‘Well-functioning democracy’: Does Norway look closely enough at ‘what goes on behind closed doors’?

For Spotlight, François Picard welcomes Carl Henrik Knutsen, Professor of Political Science at the University of Oslo. For many years, he has studied the fragility and resilience of democratic institutions. The shockwaves caused by the Epstein files have struck a nerve in Norway. One of the Nordic countries regarded as a model of transparency and […]

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EU approves €38bn in first defense investments under €150bn SAFE scheme

Published on 11/02/2026 – 17:43 GMT+1 European Union defense ministers on Wednesday approved the national investment plans of eight member states, paving the way for the first disbursements under the bloc’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) scheme. The plans by Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal and Romania are together worth €38 […]

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