Flirting with the guillotine: France’s fiasco threatens the EU as we know it
France’s political stage, once a grand théâtre of Molière’s wit, now plays a tragedy.
Finance
Latest reporting and analysis on finance.
ECB ‘could intervene amid financial instability in France’
The European Central Bank (ECB) might have to intervene in France following the fall of prime minister François Bayrou because political instability is worsening…
German Socialists want to abolish ‘outdated’ tax advantages for married couples
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is pushing for an end to a regulation that lowers the tax burden on married couples.
Poland’s financial rating questioned as result of hole in public finances
The Fitch ratings agency has revised Poland's outlook to "negative" from "stable" citing growing risks to public finances.
‘China still not addressing its domestic demand crisis,’ reports show
China has introduced another set of measures meant to keep its economy moving.
ECB President talks of ‘worrying risk’ if France ‘collapses’
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has warned that the collapse of French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government would pose a “worrying…
German unemployment tops 3 million for first time since 2015
For the first time in 10 years more than 3 million Germans are without a job.
Polish president Nawrocki and PM Tusk joust over rising public debt
Poland’s president Karol Nawrocki and prime minister Donald Tusk have clashed publicly during a meeting of the Cabinet Council over the government’s record on…
German Chancellor Merz: ‘Welfare state can no longer be financed’
German Chancellor Friederich Merz has warned that his country's economy is no longer capable of financing its welfare state.
German finance minister demands tax hikes as social expenditure rockets
Germany’s finance minister has proposed raising income and estate taxes to cover the country’s ballooning budget deficit.
China targets two EU banks in reply to Russian sanctions
China announced it would take countermeasures against European banks in retaliation for EU sanctions against Russia that hit two Chinese financial institutions due…
Rise in German bankruptcies shatters hope for quick economic revival
The number of companies in Germany filing for bankruptcy has unexpectedly jumped to its highest value since at least 2018.
Cash use is still growing, says ECB, while pushing ‘digital euro’
The European Central Bank is preparing to launch a digital version of the euro, while reporting that demand for physical banknotes is still rising.
Export-oriented Belgium’s unemployment rate rises as EU’s edges lower
Belgium’s unemployment rate rose to 6.5 per cent in June 2025, up from 5.5 per cent the year before.
Jaguar CEO resigns after controversial ‘woke’ makeover of British brand
Adrian Mardell, CEO of British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, has announced his resignation.
UK bans Coinbase advert criticising country
The UK has banned a musical advertisement that sharply criticised the situation for much of the population in the country.
France’s Airbus posts 85% profits lift-off
France-based aerospace group Airbus posted an 85 per cent rise in first-half profits to $1.7 billion (€1.
EC gives €3M to workers after US tyre factories in Germany close
The European Commission will release more than €3 million to support 915 workers affected by US multinational Goodyear’s closure of one tyre plant and partial…
Mercedes-Benz profits plunge
German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz suffered a huge drop in profits in the first half of this year, down by 55.8 per cent.
As Bulgaria enters the euro, Greece’s pricey tragedy calls for caution
Welcome, Bulgaria, to the eurozone’s arena.
Volkswagen profits collapse amid US tariffs and electric-vehicle disappointment
Germany's auto giant Volkswagen has reported a 36.3 per cent drop in its net profits, citing US tariffs and ongoing struggles with its electric vehicle strategy.
German Government to cut ‘green’ air travel tax
Germany's Federal Government said it wanted to reduce the aviation tax, a controversial "green" carbon tax.
In holiday hotspot Greece, barely half the population can afford a week off
Greece has remained one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations but, for many Greeks, a full week of holiday has become financially out of reach.
Russian universities train students to outwit economic sanctions
The Kremlin-backed curriculum for Russian public universities and private institutions now trains students to outwit economic sanctions.
EU budget talks at stalemate before they’ve even begun
The European Commission's newly proposed budget is so "confusing" that it might get rejected.
EU tobacco reforms face delays as tax debate heats up
The European Union's long-awaited review of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) is now expected to conclude in mid-2026, yet another delay in one of the bloc’s…
OECD warns of ‘unprecedented’ drop in economic growth as birth rates fall
The Western world was increasingly facing a shortage of workers, which would lead to declining growth rates and potentially a loss in standard of living in many…
EU wants tobacco tax to fund own budget, Sweden says ‘Nej’
Swedish finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson has come out aggressively against Brussels' new Tobacco Tax Directive, calling it “completely unacceptable”.
European banks aim to challenge Mastercard and Visa with homegrown Wero
Sixteen Western European banks have rolled out Wero — a new payment system aimed at reducing Europe’s dependence on Visa, Mastercard, and other US fiscal networks.
German corporations promise ‘psychological’ economic boost: €300 billion investment by 2028
Several large German corporations have joined forces to boost investment in Germany’s ailing economy.