France: stagnation or worse
France, once the steady top performer of the eurozone, has fallen behind.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Dollar shows no sign of being replaced, despite Middle East strikes
The US bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites confirmed what markets had already priced in: Even amid war, volatility, and mounting distrust in Washington, the dollar…
Exclusive: Minister says EU energy policies frustrate Member States’ efforts to lower prices
Csaba Lantos, Hungary’s Minister for Energy, tells Brussels Signal that plans by the EU for a full embargo on Russian energy will lead to a price explosion across…
ArcelorMittal cancels German ‘green’ steel projects and shifts focus to France
International steel giant ArcelorMittal said it would no longer pursue plans to “decarbonise” its German steel mills.
Renewable energy ‘puts Germany at risk of major blackout’
The Berliner Zeitung newspaper reported that the high uptake of solar energy in Germany had increased the chances of an overload and an electricity blackout like…
EU’s defence chemicals shortage ‘exposes further dependency on China’
Europe's shifting ties with Asia have aggravated its growing defence production crisis, as shortages of key chemical inputs including nitrocellulose threaten to…
Spooked by Middle East war, investors quietly return to Europe
Amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East, an unexpected trend has emerged: Investors are quietly moving their money back into European markets.
Majority of Swiss still support neutrality despite global tension
Almost nine out of 10 Swiss citizens say they supported their country's neutral stance.
Outdated rent grid renders 50% of Brussels rentals ‘legally abusive’
Half of all new rental contracts signed in Brussels were now officially considered "legally abusive" because the city’s rent control tool was based on years-old…
Ireland’s economic data ‘distort eurozone outlook as growth cracks emerge’
Ireland’s industrial production fell by 13.7 per cent in April, reversing a sharp 14 per cent surge in March.
‘Stop the Rich’: Activists plan march in Brussels’ wealthiest district
A group of activists said they planned to march through one of Brussels' most affluent districts, the Prince d’Orange neighbourhood in Uccle, under the banner:…
Belgium, Germany hit hardest by huge drop in chemicals industry activity in EU
Belgium and Germany have borne the brunt of a sharp downturn in Europe’s chemicals industry. The sector has been shrinking fast;
China widens industrial lead over Europe but figures not straightforward
China has pulled ahead of Europe in terms of factory output but the numbers, and what they mean, were not as straightforward as they may look.
Trump says EU ‘has not offered fair trade deal’ and quits G7 summit early
US President Donald Trump said the European Union had yet to offer a "fair deal" on trade, as Washington negotiated tariff agreements with friends and foes alike.
Investor mood jumps in Germany, hinting at end to stagnation
A sharp rise in investor confidence has fuelled hopes that Germany’s long-running economic stagnation could be nearing an end — a potential shift that would…
French Green Party leader warns of ‘ecocide’ in Gaza
French Green Party leader Marine Tondelier has claimed an "ecocide" was taking place in Gaza.
China’s EV trap: Preach Green, get a cheap car, lose your job
Buckle up, China’s electric vehicle market is a wild brawl. Prices plummet fast, and executives sling insults like playground bullies.
Dutch emission rules ‘endanger achievement of NATO targets’
The Dutch Government is set to miss NATO targets due to stringent nitrogen emission regulations, a new report found.
With the Middle East ablaze and the world in conflict, Europe must rethink its energy strategy — now
The Middle East is on fire. As Israel strikes Iran and Tehran responds, Europe, too, will pay the price.
China’s structural slump may fuel flood of cheap goods to EU
China's factories have been producing more than its domestic market can absorb, and those goods are headed to Europe.
Spain’s VOX aims to save olive groves from solar-power push
Spain's populist right-wing party VOX has presented a bill to stop the advance of solar power panels at the expense of olive groves.
DPG media, after cheap EU loan, gives €35 million to shareholders
Epifin, the holding company which controls DPG Media, has decided to distribute a €35 million dividend.
Ireland marks highest employment rise in sluggish EU labour market
Ireland has left the rest of Europe in the dust when it comes to job creation.
World Bank abolishes financing ban on nuclear power projects
The World Bank's board has agreed to lift a longstanding ban on financing nuclear energy projects.
New Belgian offshore wind farms ‘likely to cut output of older ones’
New wind farms planned for construction off the Belgian coast by 2030 could reduce the electricity output of existing wind farms to the east by up to 15 per cent.
‘It’s the solar power’: Spanish TV exposes technicians’ internal conversations prior to blackout
Spain's Telecinco TV channel has accessed the internal exchanges of Red Eléctrica technicians which are under analysis by an investigative committee.
France rejects tax hike for ultra-rich; art forger sentenced for duping wealthy
France's Senate rejected a draft law to make the ultra-rich pay at least a 2 per cent tax on their fortunes, as the government sought to cut an alarming deficit.
German economy forecast to grow in 2026 after three years of dismal results
According to the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research and the Kiel Institute Summer Forecast report on June 12, German economic growth was set to accelerate…
EU to cut Russia’s oil cash, if the West can agree
Brussels said it wanted to squeeze Moscow's war chest by slashing the price Russia charged for crude oil.
EU swaps UAE for Monaco on list of financial high-risk countries
The European Commission swapped the United Arabic Emirates (UAE) for Monaco, in its recently updated list of third countries with "strategic deficiencies" in their…