German economy minister warns of fuel shortage from end of April
Germany’s Federal Minister for the Economy, Katherina Reiche, has warned of an impending fuel shortage if the Iran war drags on for much longer.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Belgian industry asks for closed nuclear plants to be reopened
Belgium’s energy-intensive industries are calling for an urgent study into extending the operation of several recently closed or idled nuclear reactors.
PM Tusk’s left-wing allies in Polish Government propose digital tax
Poland’s Left party, which is part of the centre-left government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, is proposing legislation to make Big Tech firms pay a new tax…
South Korea gets US permission to import oil from Russia to ease fuel crisis
South Korea will likely turn to Russia for oil imports after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut the east Asian country off from its main suppliers in the…
VW may convert car factory into Israeli Iron Dome production site
German automotive group Volkswagen (VW) is reportedly in talks with Israeli defence company Rafael Advanced Defence Systems over plans to convert a struggling German…
Unheard noise, real concerns: Wind turbines under scrutiny
A conference titled Unheard but Not Harmless: Public Health and Wind Energy Infrasound took place today at the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Fernand Kartheiser.
‘Green’ policies make Germany especially vulnerable to surge in price of natural gas
Germany is especially vulnerable to energy price increases following the war in Iran and the closure of the Street of Hormuz – due to a mix of supposedly “green”…
Thirteen tonnes of cocaine seized in Dunkirk in two weeks
Customs officials carried out three major cocaine seizures at the port of Dunkirk, intercepting more than 13 tonnes of narcotics.
Leading European nations and Japan signal they want to help keep Strait of Hormuz open
Leading European nations and Japan have signalled readiness to support efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Losses for German automotive supplier ZF double to €2.1bn after electrification failure
German technology group ZF Friedrichshafen has reported a net loss after tax of €2.1 billion for fiscal 2025, almost doubling the €1.
Slovakia says No to cross-border ‘fuel tourism’ and limits fuel sales
The Slovak Government has introduced emergency restrictions on diesel fuel sales amid an escalating energy supply crisis.
Germany’s biggest oil rig may have to shut following lawsuit by environmentalists
Germany’s biggest oilrig, the Mittelplate station in the North Sea, may be forced to close down permanently.
Middle East crisis forces Brussels back to nuclear energy, VDL letter discloses
Ahead of this week’s European Council meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to EU heads of state highlighting Europe’s energy…
Ifo institute: German government misappropriated 95 per cent of new debt for infrastructure
According to a new analysis by the ifo Institute, one of Germany's most respected economic research organisations, 95 per cent of the €24.
Belgian PM says Europe to normalise relations with Russia after war, spurring criticism
An interview with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, in which he said that after the war in Ukraine, Europe and Russia will normalise relations and resume energy…
German investor confidence plummets amid Mideast war: survey
German investor morale has plunged to its lowest level in almost a year as the Mideast war rattles market nerves in Europe's largest economy, said a ZEW survey released…
The Hormuz crisis is about much more than oil
The Western public has been conditioned to think of energy crises in terms of petrol prices and heating bills.
Polish opposition wants to leave EU’s emissions trading system
Poland’s opposition Conservatives (PiS) have submitted a resolution to the country’s parliament calling on the government to start the process of leaving the…
European Energy Commissioner says renewables ‘only way out of energy crisis’, closes door on Russia
European Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen has insisted that accelerating renewable energy deployment is the only sustainable path out of the continent's deepening…
Germany and Greece will not help in reopening Strait of Hormuz
Germany and Greece have declined to participate in an international effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, amid the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran.
McKinsey says VW should close down almost all plants in Germany
In a stark assessment of Volkswagen's (VW) ongoing struggles, international management consultancy McKinsey & Company has reportedly advised the German automotive…
How the EU policy on ‘stupid’ stability chokes off spending in member states
Italian business and political leaders are calling on EU institutions to take extraordinary measures to address the energy crisis provoked by the war with Iran.
German state broadcaster lies about Fukushima deaths
On the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Germany public broadcasters have been caught misrepresenting the almost 20,000 people…
Belgian PM De Wever attacks past nuclear policy, will leave country paying ‘for a century’
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has launched a sharp attack in parliament on past energy policy, warning that decisions to phase out nuclear power could saddle…
Petrol carousel: Germans go to Poland to fill up on cheaper fuel, while Poles go to Slovakia
German drivers are crossing in their droves into western Poland to buy cheaper fuel at petrol stations, giving rise to local shortages and complaints from the Polish…
Polish President Nawrocki vetoes his country’s participation in EU’s defence loan
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, in a televised address to the nation, announced he has vetoed legislation which would allow Poland to access a €44 billion loan…
Switzerland wants to overturn ban on new nuclear power plants
Switzerland's upper house of parliament, the Council of States, has voted in favour of lifting the country's longstanding ban on constructing new nuclear power plants.
‘Russia pockets €6 billion in fossil fuel revenues in almost two weeks of Iran conflict’
Russia has pocketed an estimated €6 billion in fossil fuel revenues since the onset of Israeli and US strikes on Iran on February 28, with daily earnings surging…
Tech industry sounds alarm over EP’s report on AI and copyright
Industry voices have sounded a stark warning over the European Parliament's adoption of a non-binding resolution on copyright and generative artificial intelligence.
Merz says Germany’s nuclear phaseout ‘irreversible’ but experts disagree
Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) has called his country’s nuclear phaseout “irreversible”, contradicting both…