The EU as a Topic on X: When Do Politicians Talk About It Most
Do you ever wonder how often politicians speak about the European Union on X (Twitter) – and what makes them bring it up? This is the question examined by our Director of Research, Jan Kovář. Analysing more than 180,000 tweets published between 2007 and 2022, he explores when and why EU issues become visible in the day-to-day communication of party leaders. His findings, now published in the Journal of European Integration, offer fresh insights into what truly drives the politicisation of European integration online.
The article draws on a large dataset of tweets posted by party leaders in Czechia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Germany. By analysing day-to-day communication on X between 2007 and 2022, the study captures how the European Union moves in and out of political attention over time. Unlike election manifestos or parliamentary speeches, social media provide a continuous record of what political leaders choose to emphasise – and when.
The findings reveal that attention to EU issues rises sharply during specific political moments. European Parliament elections have the strongest effect, followed by EU-related referendums – particularly Brexit – and European Council summits. In contrast, national elections tend to shift the focus back to domestic topics. Interestingly, public Euroscepticism or even major EU-wide crises do not automatically lead to more EU-related communication. The results suggest that event-driven dynamics, rather than gradual changes in public opinion, shape when the EU becomes politically salient.
What does this tell us about the place of Europe in contemporary political debate? Read the full article attached above or here to explore.
