‘To be free, you must be feared’: France to pump €6 billion more into military
"To be free in this world, you must be feared," French President Emmanuel Macron declared on the eve of Bastille Day in Paris.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
EU consumer waste now as big as food imports
European consumers now waste as much food as the EU imports, around 58 million tonnes a year, according to a new report.
EU needs to play smarter against China, not harder
When it comes to trade with China, how can Europe navigate the rising storms of geopolitical polarisation? The task is anything but simple.
Belgian pensioners take on more flexi-jobs amid EU labour shortages
In Belgium, pensioners in side jobs now worked twice as many hours as younger so-called flexi-jobbers such as students.
OECD warns of ‘unprecedented’ drop in economic growth as birth rates fall
The Western world was increasingly facing a shortage of workers, which would lead to declining growth rates and potentially a loss in standard of living in many…
EU wants tobacco tax to fund own budget, Sweden says ‘Nej’
Swedish finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson has come out aggressively against Brussels' new Tobacco Tax Directive, calling it “completely unacceptable”.
European banks aim to challenge Mastercard and Visa with homegrown Wero
Sixteen Western European banks have rolled out Wero — a new payment system aimed at reducing Europe’s dependence on Visa, Mastercard, and other US fiscal networks.
EU carbon tax ‘to cost Belgian families €250 to €400 a year extra’
The European Union's new carbon tax, the Emissions Tradings System 2 (ETS2) set to be enforced from 2027, was likely to cost Belgian families €250 to €400 a…
NGO ship’s former master Rackete quits as MEP
Carola Rackete, a German MEP known for her activism regarding NGO migrant vessels, has announced her resignation from the European Parliament.
European Parliament official: ‘EU in the dark’ on US trade requirements
The European Union still did not understand what the US wants on trade, European Parliament trade committee chair Bernd Lange told journalists.
German corporations promise ‘psychological’ economic boost: €300 billion investment by 2028
Several large German corporations have joined forces to boost investment in Germany’s ailing economy.
France battles wildfires as minister warns of ‘high-risk summer’ ahead
A "fast-moving" wildfire in France has been raging in parts of Marseille, triggering mass evacuations, lockdown orders and widespread travel disruptions.
Fiscal reversal: Italy can access cheaper loans than France
For the first time in two decades, Italy was now able to secure cheaper loans than France.
German exports to US tumble as Berlin urges quick trade deal
German exports to the United States plummeted in May, official data showed on July 8, as Berlin pressed the European Union to strike a quick tariff deal with US…
Beijing announces import restrictions on EU medical tech and tariffs on brandy
China announced it would impose retaliatory import restrictions on European medical devices and anti-dumping duties on European brandy.
‘People could have died’, Belgian report warns for radicalisation of climate movement
Climate activists are radicalising and getting increasingly dangerous, a confidential Belgian government report has warned.
Poland opposes EU’s new 2040 emissions target
Poland's centre-left coalition government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was opposed to the newly proposed European Union target for cutting emissions.
German Chancellor Merz breaks key election promise on electricity tax
Barely two months after assuming the German Chancellorship, Friedrich Merz has broken a key election promise.
Could Belgium lead a new European mining era?
A Belgian liberal party said it wanted to bring local mining back to Belgium to extract critical raw materials from European soil.
Low emissions for thee not me: Von der Leyen flew private 16 times in 2024
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen maintained a large ecological footprint as she remained an avid user of private jets in 2024.
EU under pressure as end of the pause on US tariffs looms
With just days to go before July 9, when the three-month pause on 50 per cent “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on April 2 ends, pressure has mounted for a US-European…
EU’s boost in GDP military spending ‘may not fuel economic growth’
Europe is spending more on defence than it has in decades, yet most of that money may simply leave the continent.
EU and Ukraine strike a food trade deal
After years of contention over agricultural imports and foods, the European Union and Ukraine finally signed an updated trade agreement on June 30.
French Greens MP: ‘Sabotage by environmentalists is legitimate’
French Greens MP Lisa Belluco sparked controversy during a protest in Vienne, France, against the Duplomb Law, which lifted constraints on farmers regarding pesticide…
Belgium imports more Russian gas than before Ukraine war
Belgium imported more Russian gas in 2024 than before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Almost three million Germans are unemployed as economic slump drags on
As Germany’s economic malaise persists, the number of unemployed people has climbed by 7 per cent in June compared to a year before.
‘Big beautiful bill’ makes European renewable energy companies’ shares tank
US President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB) is causing shares to slide in Europe's renewable energy sector.
Tougher Belgian pensions rules backfire, as more people retire younger
Belgium’s effort to push people into working longer looks to be backfiring — at least in the short run.
EU wants more Chinese cash and know-how on EV’s but also more control
As Chinese money and technology pour into Europe’s electric vehicle and battery industries, Brussels is torn. It wants the investment – but not the dependence.
Defeated Simion may be back if new coalition fails to grasp gargantuan deficit
The Brussels elite breathed a sigh of relief last month when Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan defeated conservative populist George Simion to become Romania’s new…