t have US support (rather than assuming that America guarantees European security).
Anything less would be a government dereliction of duty.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
That would improve European security, set limits to Russian expansion and make Europeans much stronger in the transatlantic relationship which will be tested -- but remain crucial for both sides.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Europeans shouldn't waist time again with fantasizing endlessly about strategic autonomy. They should go to work immediately and massively invest in Ukraine and in defense.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
If Trump wins the election on Tuesday, there is absolutely no room for moral superiority in Europe. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Europe has covered itself in shame, choosing to do business with Russia over doing everything in its power to help Ukraine and confront Putin. Shame.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
Harris or Trump? Some claim that the future of Europe depends on the American elections, while it depends first and foremost on us. On condition Europe finally grows up and believes in its own strength. Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over.
Niko Jaakkola retweeted
In 1996 Ukraine handed over nuclear weapons to Russia "in exchange for a guarantee never to be threatened or invaded".
