In France the helicopter air-drops of fresh cash are over
In one of his Letters from Paris published many years ago in the New Yorker, Adam Gopnik observed that the French suffer from what he called a “White Helicopter”…
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Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Nuclear power-plant operator claims German phase-out was ‘politically motivated’
Nuclear power plant managers have challenged Green Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck's assertions about the need for Germany's nuclear phase-out.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares abruptly quits as sales falter
Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares resigned abruptly on Sunday, two months after a profit warning at the maker of Jeep, Fiat and Peugeot cars that has lost…
Stockholm county ditches ban on petrol cars
After companies operating in Stockholm appealed the planned petrol car ban, the County Administrative Board (CAB) for the county of Stockholm has decided to block…
International court to begin hearings that may shape global climate litigation
The United Nations' top court next week begins hearings on the legal obligation of countries to fight climate change and the consequences for states of contributing…
Facebook chief Zuckerberg meets Trump as Silicon Valley realigns behind President-elect
Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has met US Presidential-Elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club and hotel in Florida to discuss the future of US…
Europe’s biggest motorbike producer faces insolvency
KTM, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer, is facing insolvency and will apply for restructuring in accordance with the Austrian Insolvency Act.
French and German interest rates spread highest in more than a decade
International markets appear to be increasingly weary of potential political instability in France, pushing up interest rates.
EU to focus on ‘decarbonisation’ to become competitive with US, China
The European Union will focus on the "decarbonisation" of its economy in an effort to make itself competitive with the US and China, the bloc's top civil servant…
‘Secret letter’ reveals German Greens minister asked France for nuclear energy support
Feathers have been ruffled by the unearthing of a secret letter from the German Vice-Chancellor and Greens party member Robert Habeck to the then-French energy minister…
Carrefour apologises following Brazilian fury over EU-Mercosur deal snub
French supermarket giant Carrefour has been fending off the fury of Brazilian farmers after its CEO Alexandre Bompard publicly criticised the proposed European Union-Mercosur…
Polish Government rejects EU-Mercosur trade deal
The Polish Government has adopted a resolution committing it to opposing the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, the region consisting…
EU taxpayers set to lose more than €300 million over ‘green’ darling Northvolt’s bankruptcy
Any bankruptcy of Swedish battery developer and manufacturer Northvolt is set to cost the European taxpayer a hefty sum.
Steel giant ArcelorMittal backs out of ‘green’ projects with industry’s future at risk
Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal said it was delaying big investment programmes in Europe, citing uncertainties over European Union…
Von der Leyen hires top Greens member as climate ‘advisor,’ gets mixed reaction in Brussels
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has hired a former top politician within the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament to advise her on climate…
EU signs another climate deal as US eyes fossil-fuel renaissance
The European Union has signed another global climate-change deal just as the US eyes up a fossil-fuel renaissance.
Ukraine slams Polish farmers over anti-Mercosur border blockade
Polish farmers blocked the Medyka border crossing with Ukraine on November 23 in a protest over the trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur, which they…
Automotive supplier Bosch plans to cut 5,550 jobs, most in Germany
In a new blow for the struggling German car industry, auto parts supplier Bosch has said it wanted to cut more jobs than previously indicated in May, when the company…
China widens EU dairy probe to more subsidy programmes
China said on Friday it would expand the scope of its anti-subsidy investigation into dairy imports from the European Union to cover additional EU subsidy programmes…
‘Green’ darling Northvolt with €5.62 billion in debt seeks bankruptcy protection as CEO quits
Swedish electric vehicle battery maker Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy protection, a Chapter 11 process in the US as it desperately looks for extra cash.
Member states doubt EU database for biofuels, saying market distortions are likely
The Union Database for Biofuels (UDB), which came into effect on November 21, is part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package of the Renewable Energy Directive…
French supermarket giant Carrefour vows to not sell Mercosur-sourced meat
Amid France's opposition to the European Union-Mercosur trade deal, major French supermarket chain Carrefour has pledged not to sell meat linked to the agreement,…
Banks take fright as Marxists take power in Belgium
Banks are refusing to finance cash-strapped towns in Belgium's French-speaking south as avowed Marxists take power in local government.
Outdated software running Germany Inc goes for easy protection not innovation
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader and likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz is sidling cautiously up to the debt brake issue that just demolished the traffic…
German ex-chancellor Merkel publishes memoir targeting several leaders, including Trump
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel’s memoirs, Freedom: Memories 1954–2021, offer a look at her approach to global leadership, including her relationship…
Ford to slash 14% of European workforce, citing EV transition and intensifying competition
Ford said on November 20 it would cut around 14 per cent of its European workforce, blaming significant losses in recent years compounded by weak demand for electric…
Polish Government freezes energy prices in run-up to presidential elections
The Polish Government has announced a freeze on energy prices for households at just over €100 per megawatt-hour (MWh) for the first three quarters of 2025, the…
Xi asks Germany’s Scholz to help kill EU EV tariffs
Chinese President Xi Jinping told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on November 19 that he hoped Germany could help the EU and China to resolve the issue of tariffs…
German deindustrialisation: Unions propose wage-rise delay to save VW plants
Workers unions in Germany have proposed that Volkswagen delay wage increases to save manufacturing plants in Germany.
Polish presidential candidate pledges ‘strategic bitcoin reserve’ if elected
Sławomir Mentzen, presidential candidate for Poland’s radical-right Confederation party, has pledged that if elected he would turn the country into a “cryptocurrency…