EC ‘paid shadow lobby to promote own green policies’, Dutch newspaper claims
Secret contracts between the European Commission and "green" NGOs were part of an alleged "shadow lobbying scheme", Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has reported.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
EU bristles as Trump pulls US out of OECD agreement
The European Union appeared to be annoyed at US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of a global Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development…
Renault overtakes Stellantis in European car sales
Troubled Amsterdam-based multinational vehicle giant Stellantis has seen its market share drop by 7 per cent, losing its second-largest carmaker in Europe slot to…
‘Almost one in five’ European hydrogen projects scrapped in 2024
Despite the EU heavily promoting hydrogen in its 'green agenda' and net-zero ambitions, the industry is struggling, with many project cancellations and delays.
Greenpeace activists delay EC chief von der Leyen’s WEF opening speech
Greenpeace activists have evaded the World Economic Forum's tight security checks, staging a brief climate change protest outside the main hall of the annual meeting…
‘Germany will push Trump to rejoin WHO’: German health minister
Germany's health minister has said the outgoing left-wing government will urge the US to rejoin the World Health Organisation (WHO) after US President Donald Trump…
Spanish citizen Darío Gil to serve as US Under Secretary for Science
Donald Trump has appointed Spanish scientist Darío Gil as Undersecretary of Science and Innovation at the Department of Energy.
Shops in Cannes to accept cryptocurrency payments
Shops in France's city of Cannes soon will accept cryptocurrency after Mayor David Lisnard announced plans to support crypto payments and educate local businesses.
COSCO and the US blacklist: Europe’s ports or Beijing’s tentacles?
The United States has just delivered an almighty wake-up call to Europe, blacklisting China’s state-owned maritime leviathan, COSCO, in a bold stroke that could…
EU car industry calls for CO2 fine relief to avoid ‘irreparable’ harm to competitiveness
The European automobile industry has called on the EU to roll back CO2 emission fines to avoid crippling the bloc's competitiveness.
NGOs gained influence under von der Leyen, while companies lost theirs
NGOs had much more contact with the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen, compared with her predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker.
Austria will scrap ‘green’ subsidies, say coalition negotiators
The Austrian Freedom Party and the People’s Party pledged cuts in "climate subsidies" to curtail Austria's ballooning budget deficit.
Wilders: Cut spending on climate policies and Ukraine to fund tax cuts
Dutch hard-right leader Geert Wilders called on his country's government to cut spending on climate policies and the Ukraine war to fund tax cuts.
Denmark’s prime minister summons business leaders following Trump’s Greenland threat
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the country's business leaders to a meeting on January 16 after US President-elect Donald Trump last week threatened…
Irish coalition buckles, vows to continue carbon tax hikes
Members of Ireland's new coalition government have reversed their criticism of carbon tax policies, undertaking instead to continue the regular increase in the highly-unpopular…
Swedish debt collectors begins seizures at doomed green-tech Northvolt
'Green' darling Northvolt faced seizures by the Swedish Enforcement Authority, Kronofogden, the country's debt collector, over unpaid bills.
All parties except AfD to push on with German energy transition
Energy policy has figured highly in Germany's February 23 elections, the country's first since Berlin severed ties with Russia, its long-time gas supplier.
Danes to rely on bean burritos to achieve green transition goals
Major Danish grocery chains and the Danish Consumer Council have launched a campaign to encourage Danes to eat more beans and less meat to achieve the country's…
EU ‘should have its own regulator-friendly X, TikTok and Instagram’ : Habeck
The European Union should have its own regulator-friendly equivalents to X, TikTok and Instagram, according to the candidate for chancellor of Germany's Greens.
NATO to deploy ships, aircraft in Baltic Sea after cable breaches
NATO countries will deploy frigates, patrol aircraft and naval drones in the Baltic Sea to help protect critical infrastructure and reserve the right to take action…
UK bans German fresh meat imports amid foot-and-mouth scare
The United Kingdom has implemented wide-ranging import bans against Germany regarding various animals and fresh meats after the discovery of foot-and-mouth disease…
Germany’s CDU leader, ahead in polls: industry more important than climate protection
Friederich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats in Germany's coming elections, said industry was more important than climate protection.
Austrian coalition negotiators send Brussels their planned budget cuts to avert deficit procedure
Representatives of Austria's emerging right-wing coalition government have sent a letter to the European Commission outlining measures they will take to reduce the…
Musk adviser says Italy’s data sovereignty would be ‘guaranteed’ in Starlink deal
An Italian representative for US billionaire Elon Musk's aerospace ventures has said Italy would retain full control over its data in any potential agreement with…
EU hands €3bn to Ukraine in loan backed by seized Russian assets
The European Union has sent €3 billion to Ukraine in the form of a cash loan that is to be repaid via seized Russian assets.
Greece: corrupt elites bring a nation to its knees, Brussels beware
The numbers from Eurostat’s 2024 report are indisputable and grim: While politicians spin tales of recovery and progress, the cold, hard data tells a very different…
‘Rising obesity threatens Sweden’s defence capabilities,’ says Brigadier General
The Swedish Defence Force's General Physician, Brigadier General Claes Ivgren, has voiced concerns about the declining physical health of Swedes.
France’s borrowing rates soar as financial problems spook investors
Investors seem to growing increasingly anxious over France's financial situation.
Germany pushing for EU to relax sanctions on Syria
Germany is leading European Union discussions on easing sanctions imposed on the Syrian government of toppled President Bashar al-Assad and aiding the country's…
Slovak PM Fico says Russian gas supply ‘secured’
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico says he has secured guaranteed gas supply from Russia just before Ukraine halted the transit of gas from the country at the…