Hey Euros!

After holding several votes in true EU fashion, we have decided to re-open the subreddit. While the [initial vote](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/14fh88u/reurope_popular_assembly_vote_results_discussion/) showed a strong majority in favor of re-opening, the [last vote](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/14idp1d/second_community_vote/) not only attracted a lot fewer votes, it also only missed a vote in favor of re-opening [by a handful of votes](https://i.imgur.com/woQu5mU.png). We abide by that vote as initially stipulated and extended the subreddit being restricted by a week until this sunday.

Given the very close result of the vote, the sheer amount of modmails that has asked us to reopen and not least you showing in the [Wagner Mutiny Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/14hp4cy/wagner_mutiny_megathread/) that there is an unwavering appetite to discuss ongoing issues with fellow Europeans (and some of you probably can’t wait to post the next statistical map or your favorite picture of lake bled if we are honest), we have decided that it is overdue that r/europe becomes open again. Because in the end, this community is here for you, the users that make this community what it is and that fill it with life every day.

—

No matter the outcome, we believe that taking a strong stance on this issue was the right call. Several of us mods rely on third party apps when moderating and we believe that cutting off access to third party apps without even being able to provide feature *parity* on the official app is yet another example of reddit’s prioritization going wrong, not even speaking about issues that impact some people even more significantly like the lack of accessibility for the visually impaired on the official app. Since Reddit was unwilling to make any amends, protest was the only way left to us and we certainly didn’t take this decision lightly.

While Reddit did not roll back its API changes or provided a reduction in API cost, there has been at least some movement by them. Reddit has committed to a [somewhat ambitious timeline](https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/142kh8s/improvement_to_the_mobile_mod_queue/) for its native mobile modding capabilites, set accessibility goals for mod tools [[1](https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/14he7nz/accessibility_updates_to_mod_tools_part_1/),[2](https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/14n9426/accessibility_updates_to_mod_tools_part_2/)] and apparently gave several third party apps an extension on their free API access in order to figure out a sustainable operating model for these apps in the future ([Narwhal](https://www.reddit.com/r/getnarwhal/comments/14kt9wj/narwhal_is_not_going_anywhere_subscriptions_and/), [Relay](https://www.reddit.com/r/RelayForReddit/comments/14n876v/update_relay_will_continue_to_operate_from_july/), [Now for Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/redditnow/comments/14n646l/now_for_reddit_july_1st_and_beyond/)) as well as granting free API access to accessibility-focussed apps like [Luna](https://www.reddit.com/r/Luna4Reddit/comments/14a8v55/luna_for_reddit_is_safe/), [Redreader](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedReader/comments/145du4j/update_4_redreader_granted_noncommercial/) and [Dystopia](https://www.reddit.com/r/DystopiaForReddit/).

Let us iterate one more time that we are incredibly disappointed by how this whole issue was handled and communicated by Reddit. We recognize that Reddit needs to make unpopular decisions that allow it to thrive as a business at times, but we strongly believe that all this could have been avoided by announcing such a change much earlier, actually seeking dialogue with various stakeholders (3rd party devs, mods, users, bot operators) and making sure that the official product is in an acceptable state before making any moves of this magnitude. We believe that most of this could have been handled in a way that could have satisfied then needs of most parties involved here. There are a number of very real issues that have been raised, with a large portion being, at this point, either unresolved or resolved in a negative way. Some examples can be found looking at the [write-up by /r/Askhistorians](https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/142w159/askhistorians_and_uncertainty_surrounding_the/), the [updates by the community of /r/Blind regarding recent changes](https://old.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/14ixy1z/update_on_reddits_plans_for_moderation/) or the [future of /r/TranscribersOfReddit](https://old.reddit.com/r/TranscribersOfReddit/comments/14ggf8k/the_future_of_transcribers_of_reddit/).

We are also extremely displeased by the disregard for our work displayed by corporate leadership in all this, but in the end, we are not doing this for them, we are doing it for you, the community.

So with that, welcome back and fuck u/spez!

by ModeratorsOfEurope

26 comments

  3. I’m guessing the admins threatened to replace you after the numerous reports made to them about the mods here and you decided to open back up rather than lose what tiny sliver of power you have?

  5. Good to see that we can finally discuss European matters once again.

  6. Whatever conspiracy theory about the how or why, whatever the discussions, three things:

    1) Thank you for re opening, i really grew attached to this subreddit, missed you peeps a lot.

