EC quietly reveals proposal on Tobacco Taxation Directive
Under the looming shadow of negotiations over the European Union’s next long-term budget, the European Commission has quietly released a proposal to overhaul the…
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Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Irish Government to delay alcohol labelling until 2029
Ireland's controversial alcohol labelling, which was set to be introduced in 2026, is likely to be pushed back to 2029.
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.
Dutch solar park ordered to remove 78,000 panels to protect Schiphol Airport
A solar panel park near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has been ordered by a judge to remove 78,000 panels after they were found to be blinding aircraft pilots.
Digital vassals? French Government ‘exposes citizens’ data to US’
France’s deepening reliance on US tech giants is raising alarms about digital sovereignty and exposing public data to foreign jurisdictions.
US pharma in Ireland drives eurozone output surge
Eurozone industrial production jumped 3.7 per cent year-on-year in May, according to July 16 Eurostat data.
Swedish study shows property values negatively affected near wind farms
Onshore wind farms have had a detrimental effect on the property value of Swedish real estate, a study found.
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…
EC shelves usual pre-meeting trade talks ahead of summit with China
As the the EU–China summit on July 24–25 in Beijing nears, the European Commission said usual pre-meeting talks will not take place due to “lack of progress”…
EU scoffed at UK-US tariffs deal but may end up with worse
European Union officials had dismissed the UK’s 10 per cent tariff deal with the US as second-rate — yet the bloc now faces a 30 per cent tariff threat of its…
‘To be free, you must be feared’: France to pump €6 billion more into military
"To be free in this world, you must be feared," French President Emmanuel Macron declared on the eve of Bastille Day in Paris.
EU consumer waste now as big as food imports
European consumers now waste as much food as the EU imports, around 58 million tonnes a year, according to a new report.
EU needs to play smarter against China, not harder
When it comes to trade with China, how can Europe navigate the rising storms of geopolitical polarisation? The task is anything but simple.
Belgian pensioners take on more flexi-jobs amid EU labour shortages
In Belgium, pensioners in side jobs now worked twice as many hours as younger so-called flexi-jobbers such as students.
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.
EU carbon tax ‘to cost Belgian families €250 to €400 a year extra’
The European Union's new carbon tax, the Emissions Tradings System 2 (ETS2) set to be enforced from 2027, was likely to cost Belgian families €250 to €400 a…
NGO ship’s former master Rackete quits as MEP
Carola Rackete, a German MEP known for her activism regarding NGO migrant vessels, has announced her resignation from the European Parliament.
European Parliament official: ‘EU in the dark’ on US trade requirements
The European Union still did not understand what the US wants on trade, European Parliament trade committee chair Bernd Lange told journalists.
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.
France battles wildfires as minister warns of ‘high-risk summer’ ahead
A "fast-moving" wildfire in France has been raging in parts of Marseille, triggering mass evacuations, lockdown orders and widespread travel disruptions.
Fiscal reversal: Italy can access cheaper loans than France
For the first time in two decades, Italy was now able to secure cheaper loans than France.
German exports to US tumble as Berlin urges quick trade deal
German exports to the United States plummeted in May, official data showed on July 8, as Berlin pressed the European Union to strike a quick tariff deal with US…
Beijing announces import restrictions on EU medical tech and tariffs on brandy
China announced it would impose retaliatory import restrictions on European medical devices and anti-dumping duties on European brandy.
‘People could have died’, Belgian report warns for radicalisation of climate movement
Climate activists are radicalising and getting increasingly dangerous, a confidential Belgian government report has warned.
Poland opposes EU’s new 2040 emissions target
Poland's centre-left coalition government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was opposed to the newly proposed European Union target for cutting emissions.
Meta defends ad model in Brussels amid digital tax tensions
Facebook owner Meta has defended its revised advertising model at a closed-door hearing with the European Commission.
German Chancellor Merz breaks key election promise on electricity tax
Barely two months after assuming the German Chancellorship, Friedrich Merz has broken a key election promise.
Could Belgium lead a new European mining era?
A Belgian liberal party said it wanted to bring local mining back to Belgium to extract critical raw materials from European soil.