Canada with Belgium follows US investing in new nuclear reactors in EU
Canada is following the US in promoting a new generation of nuclear reactors in Europe.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Ukraine detains ex-powergrid chief on fraud suspicion
A former Ukrainian state energy operator chief suspected of embezzlement was ordered to be kept in detention by a Kyiv court today, stoking fears of political interference…
US pharma tariffs push EU chemical firms towards defence investment
Following the US decision to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals, more European Union chemical and industrial firms are turning their focus towards the defence sector.
‘Uncompetitive EU green rules’ push bloc’s industry to outsource more
Stricter environmental regulations in the European Union are making it harder for domestic companies to stay competitive.
Belgium ‘will not suffer blackouts like Spain’
“There’s no need to worry about our country’s energy security,” said Belgium’s energy minister Mathieu Bihet.
Green Policy suckers slowly turning into sceptics
Here we go again. The annual COP climate jamboree kicks off next week. And each year, the climate moguls decide to meet somewhere ever more jarring.
France, Italy have higher debt than Ukraine, IMF says
European Union economic powerhouses France and Italy carry higher debt-to-GDP ratios than Ukraine, according to new International Monetary Fund (IMF) data.
Half of EU consumers fooled by ‘sustainable’ financial labels
More than half of everyday investors in the European Union are being misled by financial products labelled as “sustainable”, new data show.
Two in five German industrial companies plan job cuts in 2026
Sentiment in Germany’s industrial sector is at rock bottom with more than 40 per cent of companies planning to reduce their workforce in the coming year.
Farmers and MEPs lobby against latest agriculture reforms
Farmers and MEPs say the European Commission’s plan to return parts of European Union farming policy to national control is “a misstep”.
EU importing record amount of Russian, US LNG
In the first half of 2025, the European Union imported more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US and from Russia than ever before.
Volkswagen Group posts €1 billion loss for third quarter
Volkswagen Group, Germany’s biggest vehicle manufacturer, lost €1.07 billion between July and September, according to an earnings release.
The New Class War
Across the globe, a tectonic shift is underway — a groundswell of popular protest that, despite its size and significance, receives little more than a whisper…
EU softens tone on smoking products
Brussels has circulated a revised, less combative, compromise proposal for a unified EU position on the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco…
Mercedes tries to reassure investors amid fears of chip shortages
The Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has sought to calm growing concerns over chip shortages, saying the German carmaker is “covered for now” regarding the essential…
Italy’s €600 million subsidies for electric vehicles snapped up immediately
Italy’s €600 million subsidy scheme for electric cars was snapped up in a day - one of the fastest take-ups of "green" mobility funding seen in the Europe Union.
EU seeks to pull Uzbekistan away from China’s orbit
The European Union has taken a step towards pulling Uzbekistan away from China’s growing sphere of influence — using trade, investment and raw materials cooperation…
EU could end up in an ‘economic cocoon’ says India minister
The European Union has too many regulations and meeting them all was “nearly impossible”, according to India's commerce minister.
Corporate sustainability and the EU’s muddled energy mire
The economist Thomas Sowell once observed that there are no policies, only tradeoffs.
Swiss bank creates stir by charging customers 3 per cent negative interest
Swiss bank Postfinance has shocked investors with news of a 3 per cent negative annual interest rate on certain types of deposits.
One-in-five German cities plan to shut down gas networks
Germany's Greens party is no longer in power but the country’s quest for “climate neutrality” continues unabated.
Polish PM Tusk rejoices after word ‘revision’ is added to EU climate law
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said the European Union is ready to slow down the implementation of the second instalment of the EU Trading Emissions System…
Maritime sanctions against Russia have backfired badly
If an uninsured Russian rust-bucket goes down off your coast causing massive environmental damage and loss of life, it will be easy to point the finger of blame.
Germany to buy Israeli missiles in €2 billion deal despite weapons embargo
Germany is refusing to sell weapons to Israel but has no problem buying Israeli missiles, to judge by a deal revealed on October 21 by Israeli media.
French court convicts TotalEnergies over misleading climate claims
A French court ruled oil and gas giant TotalEnergies had engaged in "misleading commercial practices" by overstating its climate pledges, in what activists said…
Belgian Government on the brink over budget crisis
Belgium’s ruling centre-right coalition is deadlocked over crucial budget negotiations, with senior government figures suggesting its collapse is now a real possibility.
Poland’s Sikorski hopes Ukrainians ‘destroy pipeline supplying Hungary with Russian oil’
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has said he hopes that Ukrainian forces succeed in destroying an oil pipeline that supplies Hungary with Russian oil.
The paradox of Europe’s latent power and the fine line in Putin’s strategy
It is no secret that Europe is in a woeful state and continues to decline. It has long fallen from the peak of its economic success on the eve of the Great Recession.
EU tries to curb self-imposed energy price volatility
European Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to launching the Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport…
‘We can’t militarily beat Russia, but we can economically ‘, Belgian defence minister says
According to Belgian defence minister Theo Francken, Ukraine and Western counties won't be able to defeat Russia in the field.