Christos Floros

Tag: europe

  • Compete Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

    Compete Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

    Before 9 AM today, I’d already had two meetings.

    The pace is intense, but that’s what makes being involved in new ventures so exciting.

    Every conversation opens a door—new ideas, new challenges, and a constant test of how quickly I can absorb, adapt, and apply.

    Since announcing Project Monnet, the messages haven’t stopped. People from across industries reaching out, offering insights, asking the right questions, challenging my thinking. I still have a list of people I need to reach out to.

    First call was key developments and messaging strategy for Deelan, a project Panos Meidanis is leading to redefine training platforms, that I’m incredibly excited to be involved in.

    Two completely different worlds—one about the future of digital public spaces, the other about the future of learning—but the same lesson applies: the steepest learning curves are where the real energy is.

    In the second call, Brian and I talked today about how social media doesn’t just connect people—it shapes them. How easily influenced 17-24 year-olds are running around supporting new oligarchs. How platforms don’t just reflect culture, they create it. What decentralised hosting really would mean for a platform like Monnet, how decisions now will impact the way it scales, how it’s governed, and who truly owns the conversation.

    This is the beauty of being in the middle of something new.

    You start by trying to solve a problem, and along the way, you realise the real challenge is learning to be hyper-focused—knowing what matters, what doesn’t, and to bring in people who are stronger where you are not.

    There’s a temptation in any venture to try to do everything. To be everywhere.

    But that’s not how things get built.

    The best founders don’t micromanage every detail—they surround themselves with the right people, the ones who can take a vision and execute it better than they ever could alone.

    On another, really meaningful note. Sven Clement recently asked me: Imagine you succeed. What happens if, in five years, Meta wants to buy you out?

    It’s a good question.

    One I don’t have a perfect answer to yet.

    But what I do know is that real alternatives can still be built. That despite Peter Thiel’s fixation on monopolies, competition isn’t dead. That Apple wasn’t first, IBM didn’t stay dominant, and history is full of moments where something new disrupted what looked untouchable.

    And history is shifting again.

    The U.S. is locking in its digital dominance. A $500 billion AI investment will attempt to cement its control over the next era of technology. Trump is openly pushing to make Canada a state, reinforcing the fact that this is no longer just about trade or defense alliances—it’s about control.

    About consolidating influence, about deciding who owns the future.

    So where does that leave Europe?

    Still debating whether we need to compete.

    Still relying on platforms that don’t reflect our interests.

    Still waiting.

    But we don’t have time to wait.

    The future of democracy is linked to digital sovereignty.

    Right now, I’m in the middle of that learning curve—balancing multiple projects, solving different problems, staying focused while embracing what I don’t yet know. It’s challenging. It’s chaotic. It’s exactly where I want to be.

    On to the next call. For Hootsuite, the regular work day begins, we’re building the future of social media performance. The entire #Oneteam is working on solving the biggest marketing and ROI question since the invention of social media. Perhaps even media itself.

    2025, accelerating fast.

  • Project Monnet, Platforms for Europe

    “Social” media has become the heart of contemporary life.

    It’s where ideas spread, debates unfold, and communities grow.

    These platforms shape how we communicate, how we consume information, and how economies thrive. But they are owned and controlled far from Europe, driven by interests that often clash with our values.

    This is no longer sustainable.

    For years, Europe has been a bystander in the digital revolution, relying on platforms that profit from our engagement while undermining our privacy, trust, and independence. There’s also immense opportunity still: the creator economy is now worth over $220 billion—and growing to over $500 by 2027—but Europe has yet to claim its space.

    That needs to change.

    This is why I am leading Project hashtag#Monnet, an initiative to building a true European competitor.

    A platform designed from the ground up to reflect European values—privacy, fairness, NEUTRALITY—and to empower creators, not exploit them. A platform where users are respected, data is protected, and creators can thrive sustainably. Currently only 0.1% of creators can live through their work.

