EU’s tariffs ‘higher than those of US’, says BMW CEO
German luxury car maker BMW said it expected both Brussels and Washington to back away from escalating trade war threats.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Median German household wealth drops by 15 per cent, says central bank
The median net worth of a German household has dropped from €90,500 in 2021 to €76,000 in 2023, after adjusting for inflation.
European Parliament approves loosening of emission rules for vehicle manufacturers
The European Parliament has approved a relaxation of emission rules to help manufacturers avoid additional fines, offering relief to the already struggling European…
A 10% rise in electricity prices could kill 1 in 50 manufacturing jobs, say ECB economists
Economists from the European Central Bank (ECB) have calculated what they said was the detrimental effect of lasting high electricity prices on European employment.
EU energy policy-makers in the dark due to lack of clear data, conference told
A lack of co-ordination and poor access to energy data has hampered the European Union’s ability to deliver energy security, a think-tank conference was told.
Spanish PM champions renewable energy post-blackout
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has doubled down on his plans to expand on renewable energy while continuing to fiercely oppose nuclear power, apparently ignoring…
Ukraine mulls peg to euro and ditching US dollar as ties to EU strengthen
Ukraine has started to consider a shift away from the US dollar, possibly linking its currency more closely to the euro amid the splintering of global trade and…
Slovakia and Hungary reject EU plan to phase out Russian gas by end-2027
Slovakia and Hungary May 7, condemned European Commission plans to phase out Russian gas and other energy imports, deepening a rift with Brussels over relations…
EU’s Russian gas ban relies on its ‘weakest link – traceability’
The European Union’s plan to phase out Russian gas by 2027 hinged on traceability, and that may be its weakest point, experts and officials told Brussels Signal.
Ørsted cancels huge British wind-farm project over soaring costs
Ørsted, the world's biggest offshore wind-farm developer, has decided to drop a major offshore project in the UK, saying it lacked economic sense.
EU auditors slam ‘weak and insufficient oversight’ of costly Covid recovery fund
In a highly critical report, the European Court of Auditors (ECS) has sharply condemned what it said was the European Union’s lack of oversight in spending €650…
UK-India free-trade deal may offer EU an example of US tariffs relief
Britain and India have clinched a long-coveted free-trade pact after tariff turmoil sparked by US President Donald Trump forced the two sides to hasten efforts to…
European car-giant chiefs say EU’s ‘disastrous’ regulations crippling business
The European car market was said to be in great peril because of "green" overregulation from Brussels, killing the industry.
Swedish PM believes NATO defence spending target will hit 3.5 per cent of GDP
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he anticipated that the NATO members' defence spending norm would sharply rise in the short term.
EU’s Russian gas ban in doubt amid bloc unanimity concerns
The European Union's plan to ban Russian gas imports by 2027 was at risk of being derailed by internal divisions and procedural burdens, according to Belgian MEP…
Belgium says medicine security should be a matter of national defence
Amid growing geopolitical strain and supply chain vulnerabilities, Belgium’s health ministry has called for medicine security to be treated as a matter of national…
Trump’s demand for US tariffs on foreign movies may put EU film industry at risk
US President Donald Trump has demanded a 100 per cent tariff on foreign films, meaning the European movie industry might be badly hit.
Global energy: Meetings in Riyadh between Russia and US weren’t merely about Ukraine
Could a great bargain be lurking just beneath the surface, ready to be struck in the fog of geopolitical manoeuvring?
Fed up with delays: Switzerland severs two train links with Germany
The Swiss State railway company SBB has announced it was severing two train connections with Germany, effective immediately.
Ryanair ‘could abandon’ huge Boeing order over US tariffs, cites Chinese alternatives
Irish airline Ryanair has warned it may reconsider its multibillion-dollar aircraft deal with Boeing if proposed US tariffs significantly raised the cost of US-made…
Parts of Brussels housing market impacted by drugs issues
The Belgian capital Brussels has remained the country’s most expensive region for real estate but concerns over illegal drug activity have driven sharp local price…
Cars, planes and tariffs: EU gets a window seat on developments
The US President Donald Trump has slashed tariffs on car parts to support domestic factories while doubling down on duties in the aviation sector.
France-based nuclear fusion clean-energy project hits key milestone
A much-delayed nuclear fusion project based in southern France and involving more than 30 countries was said to be ready to assemble the world's most powerful magnet…
12 EU states request deficit rules leniency as euro bloc’s economy growth tops expectations
Twelve European Union countries have requested activation of the "national escape clause" from EU deficit rules in order to boost their defence spending, the European…
Critical Medicines Act: Europe’s big idea risks being ‘just another layer’
While the European Commission’s proposed Critical Medicines Act was welcomed for aiming to strengthen supply chains, member state officials and industry experts…
Spain ‘ignored numerous warnings about blackouts due to renewables’
Spain was warned well before the outage across the Iberian Peninsula that it risked severe energy blackouts due to its reliance on renewable energy, it has been…
Sanctions loophole: Oil price fall lets Greek ships resume Russian crude trade
Greek oil tankers have quietly resumed shipping Russian crude as Urals Oil prices slide under the G7 cap, exposing a Western sanctions loophole.
Questions arise about role of renewable energy after international electricity blackout
While Spain and Portugal are slowly recovering from the electricity blackout that put both countries to a standstill, experts have been pointing out that renewable…
Porsche slashes outlook as US tariffs, China slump dim prospects
Porsche's margins plunged in the first quarter, the sports car maker said on Tuesday, forcing it to cut its outlook due to weakness in its key market China, a slowing shift…
Brussels Signal news chief reports from international blackout
Brussels Signal's head of news, Justin Stares, was in Spain during the mega blackout hitting the Iberian Peninsula and has reported from the scene.