Belgium pushing for ban on Russian diamonds
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is trying to convince the diamond industry to take the last step in removing Russian diamonds from the international market.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
German minister calls for cuts in livestock to boost ‘green’ ambitions
Germany's agriculture minister has called for a reduction in the number of livestock in the country in order to help fight climate change.
Zelenskyy says unilateral grain embargo ‘supports Russia’ while at UN meeting
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on September 19, criticised the grain embargo imposed on his country by…
European Court of Auditors warns about the environmental impact of offshore wind farms
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is sounding an alarm over the potential negative effects of building wind farms at sea.
The EU is wide open to Chinese infiltration – and Net Zero has made it worse
In London, the last few weeks have provided a glimpse into the way in which the liberal West has been infiltrated, and to an extent is being subverted by, the Chinese…
EU victory as Apple launches first USB-C iPhone
The European Union looks like it has emerged victorious over Apple, with the Californian tech company bowing to the bloc's demands to implement USB-C charging in…
Belgian green party chief left red-faced over car-free Sundays taxi trip
Rajae Maouane, president of Ecolo, the francophone “green” party in Belgium, has been taking flak following an embarrassing confession on TV.
EU to extend ‘Champagne-style’ protections to European crafts
The European Union is to extend 'Champagne-style' protections to unique crafts and industrial products.
Agriculture Commissioner Wojciechowski slams EC decision on Ukrainian grain
European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski has publicly disowned the decision taken by the EC to end the embargo on Ukrainian grain for five neighbouring…
Greta Thunberg charged again for disobeying police order
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was charged with disobeying a police order on Friday, less than two months after she was convicted and fined for the same…
Euro set for record run of losses as ECB seen done raising rates
The euro was headed for the longest streak of losses since its inception on bets the European Central Bank is done raising interest rates.
Fury in Beijing as EU announces Chinese electric-car probe
A forthcoming EU probe into Chinese electric cars entering Europe has angered Beijing, with officials and state-run media outlets lambasting the Commission for attacking…
Special report: Inside Bulgaria’s gas deal
Bulgaria is ploughing ahead with a gas deal that will create a European “backdoor for Russian gas”, despite European Union objections.
Dutch suffer biggest loss of purchasing power in 40 years
In 2022, the Dutch lost 1.2 per cent of their purchasing power - the biggest drop in almost 40 years.
ECB hikes interest rates in 10th salvo to quash inflation
The European Central Bank raised interest rates again, acting for the 10th consecutive time to choke inflation out of the euro zone’s increasingly feeble economy.
Market for offshore wind farms becalmed
The installation of new offshore wind farms is becoming increasingly difficult, with high costs and low returns scaring off investors and causing major problems…
State of Disunion: Parliament dissension follows von der Leyen’s call for unity
Her Strasbourg speech touted achievements under her Presidency and exhorted the assembly to pull together, though it was quickly overshadowed by political groups…
Europe needs new leadership: von der Leyen has been a failure
Ursula von der Leyen has this morning delivered her State of the Union speech. Despite what she said, the picture is not pretty.
Climate-loving EC President von der Leyen took almost 60 private-jet trips in two years
The European Commission's climate-loving President Ursula von der Leyen took almost 60 separate private-jet trips over the past two years, German news outlets have…
Polish minister says unilateral extension of Ukraine grain ban ready to be enacted
Polish economic development minister Waldemar Buda said a decree for Poland to unilaterally extend the grain embargo on Ukraine beyond the European Commission’s…
Climate extremists likely to start ‘blowing up’ oil refineries, BBC presenter claims
A nature-loving BBC presenter has suggested that a radical wing of climate activists will likely start bombing oil refineries in the future.
EU predicts German recession as bloc lowers growth estimates
The European Union has openly predicted that Germany's economy will end 2023 in recession, with Eurocrats shrinking growth estimates for the entire bloc on September…
EU Regions form alliance to boost semiconductor production
The European Committee of the Regions, in collaboration with the Free State of Saxony, has introduced the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance (ESRA), a political…
Netherlands should have right to opt out of EU ‘green’ agenda, farmers’ party says
The Netherlands should obtain the right to opt out of all European Union policies regarding the bloc's “green” agenda, the country's farmers' party has said.
Dutch police arrest record 2,400 Extinction Rebellion activists
Thousands of Extinction Rebellion climate activists blocked the A12 motorway near The Hague, Netherlands, at midday on September 9.
Gen Z more enthusiastic to work than older generations, study finds
Gen Z, or those born between 1996 and 2010, are more enthusiastic about working than older generations, a survey conducted in Germany has found.
Belgian climate expert left red-faced after being caught with his pants down
A clip of a TV interview with Belgian environmental geopolitical scientist François Gemenne has gone viral - but not because of his expertise.
Ryanair boss gets the cream cake treatment
Climate extremists threw cream cakes at Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary in Brussels on September 7.
Von der Leyen tells anti-wolf supporters she is ‘collecting data’ ahead of expected cull push
Ursula von der Leyen took time out from a meeting with fellow German politicians to update supporters about a potential EU-wide wolf cull on September 6.
EC reshuffles as Vestager eyes top job at European Investment Bank
Margrethe Vestager has taken leave from her role in the European Commission to try for the presidency of the European Investment Bank (EIB).