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.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
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.
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.
Low emissions for thee not me: Von der Leyen flew private 16 times in 2024
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen maintained a large ecological footprint as she remained an avid user of private jets in 2024.
EU under pressure as end of the pause on US tariffs looms
With just days to go before July 9, when the three-month pause on 50 per cent “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on April 2 ends, pressure has mounted for a US-European…
EU’s boost in GDP military spending ‘may not fuel economic growth’
Europe is spending more on defence than it has in decades, yet most of that money may simply leave the continent.
EU and Ukraine strike a food trade deal
After years of contention over agricultural imports and foods, the European Union and Ukraine finally signed an updated trade agreement on June 30.
French Greens MP: ‘Sabotage by environmentalists is legitimate’
French Greens MP Lisa Belluco sparked controversy during a protest in Vienne, France, against the Duplomb Law, which lifted constraints on farmers regarding pesticide…
Belgium imports more Russian gas than before Ukraine war
Belgium imported more Russian gas in 2024 than before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Almost three million Germans are unemployed as economic slump drags on
As Germany’s economic malaise persists, the number of unemployed people has climbed by 7 per cent in June compared to a year before.
‘Big beautiful bill’ makes European renewable energy companies’ shares tank
US President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB) is causing shares to slide in Europe's renewable energy sector.
Tougher Belgian pensions rules backfire, as more people retire younger
Belgium’s effort to push people into working longer looks to be backfiring — at least in the short run.
EU wants more Chinese cash and know-how on EV’s but also more control
As Chinese money and technology pour into Europe’s electric vehicle and battery industries, Brussels is torn. It wants the investment – but not the dependence.
Dazzling solar panels blind pilots during approach to Schiphol airport
A solar panel park near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is posing a serious safety risk and disrupting air traffic, according to airport authorities.
EU wine sector says Mercosur deal can save ‘declining market’
The European Union wine industry has rallied behind the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, framing it as a necessary means to save the "declining market" in the bloc.
Trump fumes as Spain goes rogue on NATO defence spending
All NATO 32 members agreed on an increased defence spending target, reaching 5 per cent of GDP in 10 years.
Family of late German industrialist must pay record €4 billion inheritance tax
The heirs of German business magnate Heinz Hermann Thiele have paid a record amount of almost €4 billion in inheritance taxes.
Police raid Société Générale offices in alleged tax fraud probe
Société Générale, the major French multinational banking and financial services company, has been raided by police as part of a high-profile alleged tax fraud…
Broken promise of electricity tax cut causes first rift in Germany’s new government coalition
A cancelled cut of the tax on electricity is causing friction between Germany’s Conservatives (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) who formed a coalition government…
NATO members delight Trump with defence boost pledge – apart from Spain
NATO countries have agreed to vastly ramp up their defence spending to satisfy US President Donald Trump.
Wealth consultancy points to exodus of millionaires from Western Europe
High-net-worth individuals have been turning their backs on Western Europe in favour of more attractive destinations.
MEPs urge EU support for firms seeking to exit long-term Russian energy contracts
A cross-party group of MEPs has urged the European Union to help companies extricate themselves from long-term contracts with Russian energy providers.
German national debt to rocket with borrowing to double in 2025
German national debt looks set to climb to record heights this year, according to the country's latest budget.
EU, Canada sign defence deal on eve of NATO summit in The Hague
Canada and the European Union signed a defence and security pact as the transatlantic partners sought to better confront Russia, with worries over US reliability…
Steel sacrificed to save EU-US relationship, experts say
Europe’s steel sector says it is being sacrificed to preserve broader trade relations with Washington.