Switzerland breaks tradition on arms exports, tests neutrality in Ukraine war
Switzerland has taken a historic step away from its traditionally restrictive stance on arms exports.
EU bubble
Latest reporting and analysis on eu bubble.
Danish EU Council’s presidency pushes for sweeping tobacco tax hikes
The Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, pressured by hard-line NGOs, is making a bold, last-minute push to significantly increase taxes on most…
Police raid College of Europe and European External Action Service
Belgian federal police executed a series of searches in European Union institutions across Brussels and Bruges and detained three people for questioning, including,…
European Commission disregards Belgian PM’s fears over Russian assets fund plan
Europe's leaders and Belgium continue their collision course over European Commission plans to tap into €140 billion in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s…
Germany’s Young Union MPs ‘will not back’ Merz’s pension reform
Germany's Young Union, made up of 18 younger Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MPs, will not vote in favour of a pension reform championed by their leader.
The blackmailers at the EC complain the US is blackmailing them
I had to laugh when I read last week that Teresa Ribera, one of the many vice-presidents of the European Commission, had been complaining about American “blackmail”…
Polish PM says government will pay WW2 compensation if Germany does not
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, that if Germany does not start paying compensation to victims of the Second World War, his…
Canada joins EU’s €150bn defence programme
The European Union and Canada announced an agreement allowing Ottawa to join a €150 billion European defence financing programme called Security Action for Europe…
Merz can look West, look East, or look at the moon, Germany is hammered
It’s a worrying sign - perhaps one of irreversible senile decay – when one finds oneself admiring not merely a senior politician, but one who is chancellor…
In Italy, UN envoy Albanese accused of justifying violence against journalists
In Italy, Francesca Albanese, the UN envoy responsible for the occupied Palestinian territories, is at the centre of a political firestorm.
‘We won the war, now let’s make money’, Azerbaijan tells EU
Diplomacy between Azerbaijan and the EU has concentrated on the territorial dispute with Armenia, but since the outbreak of peace there's a new focus: Making money.
Macron proposes ‘labelling’ for ‘reliable’ news outlets
French President Emmanuel Macron has floated the idea of creating an official media “label”, claiming it would identify "trustworthy" journalism and help fight…
Polish President cancels meeting with Hungarian PM Orbán over Putin visit
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has cancelled his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in protest against Hungary's leader's trip to Moscow to…
Pro-Palestinian Activists Raid La Stampa: Press Freedom Debate Erupts in Italy
A fierce debate over press freedom has erupted in Italy after the newsroom of La Stampa was raided, occupied, and vandalised by left-wing, pro-Palestinian activists.
EU wants money from ‘oil-rich countries’ for biodiversity ahead of COP17
The European Union is aiming for "financial commitments from oil-rich countries" to support global biodiversity efforts ahead of the Conference of the Parties to…
Chinese online giant Shein boycotts EP hearing on sale of illegal products
Chinese online fast-fashion retailer Shein has refused to attend a European Parliament hearing on the sale of illegal and unsafe products.
BBC make-up artists allegedly ‘used bodily fluids’ on Reform chief Farage
The BBC is facing explosive allegations that its make-up artists deliberately contaminated brushes with human saliva and other bodily fluids before applying them…
Monaco’s Prince Albert bars legalisation of abortion in principality
Prince Albert II of Monaco has declined to sign a law legalising abortion in the tiny principality, thus preventing the practice from acquiring legal validity.
Can Spanish PM Sánchez survive alleged corruption erupting around him?
Europe is watching Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as he navigates the corruption investigation into the people considered to be the makers of his political…
‘Chocolate and coffee production at risk’ with EC deforestation law delay
MEPs have voted to delay the European Union deforestation law for the second time because of unresolved or "ill-prepared" IT systems.
Merz demands EU scrap ban on sale of combustion engine cars
Germany will urge the European Union to scrap a planned 2035 ban on the sale of combustion engine cars, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday, as Berlin battles…
Louvre jacks up ticket prices for non-EU visitors by 45 per cent
The world-famous Louvre museum in Paris will significantly increase ticket prices for tourists from most countries outside the EU starting in 2026.
Row over pension reform pits Germany’s Merz against his young MPs
A dispute over a reform of Germany’s pension system has escalated into a crisis that threatens to blow apart the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) of Chancellor…
Another national rift over Islam: France weighs ban on Ramadan fasting for minors
A proposal by French right-wing senators to prohibit Ramadan fasting for minors under 16 reignited the debate in the country over religious freedom.
Belgian PM sends scathing letter to von der Leyen warning to back off frozen Russian assets
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has issued a scathing letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to abandon plans to tap into…
Polish journalist charged over reporting Warsaw demonstration
A Polish journalist was charged with disturbing the peace at a Warsaw demonstration he was covering as a reporter, asking questions of participants at the gathering.
German firms leave business association after it ends AfD ‘contact ban’
The decision of a major business association to drop its “no contact” policy with right-wing opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is making waves in…
Europe’s paper tiger: Mightier than Russia yet still afraid of it
Let us begin with the numbers.
The European paradox on sanctions: Preaching morality, doing business
When eminent historians like Niall Ferguson speak, the Western elite listens.
French Parliament calls for ditching Mercosur deal ahead of key European Council vote
France's National Assembly has unanimously voted to reject the long-stalled European Union-Mercosur free-trade agreement