Belgium quietly takes up Council of Ministers Presidency
Without fanfare, Belgium has taken the helm of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for what looks to be a challenging term.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Macron reveals revamped climate agenda in Le Monde
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a revamped climate-change agenda in a paywalled article for Le Monde.
Germany’s age of cheap energy ‘over’, says national grid chief
The era of cheap energy for all in Germany is "over", the head of country's national grid has claimed.
Sánchez to forgive €15 bn in Catalonian debt to shore up shaky Junts alliance
Spain's new Government said it will write-off Catalonia's debts to keep its shaky Junts alliance intact.
Red Sea terror attacks could undo fight against Eurozone inflation, experts say
Terror attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes could reverse recent efforts to curb inflation in the European Union, economic experts have said.
Germany should levy Ukraine ‘solidarity tax’ to fund war, says top economist
Germany should implement a Ukraine "solidarity tax" to fund Kyiv's war against Russia, a senior economist has said.
EU should tap €80 billion rescue fund to help Ukraine, Rehn says
The European Union should prepare to tap a little-used €80 billion rescue fund to support Ukraine’s war against Russia as the flow of money from both sides of…
China turns up Heat on trade with rare earths tech curbs
China will halt the export of a range of rare-earth technologies, potentially making it harder for the US and its allies to bolster Western supplies of strategic…
And the winner is … China! Beijing set to reap rewards from new EU wind charter
Cost pressures mean Chinese companies will likely encroach further into the European wind sector at the expense of EU firms
EU strikes fiscal rules deal with gradual path to cut debt
European Union finance chiefs ended months of wrangling over fiscal rigour to agree on new rules that will aim to rein in debt and define the bloc’s ability to…
EU Court annuls EU’s approval for Air France 19 state aid
The EU's General Court on Wednesday annulled the European Commission's 2020 decision to approve French state aid for Air France worth 7 billion euros, meant to soften…
German Industry chief says AfD ‘is harmful to the future of our country’
The president of the Federation of German Industries says AfD is bad for business.
EU targets Russian diamonds with track and trace scheme
The European Council has adopted a 12th package of economic and individual restrictive measures against Russia, targeting its diamonds for the first time.
Icelandic volcano blows its top in spectacular style on Reykjanes Peninsula
After weeks of intensive seismic activity, a volcano has erupted on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula in Southwest Iceland.
Houthi attacks start shutting down Red Sea merchant shipping
Shipping in the Red Sea is grinding to a halt with oil tankers idling and container vessels rerouting around Africa as violence linked to the Israel-Hamas war threatens…
Lufthansa demands €740,000 damages from ‘Last Generation’ climate activists
Lufthansa has filed a request for compensation over three incidents: a blockade at Düsseldorf Airport and Hamburg Airport in July and one at Berlin-Brandenburg…
Eurozone most likely now in recession, data indicates
The Eurozone is now almost certainly in recession, data gathered by capital market group S&P Global appears to show.
Sweden to make aid conditional, ‘not a human right’
Sweden’s minority Government, supported by the Sweden Democrats (SD), is coupling their foreign aid programmes to the willingness of countries to readmit their…
Norwegian university chief resigns after targeting her pro-nuclear researchers
Anne Borg, Principal of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has resigned after it came to light she publicly derided two of her researchers,…
Cameron the convert now ‘delighted’ at Brexit benefits
In what many may see as a dramatic U-turn, David Cameron, the former UK Prime Minister who bet his career on Brexit and lost, said he is now "delighted" at the benefits…
Norway banks on a ‘distracted Russia’ to mine in deep Arctic waters
Norway has secured a parliamentary majority to start commercial deep-sea mining across a swathe of the Arctic seabed - where Russia contends it also has rights…
European cities lay out blueprint for Europe’s urban future
Europe.
COP28 deal is fossil fuel ‘phase out’ in all but name, MEPs insist
More than 100 countries lobbied to have the words "phase-out" explicitly included within the agreement made on December 13 but the suggestion was shot down by a…
Finland seizes trains from joint venture with Russia
Finland's state-owned railway company VR said it had seized four trains that it co-owned through a joint venture with its Russian counterpart, Russian Railways (RZD),…
Bird-slaying French wind farm must be demolished, judges rule
A French court has ruled that a controversial seven-turbine wind farm has to be demolished.
Tusk signals co-operative stance on EU Migration Pact and climate change
The new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that his country is returning to co-operation with the rest of the European Union on issues such as migration…
The U.S. economy is Biden’s biggest liability — and Trump’s greatest strength
For months, the Biden administration and its allies in the U.S.
Russia food and agriculture exports boom
A near-record Russian harvest, augmented by grain from occupied areas of Ukraine, is making Moscow a dominant player in international food markets
Ukraine joining EU may cost bloc up to €190bn, think-tank says
Ukraine joining the European Union would set the bloc's finances back by up to €190 billion over its budgetary term, a German think-tank has claimed.
Spain’s Calviño beats EC’s Vestager to take European Investment Bank crown
Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and economy minister Nadia Calviño has beaten European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager for the top job at the European Investment…