Less is not always more – especially if driven by EU policy
“Less is more,” goes the old adage.
Category
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Macron bypasses parliament vote on budget with maligned tool
French President Emmanuel Macron is bypassing parliament votes to push ahead with his plans to cut debt, boost green and defence spending, and secure access to billions…
Meloni has a plan which may both develop Africa and supply Europe with abundant clean energy
Agreements between national oil companies rarely change the world.
Poland signs deal with US for first Polish nuclear power plant
Polish and US dignitaries have signed off on the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant as part of the country’s gradual move away from fossil fuels.
ANALYSIS-Wind power industry drifts off course
A perfect storm of supply chain delays, design flaws and higher costs in the offshore wind industry has put dozens of projects at risk of not being delivered in…
Portuguese youths launch climate-change case in European Court of Human Rights
Six Portuguese young people have launched a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) demanding 32 European nations take action against climate change.
Nature magazine study predicts catastrophic consequences of ‘degrowth’ policy
The British scientific journal Nature has published a study that forecasts the potentially devastating effects of the so-called “degrowth” economic model.
Swiss to sell back Leopard II tanks to help Germany restock after Ukraine donations
Germany has welcomed a decision by neutral Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid…
German labour market shows signs of cracking as economy struggles
German companies are thinking twice about hiring staff amid an increasingly uncertain economic environment, according to a study by the Ifo Institute.
Perhaps now isn’t the time to be waving the trade war sabre: China, EV subsidies and property market travails
The visit of Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU’s Trade Commissioner, to China and Beijing this week couldn’t come at a worse time for his hosts.
Von der Leyen says EC ‘willing to consider state aid’ for nuclear technology
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a case for subsidising nuclear technology at the Green Deal Summit in Prague on September 26.
‘EU must choose between cheaper power or protecting wind industry’
Europe will have to decide whether it wants to reduce electricity prices or protect its wind turbine manufacturers from low-cost Chinese competitors, said the boss…
‘Lose the moral superiority complex’, German Greens minister tells climate activists
Climate activists need to drop their moral superiority complex if they hope to win over the average voter, a senior German Greens party minister has said.
‘Clapped-out second-hand tankers’ enable Russian oil to avoid Western price-cap sanctions
The majority of oil exported by the Russian Federation is avoiding price-cap sanctions imposed upon it by the West.
Germany demolishes strict climate rules for housing
In a major concession to its housing industry, the progressive government in Germany has decided to drop tougher "climate efficiency" demands for new homes.
Extinction Rebellion goes to court over use of water cannon by police
The Netherlands branch of the radical environmental organisation Extinction Rebellion is suing the Dutch Government over hosing downs they received from police when…
EU ministers agree watered-down position on vehicle emissions
European Union ministers agreed on Monday to water down an initial European Commission proposal on new vehicle commissions after eight states including France and…
EU warns China it will be ‘more assertive’ on fair trade
The European Union’s chief trade negotiator warned China on Monday during his trip to the nation that the bloc will be more forceful in upholding fair competition…
Booking’s €1.6 billion Etraveli deal blocked by EU
Booking Holdings Inc.’s €1.6 billion ($1.
EU-backed trade tariffs will cost car manufacturers ‘billions’
A European Union-backed trade agreement with the UK will cost the continent's car manufacturers billions, an industry group has claimed.
Azerbaijan has ‘no intention’ of joining EU, ambassador says
Azerbaijan has no intention of joining the European Union, the country's ambassador to the bloc has said.
EU Commission preparing to recommend Ukraine membership talks
The European Union’s executive arm is preparing to recommend starting membership talks with Ukraine in earnest, offering a boost to Kyiv as it seeks to ensure…
Swedish auditor slams government over ‘green’ energy policy
Sweden's National Audit Office (NAO) is highly critical of the Swedish Government and its “green” energy transition in its latest audit report.
Belgium pushing for ban on Russian diamonds
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is trying to convince the diamond industry to take the last step in removing Russian diamonds from the international market.
German minister calls for cuts in livestock to boost ‘green’ ambitions
Germany's agriculture minister has called for a reduction in the number of livestock in the country in order to help fight climate change.
Zelenskyy says unilateral grain embargo ‘supports Russia’ while at UN meeting
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19, criticised the grain embargo imposed on his country by…
European Court of Auditors warns about the environmental impact of offshore wind farms
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is sounding an alarm over the potential negative effects of building wind farms at sea.
The EU is wide open to Chinese infiltration – and Net Zero has made it worse
In London, the last few weeks have provided a glimpse into the way in which the liberal West has been infiltrated, and to an extent is being subverted by, the Chinese…
EU victory as Apple launches first USB-C iPhone
The European Union looks like it has emerged victorious over Apple, with the Californian tech company bowing to the bloc's demands to implement USB-C charging in…
Belgian green party chief left red-faced over car-free Sundays taxi trip
Rajae Maouane, president of Ecolo, the francophone “green” party in Belgium, has been taking flak following an embarrassing confession on TV.