    This isn’t just about creating another social media platform.

    It’s about giving Europe a voice in the digital age.

    About ensuring we are not forever dependent and can also help shape innovation through healthy competition.

    The challenge is immense.

    Platforms like TikTok and Instagram dominate because they’ve invested billions—not just in technology, but in capturing markets and locking in users. Bytedance spent 5 dollars to acquire each of your kids as a user.

    And as America doubles down on its digital dominance with unprecedented investments in AI, Europe risks falling even further behind.

    But I believe this is the moment.

    With the right vision, leadership, and investment, Europe can build its own digital ecosystem.

    One that isn’t defined by manipulation, disinformation, or exploitation. One that prioritizes trust, transparency, and opportunity.

    The work has already begun. I am collaborating with a team of experts in social media, technology, and digital strategy to turn Project Monnet into a reality. I’m connecting digital, social, business and political leaders throughout Europe (EU+) to get this done.

    We know what we are up against, but we also know that Europe cannot afford to wait any longer.

    This is our chance to shape the future.

    If we don’t, someone else will.

    Politics won’t solve this moment, the market must.

    Project Monnet is about more than building a platform.

    It’s about building Europe’s digital independence.

    And the time to act is now.

    —-

    If you are interested in BUILDING this get in touch. OR: Tag a friend who might be interested. Risk Capital connections very welcome. This is going to be capital intensive. If you’re interested in discussing this at a think tank level, this is NOT for you.

  • Our Dream of Europe

    Our Dream of Europe

    Do you like my shirt in this video? I think I have about 50 shirts, if not more.

    That’s a lot of shirts. Winter shirts, summer shirts, office shirts.

    If it helps, I’ve owned many of them for more than 10 years and I still wear them.

    But this isn’t a newsletter about fast fashion. It’s about Europe.

    My grandmother owned two skirts. In her entire life, she owned two skirts. She keeps reminding me of this.

    She bought a dress once, just once. Then, she cut it in half to make two skirts. When my father was young, she worked in the small shop my grandparents ran, keeping my father in a little bucket beside her as she worked.

    My mother grew up in a house without running water. No hot water. They carried water into the house and warmed it on the stove.

    That wasn’t 100 years ago. That was 50 years ago. In Europe. In the West. In our European Union.

    Too many of us have forgotten—or never lived—what true hardship feels like. Not just individual poverty, but poverty on a collective, systemic scale.

    We have taken our collective progress for granted. And now, many of us are complicit in dismantling it.

    Populist politicians, who don’t understand the complexity and value of our collective progress, are hastening our decline. And we, in our ignorance, too often support them.

    At the same time, establishment politicians cling to power, even here in Luxembourg. They’re not creating the space for a new generation to lead, to build on what we’ve achieved, and to take us forward.

    A Fragile Foundation

    Let’s not forget what made our progress possible. The European Union was built from the ashes of two world wars. It’s a dream rooted in peace, collective security, and economic cooperation.

    These, our, achievements require constant maintenance.

    Today, political apathy and polarisation threaten the foundation of these achievements.

    Our Engagement Today?

    In Luxembourg, only one in ten eligible (non-citizen) voters participates in local elections.

    This apathy isn’t unique to Luxembourg.

    Meanwhile, those who do engage are often driven by frustration or fear, creating an echo chamber of extremes.

    We see this in the rise of populist movements that capitalize on dissatisfaction but fail to deliver real solutions.

    If we’re to reverse this trend, we need action at both the individual and systemic levels:

    1. Individuals: Join civic organisations, volunteer, or simply vote. Show up where it’s hard to make a difference.
    2. Systems: Politicians must ensure their actions are accountable—not just to today’s voters but to future generations. Policies must align with long-term goals, from combating climate change to ensuring equitable economic growth.

    The Dream of Europe

    I am inspired by the resilience of Ukrainians fighting for their democracy and their commitment to a European future.

