Dutch Government bows to pressure over controversial tax on unrealised gains
Dutch finance minister Eelco Heinen has announced a dramatic reversal of the recently approved -- and passionately opposed -- Box 3 tax reform.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
German budget deficit in 2025 deeper into the red
Germany’s public sector has incurred a record deficit in 2025, according to numbers published by the country’s Federal Statistical Office.
Despite drop in 2025, Russian oil exports exceed pre-war volumes: report
While Russian oil exports dropped last year, Russia is still exporting higher volumes than before its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, researchers said Tuesday, calling…
High tobacco taxes risk fueling illicit trade and undermining health goals, EESC says
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has cautioned that abrupt or excessive increases in excise duties on tobacco and nicotine products could drive…
US Supreme Court strikes down swath of Trump global tariffs
The US Supreme Court ruled Friday that Donald Trump exceeded his authority in imposing a swath of tariffs that upended global trade, blocking a key tool the president…
Banned Brazilian hormone-tainted beef slipped through EU’s control system
The integrity of the European Union’s food safety protocols has come under scrutiny following the detection of several shipments of Brazilian beef contaminated…
‘Green’ means industry leaking out of Europe, a burden intolerable for investors
Over the past few years, the world has changed more dramatically than at any time since the end of the Cold War.
Slovakia threatens Ukraine with reprisals over blocked pipeline
Slovakia's prime minister today threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if its neighbour does not reopen a pipeline that brings Russian oil to…
EU gives Austria fiscal leeway to boost defence spending despite ballooning deficit
Austria can spend billions on buying new equipment for its military, even though the budget deficit is soaring and the country is under a European Union deficit…
Public opinion doubts if ‘more Europe’ is the way forward
In Brussels, these are the worst of times, but also the best of times.
All the doomed UK has left is a cackling demented “That’s all, folks!”
The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, is an interesting (if only sort-of) example of what happens when life follows art.
Dangerously low? Germany’s gas storage has fallen to record lows
While cold temperatures are still dominating and after a chilly start to 2026, Germany is facing historic low gas storage supplies.
Volkswagen mulls plant closures and drastic cuts to stop losing money
Volkswagen is facing its most severe restructuring since the 2015 "Dieselgate" scandal as CEO Oliver Blume proposes a €60 billion cost-slashing programme and refuses…
The death of technocracy and the return of politics
Real political change tends to have more than one cause, and although it has become somewhat fashionable to reduce everything to a single issue – whether it is…
EU Hunger Games: Why the EUSSR is sabotaging your table
While enlightened bureaucrats play politburo, Europe’s farmers and consumers are expected to absorb - or maybe fail to absorb - yet another blow.
Carbon permit prices tumble after Germany’s Merz demands emission trading overhaul
European Union carbon permit prices have fallen significantly following remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicating that he may support an overhaul of…
Tony Blair Institute urges UK to drop ban on new oil and gas licences
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has called on the UK Labour Government to scrap its ban on new North Sea exploration licences and bring the Energy Profits…
Dutch energy grid ‘full’ in three provinces: ‘Blackouts looming,’ warns operator
The Dutch electricity grid has reached a critical tipping point in three central provinces.
Mercedes-Benz reports steep drop in annual profits
Mercedes-Benz Group has released its full-year 2025 financial results revealing a dramatic decline in profitability that marks the company's weakest performance…
Dutch giant Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs on falling demand, despite solid profits
Dutch brewing giant Heineken has announced plans to eliminate between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs globally over the next two years.
Macron says Spanish blackout was due to over-reliance on renewable energy
French President Emmanuel Macron has attributed the major blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025 to Spain's heavy dependence on renewable energy sources,…
German town turns down €2.5 billion data centre project by US investor
Politicians in the German town of Great-Gerau near Frankfurt have refused plans by a US company to build one of Europe’s biggest data centres.
First time: German court allows prosecution of ‘climate activists’ as criminal group
A German court has allowed an indictment of a group of people who committed crimes in the supposed interest of the global climate as a criminal organisation.
Most Germans think welfare state is unfinanceable as reform attempts fizzle out
A large majority of Germans think their country’s welfare state cannot be upheld financially in its current form.
Europe’s dependency on US LNG increases
European countries are increasingly dependent on US gas following sanctions on Russia, cold weather and structural changes in power generation, according to reports…
Greenpeace turns to Dutch courts in bid to overturn €292.6m US fine
Environmental network Greenpeace is turning to the Dutch courts in an attempt to have a multimillion-dollar fine imposed in a US lawsuit set aside.
VW and Stellantis urge help to keep carmaking in Europe
Europe's largest carmakers Volkswagen and Stellantis have called for subsidies to keep carmaking in the EU as they struggle with challenges from US tariffs to Chinese…
German nuclear phase-out a ‘historic mistake’, says head of IEA
The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has called Germany’s decision to abandon its nuclear power plants a “historic mistake”.
Paying for a selfie: Rome starts charging tourists to visit Trevi Fountain
Italy's Trevi Fountain has launched a new ticketing system, making the famous Rome landmark the latest tourist site to charge entry in a bid to raise funds and battle…
President of German automobile association who called for fuel price hike steps down after mass exodus of members
The president of Germany’s largest automobile association ADAC has resigned from his post after he backed raising the price of diesel and petrol.