    2) Fuck u/spez

    3) Fuck u/spez

  9. > the last vote not only attracted a lot fewer votes, it also only missed a vote in favor of re-opening by a handful of votes

    Only due to the silly undemocratic and frankly bizarre “Option A requires over 50% in order to count”. For those who can’t open the results right now:

    A: Stop the protest and return to business as usual – 49.77%
    B: Stay restricted for 7 more days, then re-evaluate – 42.31%
    C: Open, but limit the subreddit to a specific European theme – 7.92%

    In other words, opening the subreddit won. Stop lying.

  10. Can someone translate the mods’ world salad for me and confirm that the subreddit is going to open tomorrow?

    And thanks to mods for listening to us, at least. What’s important, that the sub is not going to die.

  11. Wouldn’t mind using another site, haven’t found much happening yet. A few national lemmy instances with more activity, but not European communities.

  13. Finally! God decision, we are living in turbulent times and this sub is a very convenient source of European news.

  14. > it also only missed a vote in favor of re-opening [by a handful of votes](https://i.imgur.com/woQu5mU.png)

    Strange results. I counted the votes in the thread a few hours ago and got about the same numbers, but without taking into account votes from those that didn’t meet the karma threshold or account age. Considering that last time more than 50% were invalid votes, I was expecting the official results to have less valid votes than what I counted.

    Can the mods give as a detailed analysis about the vote structure like they did last time?

  15. > Given the very close result of the vote, the sheer amount of modmails that has asked us to reopen and not least you showing in the Wagner Mutiny Thread that there is an unwavering appetite to discuss ongoing issues with fellow Europeans (and some of you probably can’t wait to post the next statistical map or your favorite picture of lake bled if we are honest),

    What’s with the smarmy and condescending tone?

    Since we love voting “In true EU fashion”, I would suggest one final one.

    A: The poor long-suffering mods of /r/europe should be allowed to finally escape the horrific tyranny of reddit and retire to the green pastures of the “reddit alternatives” they themselves plugged in the second voting thread.

    B: We can’t possibly find anyone else to moderate this subreddit so please stay, dear martyrs.

  16. Hey mods can we now have a vote on you guys?

    Whether to re elect you to continue to mod this sub, or vote you out?

    You guys love democracy so much, you’ve made that abundantly clear these past few weeks.
    Seems only fitting we extend this to a mod vote.

    What could be more democratic?

  17. Honestly this closing off the sub for so long really made me lose a lot of my previous interest in it

    Closing of the sub for a week more despite the 49,7% being in favour of reopening, because mods want to protests, really leaves a certain amount of distaste

  18. Damn, sending complaints to reddit was indeed the way to go.
    Also, the start of your post is weirdly worded.

  19. Finally.

    We had to resort to places filled with Russian bots and far-right accounts like Twitter to discuss the numerous events that happened in Europe these days…

  20. >Reddit has committed to a somewhat ambitious timeline for its native mobile modding capabilites, set accessibility goals for mod tools [1,2] and apparently gave several third party apps an extension on their free API access in order to figure out a sustainable operating model for these apps in the future (Narwhal, Relay, Now for Reddit) as well as granting free API access to accessibility-focussed apps like Luna, Redreader and Dystopia.

    I think the big question here is: Is this enough of a compromise from reddit? Or should we discuss finding alternate forms of continuing the protest? Ones that don’t involve closing the sub completely, but could still have _some_ impact on reddit.

    >and fuck u/spez!

    As I’ve come to recently learn, this bears repeating.

  21. > ~~Given the very close result of the vote, the sheer amount of modmails that has asked us to reopen and not least you showing in the Wagner Mutiny Thread that there is an unwavering appetite to discuss ongoing issues with fellow Europeans (and some of you probably can’t wait to post the next statistical map or your favorite picture of lake bled if we are honest), we have decided that it is overdue that r/europe becomes open again. Because in the end, this community is here for you, the users that make this community what it is and that fill it with life every day.~~ Reddit admins sent us messages telling us to open it or they would as well as put in place new mods and we’d be kicked off Reddit.

    FTFY.

  24. Let us iterate one more time that we are incredibly disappointed by how this whole issue was handled and communicated by the so called moderators. Pushing their narrow view and holding hostage a valuable venue of information in this eventfull times for what amounts to “I don’t want to pay for what I use”.

    Now everytime I see a comment removed by moderators I will have to question what feeling has the poster hurt in the power trippers snoflakes.
    Ofcourse you could remove this comment too without giving anyone any reason. maybe it will help you to restore some feeling of power after this whole fiasco.

  26. Boo. Just do the least amount of moderating. They are violating labor laws by not paying you anyway.

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