    I am moved by the Georgian people, marching for the hope of Europe.

    Their courage reminds us what’s at stake—and what we have to lose if we take Europe for granted.

    It’s not rocket science.

    It’s far more complicated.

    But that’s why we need to start.

    Our dream of Europe rests on each and every one of you.

    Only together, and with massive effort, we can sustain it and build a brighter, fairer future for all.

  • Georgia’s European Crossroads

    Georgia’s European Crossroads

    The streets of Tbilisi have erupted in protests—protests against a government that has turned its back on its people’s aspirations for democracy and European integration.

    The images are both inspiring and heartbreaking: tens of thousands marching with EU and Georgian flags, their voices demanding a future of transparency and freedom, met with tear gas, water cannons, and violence.

    This is a pivotal moment—not just for Georgia, but for Europe.

    The decision by the Georgian Dream government to suspend EU accession talks is more than a policy choice; it’s a betrayal. It’s a betrayal of the Georgian people, who have consistently and courageously expressed their desire for a European future. And it’s a betrayal of the democratic values that form the bedrock of Europe.

    How did we get here?

    The ruling Georgian Dream party, accused of rigging last month’s parliamentary elections, has steadily moved the country away from its democratic commitments.

    The EU granted Georgia candidate status last year, but with clear conditions for reform. Instead of meeting those conditions, the government has doubled down on authoritarian tactics, passing repressive laws and silencing dissent.

    When the European Parliament called for accountability, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze lashed out, accusing EU leaders of blackmail and foreign interference. His rhetoric, echoing that of other authoritarian-leaning leaders, seeks to distract from the undeniable: his government has failed to uphold the democratic promise Georgians fought so hard for.

    Now, Europe faces a choice.

    Will we act decisively to support the Georgian people in their quest for a democratic future? Or will we allow yet another government to undermine democracy while claiming impunity?

    The stakes are immense.

    Georgia is a nation that has consistently resisted Russian influence, standing as a beacon of pro-European sentiment in a region fraught with instability. Its people have made their choice clear, but their government has chosen to suppress that choice.

    We should not let this moment pass.

    The EU must act—not just with statements but with concrete measures. This means applying targeted sanctions against those responsible for democratic backsliding. It means bolstering civil society and independent media in Georgia. And it means making it clear that the door to Europe remains open—but only if the Georgian government respects its people’s will.

    Europe must stand with them—not just because Georgia’s future is at stake, but because Europe’s credibility is as well. If we fail to support those fighting for democracy on our borders, what message does that send to others looking to the EU as a model of freedom and justice?

    This isn’t just about sanctions or diplomatic pressure. It’s about reaffirming what Europe stands for.

    The Georgian people are showing us what courage looks like. Now it’s our turn to show them what solidarity looks like.

    This is a moment for leadership, for bold action, for standing on the side of those who fight for democracy.

    Let’s make it clear: Europe sees Georgia. Europe stands with Georgia.

    And together, we can ensure that the dream of a democratic, European Georgia does not die in the streets of Tbilisi.

    My friend Vato, is on the ground in Tbilisi, and is sharing firsthand accounts of the protests. His videos capture both the courage of the demonstrators and the stark reality of the violence they face—tear gas, water cannons, and masked enforcers intent on silencing dissent.

  • Europe’s Role in Ending the War in the Middle East

    Europe’s Role in Ending the War in the Middle East

    For weeks, and months, more than a year now, we’ve been grappling with the devastating war in Gaza, and now Lebanon, Israel, and the broader Middle East, and with a deep frustration at Europe’s inaction. I’ve struggled to understand how we—neighbours to this region, allies, supposed champions of human rights—are allowing this to continue. Our silence is deafening. And for those of us who see the damage unfolding daily, it feels like complicity.

    Europe’s support for Israel should never mean blind endorsement of every decision its leaders make. True allies—friends who care—challenge each other when they see harm being done. Instead, by failing to speak up, we are doing both Israel and the people of Israel and the region a profound disservice.

    Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, a far-right coalition, is pursuing a war that not only risks Israel’s moral standing but its long-term security. The ICC’s recent ruling for Netanyahu’s arrest underscores this—the world is watching.

    The bombing campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon are exacting a human cost that is unjustifiable.

    Civilian casualties mount daily, families are torn apart, and trust in any future peace evaporates.

    Meanwhile, Lebanon suffers under bombardments, with whole neighborhoods turned to rubble.

    How did we get here? How did the international community, which proclaims “Never again,” fail to prevent a catastrophe that feels all too familiar?

    Diplomacy has been too slow, too reactive, and—dare I say it—too self-interested. And the blame isn’t just on Netanyahu or Israel’s far-right ministers. The region is caught in a web of extremism and political failure, from Hezbollah’s deadly provocations to the international community’s unwillingness to prioritize peace.

    I can’t stop thinking about the families—on all sides—who have paid the ultimate price for this violence. Every child killed in Gaza, every civilian buried under rubble in Beirut, every Israeli family mourning their dead is a failure of leadership. A failure of us all.

    There is still hope.

    Reports of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon offer a glimmer of what diplomacy can achieve. But we need more than temporary truces. We need bold, transformative action. We need Europe to find its courage and action in the Middle East. Even if some will oppose it.

    Europe must stop sitting on the sidelines. It must push for an immediate end to hostilities, not just in Lebanon but in Gaza, too. It must use its influence to demand accountability—from Israeli leadership, from Hezbollah, from every party stoking the flames of war. And it must commit to rebuilding trust in the region, which begins with protecting civilians and upholding international law.

    This is a personal plea.

    I have spent my life believing in the power of democracy, the necessity of collective action, and the duty of leaders to stand up for what is right…

    This year, over and over, I feel that belief being tested. But I also know that despair is not an option. We owe it to the people of the Middle East to demand better. As we owe it to the people of Eastern Europe.

    History will remember what we did—or failed to do—in this moment.

    Let it remember that we chose peace.

    Let it remember that we found the courage to act.

    I understand what Israel wants to achieve. Or at least I think I do. This is not how it achieves it. This is not the way, to secure long-term peace.

  • How to address Political Participation in Luxembourg

    How to address Political Participation in Luxembourg

    One of our biggest challenges in Luxembourg is political participation.

    When we consider the future of our country, we have to ask: Are we all in?

    Because the truth is, the challenges we face need everyone’s input.

    We need your voice, your ideas, your energy.

    Here’s what we’ve got:

    • Only about 10% of non-citizens vote.
    • Nearly half of our residents are non-citizens.

    As of 2023, about 47% of Luxembourg’s population are foreign nationals.

    Back in 2000, it was around 37%.

    Here’s the question:

    • How do we make everyone feel they have a stake in our future?

    In 2015, we had a referendum that could have extended voting rights to foreign residents who’ve lived here for over 10 years.

    We lost that opportunity.

    So now, we need to continue finding and building alternative ways to understand how people want us to lead, and towards where.

    It’s not just about voting (although that’s a great start, so register to vote for the next ones, it takes 2 minutes).

    It’s about participation at every level.

    It’s about caring for our commons—our shared spaces, our communities, our environment.

    We need to find ways to include more people, to convince them that their voice matters.

    Because it does.

    If we want to tackle the big issues—whether it’s housing, climate change, or economic development—we need everyone on board.

    So here’s my call to action:

    Join the dialogue, where it is.

    Join political platforms, parties, debates (online or offline – even better)

    Whether you’re a lifelong Luxembourger or you’ve just moved here, your perspective is valuable. It helps us inform our decisions.

    We need to explore new ways to engage with all residents, to gather their feedback, their hopes, their ideas for our future.

    We can’t afford to have half of our population feel disconnected.

    Your thoughts?

    Christos Floros